THE CODE CONNECTION

Hurry up and wait.  That's the game you play as an architect submitting plans for a building permit.  So why does it take so long?  Well, every city, county, and state that issues permits has its own set of procedures and reasons (maybe excuses) for dragging things out.  Most of us understand that often multiple people doing reviews and routing of documents etc. can take some time.  But when construction processes such as bidding which often involve scores of people can take place in a matter of a few weeks, its hard to understand why government can respond as quickly.

So lets look behind the scenes.  What are the factors that affect turnaround time?

First, the comparison to bidding processes is a little unfair because those who choose to participate are there by choice and often drop out for lack of time or interest in the process. Where the analogy works is from the standpoint of many people reviewing lots of information in an organized and orchestrated manner.  There's no doubt that government can learn a few lessons from the private sector on time management, doing what matters most, and doing first things first. 

Government procedures are often the result of a long history of issuing permits.  And with the advent of many new forms of construction contracting and ever increasing expectations of time management, governments have been slow to respond.  There are other factors too.  As the economy expands and contracts, governments usually don't flucuate proportionately to meet the change in demand - and rightfully so. 

Hence, its a balancing act.  Governments are constantly trying to work within fixed budgets without acquiring debt as a matter of responsibility to tax payers. And they are often trying to focus on the basics of code enforcement leaving little time for reflection and progressive thinking about how they conduct their public service.

Code enforcement itself has a special duty to the public.  While reviewing and inspecting for code compliance, a pubic official's first duty is to preserve the larger public good of protecting the health, safety and welfare of the community.  But their second duty is to help the design and construction community to meet their obligation.  So is the building code a carrot or a stick?  That depends on the players from both sides and how they respond.

The moral of the story here is twofold.  1) Those working in the private sector construction industry need to keep the big picture about the role of government in perspective.   While remembering that, they need to see that their own duty is not just to fulfill their contract with their client but also to deliver on their shared responsibility to the public as well.  2) Governments, while often looking at "how to do more with less", should seriously consider the needs of the public it serves and periodically renew its commitment to service by looking at accommodating the changing needs of the construction industry. They have a duty to code enforcement and helpful public service.

So what can you do to speed things up?  More about that on the next post of the Code Connection Journal.

Your Host,

Terry Welker AIA