Category Archives: Permitting Software

Audit Remote or Virtual Inspections

With citizenserve's community development software, it's easy to audit remote or virtual inspections. Coronavirus has changed how municipalities offer services. We can help you manage those changes through our cloud-based software. So if you're a current customer, contact us to help you start an audit process. Otherwise, watch the video and request a live demo at the bottom of this form.

Firstly, you need to know which inspections are available. So open the metric 'Pending Remote Inspection Requests'. Metrics are visual reports that display helpful data about your processes. For instance, this metric shows a list of all inspections that could be audited. Customers request new metrics through the Support Center. Our subscription includes unlimited metrics and reports.
Inspection Audit Metric showing different inspection types

Secondly, choose an inspection to audit from the list.
List of Live Remote Inspeciton data

Thirdly, change the inspection type from Virtual or Remote to Field Audit.Inspection type dropdown with Field Audit inspection type highlighted

Fourthly, assign the task to the appropriate inspector.  

Fifthly,  Update the inspection date and time.

Finally, send an email to notify the contractor.

For help starting field audits in your software, send a Support Request in the software. Or, to learn more about how our software can support your community development efforts, keep reading!

About Citizenserve

Citizenserve is cloud-based community development software. We configure our software to meet your needs. We offer solutions forBuilding Permits, Business Licenses, Development Projects, Code Enforcement, and Requests. Explore our site and see how we support community development. Schedule a live demo in the form at the bottom of the screen and we'll help you get started today.

Citizenserve's Highly Configurable Software

We configure your online forms with custom fields. Hence, We gather all the information you need to manage your community development projects. Citizens submit applications, make payments, upload documents or send messages from the portal. The system notifies staff so no work is lost. Staff track review tasks, notify contacts, track payments, and issue permits or licenses. Field staff performs on-site inspections using our cloud-based software. And our integrated system lets you view all files related to an address. We offer comprehensive customer support from the first meeting, through go-live and beyond.

Citizenserve in the news

See how Alachua County, Florida migrated their Building Department to Citizenserve.

Over-the-Counter Permits – Instant Permits – Express Permits

Citizenserve can help you deliver instant over-the-counter permits and licenses to your constituents. Why route for review, when you can just collect fees and deliver the permit online? The process is easy; applicants fill out a simple online form, pay online, and then download their permit.

Did you know citizenserve also supports remote inspections? Check out this video on Remote Video Inspections to see how. Jurisdictions can accept contractor or homeowner-created video recordings, uploaded photographs, or can perform the remote inspection using conferencing software such as Skype. Contact us to see how we can help you implement remote inspections, express permits, or other online solutions to support your municipality.

How We Configure Your Regular and Over-The-Counter Permits

Citizenserve configures your applications, both over-the-counter and those with a review process, with custom fields. This means we gather any information you need to manage your community development projects. Citizenserve software includes modules for Permitting, Licensing, Development Projects, Code Enforcement, Request Tracking, and a Citizens portal. Citizens submit applications, make payments, upload documents or send messages from the portal. The system notifies staff so no work is lost. Staff track review activities, notify applicants, track payments, and issue permits or licenses. License inspectors perform inspections on-site using our cloud-based software. Citizenserve's integrated modules let you view all files related to an address. Your citizenserve subscription also includes unlimited reporting. Metrics, another report type, provide a graphical view of processes to staff and management. Citizenserve's community development software helps you track and manage your projects.

Our Project Implementation Strategy

We begin each project with an agile implementation strategy. The Engagement Manager demonstrates new development work and gathers user feedback during weekly walk-through meetings. Whether we are building an over-the-counter permit or a regular permit with an automatically routed workflow, it's vital that each user test and play in the system after the weekly meeting. During this hands-on time, the user confirms the system works as expected, or uncovers any edge cases that should be addressed. Then the Engagement Manager incorporates user feedback and demonstrates new functionality during the next meeting. This process repeats until the user confirms the system works as desired. Finally, it's time to train system users and go live.

About Citizenserve

Citizenserve is a cloud-based community development software suite. We configure our software to meet your needs. We also offer solutions for online Building Permits, Business Licenses, Development Projects, Code Enforcement, and Requests. Explore our site see how we support community development - beyond an over-the-counter permit. Schedule a live demo, and we'll help get you started today.

Citizenserve in the news

See how Alachua County, Florida migrated their Building Department to Citizenserve.

GIS Integration

Citizenserve offers GIS Integration and much more. The following questions were included in a formal Permitting and Land Management System Request for Information from a city of about 62,500 residents.  Read our responses below for more information about some of the features included in Citizenserve's e-government software solution.

1.7     Geographic Information Systems

1.7.1. Describe the solution’s integration capabilities with ESRI (Environmental Systems Research Institute)-based GIS systems and services.

Citizenserve Response: Most Citizenserve customers have ESRI GIS with various layers and property information.  Two-way GIS integration using web services allows ESRI GIS information to be incorporated into Citizenserve.

1.7.2. Describe features offered, ESRI solutions and versions supported.

Citizenserve Response: Mapping features are built into the software.  Wherever the map pin is available users can click on the pin icon to see their permitting, licensing, and case files on a map.  Reports can also be rendered as a map rather than a table and the information included in each file can be easily customized.  Citizenserve uses the Google Map API and all features available through the Google API can be incorporated into the software.  Most Citizenserve customers also have ESRI GIS with various layers and property information.  Two-way integration using web services allows ESRI GIS information to be incorporated into Citizenserve.  This short demonstration video provides a general overview of features:

https://www.citizenserve.com/portfolio-view/mapping/

1.7.3. Describe how the system allows real time access to the GIS services and associated databases in order to query the latest address, parcel, zoning, neighborhood, and other relevant datasets?

Citizenserve Response: We will set up two-way GIS integrations to the City’s GIS rather than accessing the data downloads the City provides on its redmond.gov website, since the City is requesting real time access. We will use web services for the integration.

1.7.5. Describe the solution’s capabilities to provide geographically based analysis, data, and reports.

Citizenserve Response: Mapping features are built into the software.  Wherever the map pin is available users can click on the pin icon to see their permitting, licensing, and case files on a map.  Reports can also be rendered as a map rather than a table and the information included in each file can be easily customized.  Citizenserve uses the Google Map API and all features available through the Google API can be incorporated into the software.  Most Citizenserve customers also have ESRI GIS with various layers and property information.  Two-way integration using web services allows ESRI GIS information to be incorporated into Citizenserve.

Any of the data available from the Google Map API and/or the City’s ESRI GIS are available for reporting and analysis.

This short demonstration video provides a general overview of our GIS Integration features:

https://www.citizenserve.com/portfolio-view/mapping/

1.7.6. Describe the solution’s integration capabilities to provide an interactive mapping component with the ability to create custom queries and reports.

Citizenserve Response: The end user reporting tool that is built into the software allows end users to create tabular reports, map reports, and merge reports that merge a list with a template like an expired permit notice.  Using HTML, the reports can be interactive with drill-down capabilities, etc.  The creation of unlimited custom reports is included in the Citizenserve subscription, and any user can request a report at any time and our support team will create the report definition and put it in the user’s reporting folders.  This video demonstration provides a short overview of reporting features in Citizenserve: https://www.citizenserve.com/portfolio-view/reporting/

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In addition to GIS integration, our cloud-based integrated community development software provides multiple solutions to Village, Town, City and County government. In addition to online permitting software, we offer licensing, development, code enforcement, and request tracking solutions. Your subscription also includes an online citizen portal. Keep exploring our site to find pricing information, to request your live demo, or to see how we can support your community development needs.

Visit Customer Profiles to see how our customers are putting our permitting software for governments to work for their communities.

Visit Yavapai County Community Development Innovates their Online Services to see how one Arizona County implemented citizenserve. And then scroll down to the bottom of this page and enter your contact information to request your live demo today. And you'll see how citizenserve can provide permitting software for governments, plus much more.

Document Markup Tool – On a PC

An in-depth review of the features included in Citizenserve's document markup tool. Watch this training video to learn all the ins and outs of this integrated tool.

  1. How to access the markup tool
  2. Create a new stamp
  3. Add stamps to all pages
  4. Edit Stamps
  5. Add Shapes (Rectangle, Circle, Arrow, Line, Free-Draw Tool)
  6. Tools
    1. Bookmarks
    2. Text Box
    3. Highlighter
    4. Measurement Tools
      1. Calibration Tool
      2. Measure area
      3. Measure a length
      4. Measure Distance (around a corner!)
  7. View other reviewer comments
  8. View/add comments
  9. Common comments book
  10. Undo/redo/eraser/zoom tools/display-hide item numbers
  11. Email markup
  12. Generate markup pdf
  13. View markup comments from the citizen portal
  14. Import comments from prior version

 

But citizenserve offers more than just this document markup tool. Our cloud-based integrated community development software provides multiple solutions to Village, Town, City and County government. In addition to online permitting software, we offer licensing, development, code enforcement, and request tracking solutions. Your subscription also includes an online citizen portal. Keep exploring our site to find pricing information, to request your live demo, or to see how we can support your community development needs.

Visit Customer Profiles to see how our customers are putting our community development software - including our document markup tool - to work for their communities.

Visit Yavapai County Community Development Innovates their Online Services to see how one Arizona County implemented citizenserve. And then scroll down to the bottom of this page and enter your contact information to request your live demo today. And you can see our document markup tool in action, plus so much more.