PROPOSED CHANGES TO PERMITTING/ LICENSING IN BOSTON

City Councilor Michelle Wu, Chair of the Boston City Council Special Committee on Small Business, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, has released her report on the recommended changes necessary to make the permitting and licensing process in Boston faster, and more predictable.  The full report is attached here but some key recommendations include the following;

1. Public Timetables: Publicize estimated timelines for obtaining various permits and licenses.
2. Streamlining Restaurant Permitting: Special focus on streamlining the usually long and arduous task for permitting of restaurants, usually the anchor and lifeblood of a neighborhood.
3. Inspectional Issues: The process of scheduling multiple inspections and re-inspections can be the largest cause of delays in granting a permit.  The report proposes having pre-inspections with coordinated inspections by all agencies involved as the process heads toward final permit.
4. As-of-right uses: Review and alter the as-of-right uses in different zoning districts to eliminate the need for many businesses to appear before the ZBA.
5. Multiple Agencies and Similar Use: Many city agencies require permits for the same issue (E.G. ISD and Boston Fire for dumpster placement).  This should be coordinated internally once a permit for the dumpster has been filed.
6. Case Manager: Institute a case manager system to handle communication between city agencies.
7. Technology: Finally bring the system online so traveling back and forth to both City Hall and 1010 Mass Ave are not always necessary.  This would also allow for electronic renewals and saved business profiles.
8. Fees: Allow all fees to be paid online.
9. Streamline ZBA appeals process: Separate out complicated issues from quicker ones to expedite those through the system.
10. Streamlining other concerns:  New signage, non-live entertainment, takeout and liquor licensing process (also up for a vote in the MA Legislature to give Boston control over their liquor licensing).

Thanks to Councilor Michelle Wu and her team for all of their hard work, and continued hard work, on this important project.