Regional Forum - Building Permits and Clean Technology: Innovations and Challenges

Building code enforcement is essential to public health and safety, but the permit process can be time-consuming to navigate. California and local governments have ambitious goals for reduced carbon emissions and economic recovery, and efficient permitting of clean energy technologies and efficiency measures will be necessary to realize these goals. Many building departments ramped up online services in 2020 to adapt to the pandemic - and experienced the difficulties of rapid change. As permitting evolves, how can building departments enhance public safety, support energy performance, and meet public expectations? This BayREN Forum examined different approaches and lessons learned.