City of Lancaster’s Online Permitting Proves Successful from the Start

The City of Lancaster has now been accepting a number of permit applications online for more than two months. The City implemented an automated permitting system in early January. Since then, the City has issued a total of 799 permits, a full 13% of which have been processed online. Citizens now have the added convenience of applying for certain types of permits online, enabling them to bypass physically visiting City Hall. The online process begins with the requester registering for an online account at aca.accela.com/lancaster. After registering, applicants can monitor the status of their pending permit through to approval. In addition, once a permit has been issued, the system provides the capability for the online scheduling of inspections. The permit applications which are currently available for online processing include: Commercial Solar, Residential Solar, Commercial Water Heater, Residential Water Heater, Commercial Re-Roof, Residential Re-Roof, Residential Pool/Spa, and Permanent Sign. By applying online, residents and businesses can manage the entire transaction process, including submitting plans and signing the necessary permit documents, without any need to visit City Hall. The permits mentioned above, as well as those not yet available for online processing, can all still be applied for in person at Lancaster City Hall (44933 Fern Avenue), at the Development Services counter. Permits processed over-the-counter, require the initial application portion to be completed in person. However, after the permit application visit is complete, the remainder of the process can be managed online, including submitting plans and signing permit documents. To register an account and initiate an online permit process, the Citizen Access Portal can be accessed viaaca.accela.com/lancaster.

City Of Lancaster Press Release