The city announced a long-anticipated step forward Tuesday for the Planning and Development Review Department. As part of a pilot program, the department will now accept online payments for plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits and re-inspection fees. For now, the program (named “Austin Build + Connect,” or ABC) is open to a small group of contractors in a pilot phase. The site will become available to the public March 30. Though eventually an ABC website will replace the existing permitting and public search website, for now the service will be available through the current permitting website and will use customers’ current credentials.
Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor. More by Elizabeth Pagano