LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes Announces Online Enhancements; New capabilities will benefit inspectors, contractors, licensees, homeowners

WASHINGTON, D.C. – January 30, 2013 – (RealEstateRama) — The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ (LARA) Bureau of Construction Codes (BCC) today announced it will be replacing its existing PermitsPlus client-server technology with Accela Automation web-based enterprise system to integrate construction, code enforcement, licensing, and case management, improving customer service to Michigan citizens.

“We are looking forward to enhanced capability and customer service with our new system,” said Bureau of Construction Codes Director Irvin Poke. “The use of Accela Automation will allow the Bureau of Construction Codes and all the citizens it serves to take advantage of the newest technology available in all construction-related activity.”

The BCC is responsible for the administration of laws relating to building, boiler, electrical, elevator, mechanical systems, and plumbing. The BCC issues permits and licenses, manages licensure examinations, provides inspections and plan review services, investigates complaints against licensees, and registers inspectors.

Accela, Inc., a leading provider of web-mobile, and cloud-based software exclusively for government will in union with Michigan Business One Stop, provide a single gateway to the BCC for local inspectors, contactors, licensees, and homeowners to conduct their business with the State of Michigan more productively.

Citizens, contractors, and other business professionals will be able to access government services 24/7, allowing them to submit and view results of service requests, apply for and check the status of permits, upload photographs, view system-generated alerts and notifications, and access government reports.

Accela Automation will bring the BCC systems into one database, including the Elevator System, Inspector Registration System, Plan Review System (Accela Automation will enable the actual online submission and review of plans); and current time inspection results (inspectors currently use a third party system and download data nightly to be converted into PermitsPlus).

In addition, new enhanced capabilities through Accela Automation will enable the BCC to:

· manage all of Michigan’s permit activities from initiation to close

· handle all types of regulatory activities, from one-time processes such as residential construction permitting to annual renewals of certificates

· streamline the issuance, tracking, and enforcement of all construction-related professional licenses by the BCC

· provide comprehensive project analysis and management for multiple types of documents – including plans, architectural drawings, and licenses

· easily create new case types and business rules associated with unique regulations, statutory requirements, and internal procedures

· integrate a map interface with Accela Automation to visualize government data geographically by leveraging the State’s existing Esri ArcGIS for Server and Microsoft Bing Maps.

· connect field personnel, including inspectors and investigators to data for real-time code enforcement activities, thereby expediting turnaround service by the BCC for the benefit of citizens.

LARA’s Bureau of Construction Codes annually issues more than 25,000 permits and 65,000 licenses and registrations. A total of nine different types of permits and 32 license types go through the automated system. For simple plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits, online permitting allows for instantaneous processing of permits eliminating a wait time for contractors.

Implementation of the new Accela Automation will begin in early February 2013 with a completion date set for late 2014.

To visit the Bureau of Construction Codes website go to: www.michigan.gov/bcc

Contact:
Mario Morrow 517-373-9280