The Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting is purging inactive permit applications older than one year to clear an existing backlog as it moves to a new software system. 

What You Need To Know

  • DPP announced on Monday that applications that have been in the DPP review system for longer than 365 days without activity from the applicant will be deemed expired and removed from the system
  • The department is transitioning from the POSSE permitting software system to the new Clariti Land Management system, which is expected to be fully operational this summer. 
  • Of the 3,663 residential permit applications classified as “in progress’ in the POSSE system, some the department said 1,900 have been in idle for at least a year
  • Applicants can request that their applications not be deemed expired but will be required to show that they will provided the updated information needed for the permit review to proceed

 

DPP announced on Monday that applications that have been in the DPP review system for longer than 365 days without activity from the applicant will be deemed expired and removed from the system. This includes permits that have been approved but have not been picked up. DPP said these applications may no longer meet codes that have since been updated, and therefore may require reapplication, redesign and re-review.  

“Such idle permit applications are shown as ‘In Progress’ in the DPP POSSE system but are actually with the applicant or its agent with no sign that they intend to proceed with the project,” the department stated in a release issued on Monday. “This contributes to the backlog of permits under review by DPP, when in reality they are sitting idle in the system. The backlog takes physical space in the DPP offices in the form of paper plans, as well as computer memory space.”

The department is transitioning from the POSSE permitting software system to the new Clariti Land Management system, which is expected to be fully operational this summer. 

Of the 3,663 residential permit applications classified as “in progress’ in the POSSE system, some the department said 1,900 have been in idle for at least a year (those pending a discretionary permit to be approved will not be purged).

Of 3,267 in-progress commercial permit applications, 1,890 have not been acted upon by the applicant for at least a year. Of these, 1,023 were reviewed and approved, but not paid for or picked up.

The department clarified that applications that have been in process for more than 365 days that applicants are actively reviewing, addressing or providing feedback on are not considered expired and are not subject to being purged.

Applicants can request that their applications not be deemed expired but will be required to show that they will provide the updated information needed for the permit review to proceed. Those with approved plans may pick up their permits and pay any outstanding fees. However, once an application expires, new plans must be submitted and plan review fees paid if the applicant wishes to continue the project.

Applicants who wish to request that an idle application not be expired should send an email to dppcancelpermits@honolulu.gov and provide the applicant’s name, phone number, TMK of the project, permit application number and reason the application should not be expired.

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at michael.tsai@charter.com.