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Customer service center now open at the Development Services permit counter

This week, Denver Community Planning and Development launched a new, dedicated customer service center to improve the customer experience and expedite interaction with the Development Services permit counter.

Since the Great Recession, Denver's building permit volumes have rebounded and development is booming throughout the city. June 2014 was the single highest-volume month for Denver building permits (6,429) in the last 10 years.

"Streamlined customer service is a priority for the city of Denver. We believe a government that works smarter is a government that moves at the speed of you. We want our homeowners' and professionals' valuable time at the permit counter to be time well spent," said Mayor Michael B. Hancock.

Until today, customers could only sign in at a kiosk to get in the queue to meet with a staff member from the CPD's Development Services team.

Now, two full-time customer service representatives will greet customers and help direct them to the appropriate review team from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. (permit counter hours are generally 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. but vary by service). They will be available to answer questions and help expedite each customer's interaction at the permit counter. Getting off to a good start at the permit counter can save a customer valuable time, and may ultimately speed up the entire permitting process.

"We've heard loud and clear from our customers that getting permits can be confusing and frustrating," said Brad Buchanan, executive director of Community Planning and Development. "This is one of many steps we'll be taking to speed up the permitting process and make the whole experience more pleasant and less intimidating, especially for first-timers."

The city's permit counter offers building- and zoning-related consultation as well as plan review and permits for projects in the Denver city limits. The permit counter provides services to many types of customers -- from homeowners seeking permits for a do-it-yourself project to architects and contractors seeking permits for everything from water heater installations to skyscrapers. The permit counter is located on the second floor of the Wellington Webb Municipal Building at 201 W. Colfax Avenue. Learn more at DenverGov.org/DS.