Overview
No More In-Person Visits to File a Development Application
Developers, homeowners, and citizens in Los Angeles looking to break ground on any new development, from a daycare facility to a house remodel, had to apply through a process that was paper-based and relied heavily on in-person interaction with city planners. LA City Planning set out to change that, with a clear list of goals: let citizens initiate and file applications online, streamline case review so staff could handle more cases, and make it easy for planners themselves to build and adapt processes with minimal IT involvement.
“When the Los Angeles Department of City Planning faced the realization that it must immediately transform its technology model to meet the demands of the ‘new normal’ for conducting business during an unprecedented global pandemic, It engaged with SimpliGov and Novinzio to implement an all-encompassing online application filing platform and payment solution as city staff and the public followed California’s ‘Safer at Home’ orders."
David Terukina
Senior Systems Analyst, Los Angeles Department of City Planning
Impact
- No more in-person office visits required
- Routine paperwork filed automatically
- Cases digitized, archived, and easily retrievable
Challenge
- The process was entirely paper-based and required in-person interaction with city planners
- Applicants and staff struggled to manage the many documents tied to each submission
- Case review work needed to move faster so staff could handle more volume
- The office needed a way for planners themselves, not just IT, to build and adapt new processes
Solution
Developer process:
- Developers complete the Department of City Planning Application (DCP 7771) online from any web-enabled device
- Application data integrates directly with LA City Planning's GIS mapping system
- Applicants upload associated documents (plans, maps, images) into a repository linked to their case
- A PDF version of the DCP 7771 is auto-generated and delivered for electronic signature
- Applicants see clearly marked fields for any additional information or documents required
- Email notifications advise applicants on next steps
Staff process:
- Development Services Center staff review each application against a dynamic checklist
- The system presents exactly which fields or documents a developer needs to correct
- Upon approval, a case and case number are created automatically in the city's Planning Case Tracking System (PCTS)
- Staff collaborate directly within the platform during formal case review
Results
- Applicants no longer need to visit an LA City Planning office in person
- Routine paperwork is filed automatically
- Applicants and staff collaborate more efficiently
- Digitized, archived cases are easily retrievable and auditable
- The platform's architecture allowed integration with existing IT systems, so implementation moved quickly
LA City Planning
Population
3.8 Million
Use Case
Application for Development
Department
City Planning
Municipality
City