Thursday, January 05, 2006

Homeowners Center for DCRA Permits


From a listserv:

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Linda Argo
January 5, 2006
Phone: (202) 442-8947
linda.argo@dc.gov


BUILDING PERMITS MADE EASY FOR DC HOMEOWNERS

Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Launches Center that will Ease Residents through Home Permit Process


WASHINGTON, DC
The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs has developed an exciting new resource to help homeowners get building permits more easily in Washington, DC. The Homeowners Center will provide prompt and expert assistance to DC homeowners who are seeking building permits for home improvement projects.

The expert staff is ready to provide clear information about permitting regulations and the permitting process, inform homeowners about permit requirements for their specific projects, conduct plan reviews, and issue permits. All this is designed to make getting a permit as convenient as possible. On-site kiosks will help make the permit process easier for homeowners.

Our new Homeowners Center is a great new addition to our city, said DC Mayor Anthony A. Williams. It's a one-stop shop for residents who need help simplifying the permit process. The center is yet another example of making city government work better and more efficiently for District residents.

The Homeowners Center will serve District residents by appointment and by walk-in. In addition, the Homeowners Center offers the Permit Wizard, a user-friendly computer program that will make paperwork a snap.

DCRA has put a great deal of thought and care into developing the new Homeowners Center, said DCRA Director Patrick Canavan. We are committed to making the building permit process of District homeowners both smoother and easier. We have created a resource that will set the standard for helping homeowners.

All home renovations, whether done by contractors or by the homeowner, must follow strict building codes to assure that the work is safe and that there are no fines for illegal construction. DCRA is dedicated to helping District homeowners who are seeking permits for their home improvement projects. The Homeowners Center is a one-stop-shop for owners to learn about the laws related to renovations.

DCRA's Homeowners Center is located in Suite 2102 at 941 North Capitol Street Northeast. It is open to the public 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Homeowners Center will serve homeowners by appointment and by walk-in.

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs opened the Homeowners Center on January 5, 2006. Mayor Anthony Williams was on hand for the launch, and was joined by representatives from Citibank, the DC Building Industry Association, the International Code Council, the Fannie Mae Foundation, and other community partners and supporters.

The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs protects the health, safety, economic interests, and quality of life of residents, businesses, and visitors in the District of Columbia by issuing licenses and permits, conducting inspections, enforcing building, housing, and safety codes, regulating land use and development, and providing consumer education and advocacy services.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Obviously DCRA Director Patrick Canavan has been listening to the complaints of DC citizens. Let's hope that he's successful in fixing this awful agency. This is certainly a good sign. Let's hope it actually delivers on the promises.

Anonymous said...

Now *that* is good news. Thanks for posting it. I've done so much renovation in the last year. I know there was one commenter who was ragging on people not getting permits but man, if you work the kind of hours I work the last thing you have time for is dealing with a mess trying to get a permit. I like doing things by the book as long as it's not a huge hassle.