PermitsUSA ~ Innovative Solution

The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) recently received the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies’ 2014 Innovation in Regulation Award, an award that recognizes innovation, creativity, and excellence in regulation of contracting/construction industries. NSCB was recognized for its efforts in 2012 to partner with The Home Depot and local building departments to create and launch PermitsUSA, a kiosk system placed in The Home Depot stores allowing contractors and consumers to purchase building permits from multiple jurisdictions at one time.

NSCB describes PermitsUSA as a “product of a unique public-private partnership created to encourage the purchasing of select building permits while enhancing the process and convenience for users to do so.” It “links to building jurisdictions’ systems, allowing users to interface directly with the various building departments through the in-store kiosk display.”

NSCB reported that between September 2012 and June 2013, a total of 644 building permits were pulled using PermitsUSA in Nevada-based Home Depot stores, generating a total of $42,850 among the four participating jurisdictions. It further reported that The Home Depot is expanding PermitsUSA to Oregon and Florida this year, among others, and hopes to include options for additional permit purchases, license renewal, a national licensed contractor database, a national permits database, property data, and improved compliance among its participating jurisdictions in the future.

NSCB was also recognized for its development and launch in 2014 of a mobile application designed to provide the public with immediate and direct access to contractor license information and filing complaints.

Additional Source: Nevada State Contractors Board, Horizons (Nov. 2014); State Contractors Board Receives National Innovation in Regulation Award