Plans & Zoning Fast Track Program
What is the Fast Track Program?The program is designed to assist people who wish to build new housing with the permitting process. It is comprised of zoning clinics and seminars specifically designed to educate applicants on the permitting process. In addition, color-coded permits, caseworkers, expedited design review, and expedited Board of Appeal hearings were instituted to streamline the permitting process.
- Residential
- COLOR CODED PERMITS
- Created to track the progress of the application throughout the various stages of the permitting process. Plan examiners identify the color-coded applications as a priority. The examiners immediately contact the developers if additional information is required. This significantly reduces the turnaround time when additional information is needed.
- CASEWORKERS
- Caseworkers are assigned to facilitate the review process. Caseworkers communicate with the developers, the Department of Inspectional Services, and various agencies in order to expedite the process.
- EXPEDITED BOARD OF APPEAL HEARINGS
- Additional hearings are scheduled throughout the year resulting in a reduction in the waiting period for the decisions.
- EXPEDITED DESIGN REVIEW
- The Department of Inspectional Services has implemented a system where design review occurs before the Board of Appeals hearing.
- This expedites the process as a majority of design work is reviewed before the Board reaches a final decision on the zoning issue.
- Commercial
- WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
- Principle use of building must be for business
- There must not be a change of the building use and occupancy
- The building dimensions and lot size must remain the same
- There may be no substantial alterations to the building structure
- Hospitals, retail establishments, and office building core area/system renovation are ineligible
- WHAT DOES THE APPLICANT NEED TO SUBMIT?
- A CHECK FOR THE PERMIT FEE
- TWO SETS OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS (including fire protection)
- A LETTER FROM THE BUILDING OWNER OR AUTHORIZED AGENT INDICATING APPROVAL OF THE PLANS
- SIGNED AFFIDAVITS FROM ARCHITECTS, ENGINEERS, AS WELL AS INSPECTION AFFIDAVITS
- THE NAME, ADDRESS, DAY AND EVENING TELEPHONE NUMBER OF THE LICENSED BUILDER WHO WILL BE IN CHARGE OF THE WORK AT THE SITE
- A PERFORMANCE BOND, LETTER OF CREDIT, OR CERTIFIED CHECK IN THE AMOUNT OF TWICE THE AMOUNT OF THE BUILDING PERMIT FEE
- PLANNING AND ZONING
- The Assistant Commissioner assigns a plan examiner to the application.
- Planning and Zoning will review the plans to ensure they comply with the building, plumbing, fire, and other applicable codes.
- Provided all information is available to the plan examiner, the process will be complete in approximately 7 days.
- FAST TRACK FOR REPLACEMENT OF BURNED OUT BUILDINGS
This program was initiated to address the needs and concerns of residents/homeowners who have suffered a loss of their dwelling due to a fire. This expedited process eliminates the standard review period allowing the dwelling to be rebuilt as expeditiously as possible. - When extensive fire damage occurs, and the buildings requires either demolition, or a complete restructuring, Inspectional Services places the construction on a fast track program provided:
- The applicant provides a complete set of plans
- The new plans reflect a structure no larger than the existing shell of the old building.
- If these criteria are met, a zoning review is waived and the plans will be approved within 2-5 days.
©2008 The City of Boston