About the On-Line Permit Center
The on-line permit center allows homeowners and licensed contractors to apply for and receive building permits over the internet. You can also track the status of your permit application and request inspections.

The on-line system is currently available in nine cities and towns in Connecticut, with more planning to join the system in the coming year. If you do not see your town listed and would like to be able to take advantage of this system or, if you have any other comments, please send us feedback.

Why am I required to get an account before using the system?
All users of the system must get an account, with a user name and password. This will allow the system to store your applications and other information. For contractors, license information will be verified with the Department of Consumer Protection as part of the process of getting an account.

Can I use the system to do research on permit applications in my town or other towns?
Yes, the system has a reports function which will allow you to look up information about permit applications and approvals in all participating towns. Because the system is new, the amount of data available at this time may be limited.

How secure is my information?
Usernames, passwords, and all financial information related to payments are encrypted using secure servers and Advanced Encryption Standards (AES). ViewPermit uses SSL certificate (HTTPS) and Rijndael Symmetric Encryption algorithms and no credit card or financial information of any kind is ever retained by the software.

The contents of applications and permits, as well as correspondence related to permits are, however, generally considered public information under the Freedom of Information Act and may be provided to other citizens upon their request. Some information related to permitting activity will be available over the internet through the reports function of this system.

When is a permit required?
A permit must be obtained before beginning construction, alteration or repairs, other than ordinary repairs. (Ordinary repairs are nonstructural repairs and do not include addition to, alteration of, or replacement or relocation of water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electrical wiring, or mechanical or other work for which a permit is required by the building official). Work requiring permits includes swimming pools over 24 inches in depth, decks, window replacements, installation of a wood or pellet stove, and installation of a pre-fabricated shed on your property.

What are the fees associated with getting a permit?
Each jurisdiction has a slightly different fee schedule, in most cases based on the value of the work being done. The fee will be automatically calculated by the system.

Does it cost extra to apply on-line?
If you pay on-line through the system, the payment partner (PayPal) does charge a fee of up to 3%, which under many town statutes must be passed on directly to the permit applicant. The fee is calculated automatically and you will have the opportunity to review it before approving your payment.

If you wish to avoid this payment you may mail in your application or pay in person, however, users should consider the cost of stamps or the time and fuel required.

Who may apply for a permit?
A permit may be applied for by a homeowner or the homeowner’s authorized representative. An authorized representative must have authorization in writing to apply for a permit on the homeowner’s behalf.

Who can do the work?
A homeowner can do his own work, if he occupies the home and does not rent out any part of it. The homeowner is still required to get a permit. With this exception, any individual doing permitted work must be licensed and registered with the State of Connecticut. The permit system will verify that contractors are currently licensed with the state Department of Consumer Protection. The town may also require other documentation related to workers compensation or other insurance.

How long will it take for me to get a permit?
Express Permits, which do not require plan review, will be issued instantly unless there are conditions that require review by an official (such as a property in a historic district). Examples of Express Permits include roofing, window replacement, electrical upgrades, and water heater installation. Other permits are required by law to be approved or denied within 30 days. The specific time for your permit will depend on a variety of factors. The new on-line permit system is part of a regional effort to make the approval process as quick and transparent as possible.

Why should I get a permit?
There are many important reasons to obtain the required building permit(s) and to obtain the required inspections for your construction project.

• Helps protect property value - Your home or business is an investment. If your construction project does not comply with the codes adopted by your community, the value of your investment could be reduced.
• Saves Money - Property insurers may not cover work or damages caused by work done without permits and inspections.
• Makes Selling Property Easier - When property is sold through a multiple listing association, the owner is required to disclose any improvements or repairs made and if permits and inspections were obtained. Many financial institutions will not finance a purchase without proof of a final inspection. If you decide to sell a home or building that has had modifications without a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied or do costly repairs.
• Improves safety – The permit review and inspections process is designed to ensure that all construction is safe, to reduce potential hazards of unsafe construction to provide for public health, safety and welfare. By following code guidelines, your completed project will meet minimum standards of safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, and your friends or future owners. Mandatory inspections complement the contractor’s experience and act as a system of checks and balances resulting in a safer project.
• It's the Law - Work without a permit may be subject to removal or other costly remedies.

How do I submit plans or other documents as part of my permit application?
The system allows you to attach documents, photos, and plans before you submit them. If you prefer, you can drop off your plans at Town Hall. If you do so, make sure you reference the permit tracking number that you are given at the time of application.

How was this system developed and paid for?
The regional permitting system was developed by the Capitol Region Council of Governments through a regional service sharing grant from Connecticut’s Office of Policy Management. CRCOG followed a rigorous competitive procurement process, and selected the vendor ViewPoint GIS as the system provider. Towns may also have received a subsidy to help defray the costs of purchasing the system.

Help!
If you have problems using the system, please contact us: support@viewpoint-gis.com or (617)577-9000 x-108

Registering for an Account
Registration is quick and easy. Use your email address as your username and create a unique password. This info will be required every time you login to the ViewPermit On-line Center, so be sure to keep this info safe for future use. Registration is required for accessing any permits, inspections, or licenses.

Activating your Account
Once you have registered for your account you must first activate the account through an automated e-mail sent to you by ViewPermit. A link will be provided that will allow for account activation.

Selecting a Community
Once you have activated your account and you are ready to apply for a permit you will need to first select which community you are seeking to obtain a permit in. For homeowners you will be choosing the town in which you are a current member, however, contractors may be applying for permits in different towns at which point it is necessary to find the correct town for the correct project.

Selecting a User Type
Once a specific town is selected the user will then be asked to select the user type. If you registered as a homeowner then you will simply select 'For Homeowners', otherwise you will select 'For Contractors'.

Managing a Permit
Most agencies require a licensed professional or designated representative to pull permits. In this case you will need a valid license number for the jurisdiction in which you wish to apply for a permit (i.e. Contractor, architect, engineer...). The license number will be verified with the one present in the database for verification.

General Permit Fees
Depending on each specific town's fee structure there will be a fee assessed dependent upon the construction cost and the type of work being done.

State/Education Fee
The current Connecticut State/Education fee is set at $.26 per thousand dollars of the total construction cost.

Payment Fee
A convenience charge is assessed for payments made online. This fee is assessed by Pay Pal for use of their online payment plan. For payments conducted through city hall in person, a convenience charge may also be assessed and is dependent upon the city/town in which the permit was applied for.

Available on Demand
Viewpermit On-line Center is available for your convenience 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Manage and check permits on your own time.

Be Prepared with your Project Details and Information
Make sure that you have all the required information on hand to complete your online application(s). Including and not limited to: project address, project info, and all required license numbers.

System Requirements
All you need is a computer with a safe reliable connection to the internet and an internet browser (i.e. Firefox or Internet Explorer). Be sure to allow pop-ups from our website, pop-up blockers could prevent you from acquiring full functionality of the software. You need a valid email address to login and access the numerous tools provided by the ViewPermit on-Line Center. Lastly, you will need a printer to print out your finished permit.

Printing
As soon as your permit is approved, it is instantly available for printing, allowing you to begin work more quickley. Once your permit is complete, schedule inspections and recieve validation of the inspection time once an inspector has confirmed.

Search by Permit Number
Enter the Permit Identification Number (PIN) that you have acquired from your agency. As you start typing, a list will appear under the box presenting all permits starting with the exact same text you have typed in. This feature is implemented to facilitate your search by making the process easier, faster, and more clear.

Search by Address

Step 1: Begin by selecting the Community (Town or City) from the Drop-Down** box. Click on the arrow on the Right side of the box, and select the Community of the address you wish to search for.

Step 2: Once you have selected a Community, clicking on the Street Name box will present you with all the street names present in the respective community. Please select the appropriate Street Name, then proceed to the Final step.

Step 3: Finally, follow the same procedure to select the House Number.

Upon completion of the 3 steps above you will be able to use the "What would you like to do?" Options. Proceed by choosing to Apply For a New Permit, Check an Application Status, Find Existing Permits, or Schedule an Inspection after your permit has been approved.

** A Drop-Down box provides a list of all records present in the database for the category it represents. This list could change depending on other categories you have selected. (In this case the Street Name depends on what Community you have selected, and the House Number depends on what Street Name & Community you have selected).

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