Struggling with slow permit processing and compliance issues? Discover the best permit software solutions that streamline workflows, automate checks, and boost efficiency to save time, reduce errors, and stay compliant effortlessly.
Are permit applications slowing you down?
Juggling endless paperwork, clunky workflows, and strict regulations can eat up hours and create compliance headaches.
Even when new projects are waiting, manual processes and integration gaps waste precious time.
You need a smarter way to automatically check compliance, reduce data entry, and support collaboration, all while staying within budget and meeting regulatory demands.
That is where permit software comes in, offering a centralized hub for issuing, tracking, and managing permits. Look for solutions with customizable workflows, real-time reporting, and municipal system integration to solve these core challenges.
In this article, I review the 10 best permit software options designed to cut processing times and help you ensure compliance—so you can confidently handle anything your city throws at you.
You will discover which tools can save time, stress, and money as you scale.
Let’s get started.
| Product | Starting Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 1. OpenGov | Contact for pricing | Local government agencies |
| 2. Accela | Contact for pricing | State and local governments |
| 3. Cityworks | Contact for pricing | Public works departments |
| 4. SmartGov | $1.00/year | Local government community development |
| 5. Cloudpermit | $6,000.00/year | Municipal building departments |
OpenGov offers a comprehensive permitting and licensing solution designed to modernize how local governments manage community development. It allows you to automate workflows, streamline application processes, and enhance transparency for citizens and staff alike. Your agency can digitize everything from initial application submission to final approval, reducing manual work and accelerating project timelines.
This platform helps you manage various permit types, conduct inspections efficiently with mobile tools, and provide a user-friendly online portal for applicants. It also integrates with other government functions, offering a unified experience for permitting, licensing, and code enforcement. You can expect improved efficiency and better engagement with your community.
Accela provides a robust cloud-based platform for government agencies to manage building permits, licensing, and code enforcement. It helps you digitize and automate the entire permit lifecycle, from application intake to final inspection, significantly reducing processing times and administrative burden. Your citizens and contractors can submit applications, make payments, and track statuses online 24/7.
The software includes features like electronic document review, GIS integration for spatial planning, and mobile tools for inspectors to perform on-site duties efficiently. Accela’s configurable solutions adapt to your specific needs, enhancing collaboration and delivering transparent services to your community.
Cityworks offers an enterprise asset management (EAM) and permitting solution built on a GIS foundation, making it ideal for managing public infrastructure and development. It integrates permitting with asset management, allowing you to link permit activities directly to infrastructure assets for better tracking and maintenance. This approach helps you streamline workflows and improve data accuracy across departments.
With Cityworks, you can manage permit applications, inspections, and code enforcement within a spatial context. It provides tools for workflow automation, mobile access for field staff, and comprehensive reporting to enhance operational efficiency and accountability within your municipality.
SmartGov is a cloud-based software suite that empowers local governments to manage permitting, licensing, and code enforcement efficiently. It automates workflows, offers customizable forms, and provides an intuitive citizen portal for 24/7 online access. Your community members can easily submit applications, track permit statuses, and review inspection results from any device, which reduces administrative workload.
This platform streamlines plan reviews, automates routing, and integrates with GIS for geographical mapping of permits and enforcement cases. SmartGov aims to reduce processing times, minimize errors, and improve overall citizen satisfaction by offering a transparent and user-friendly experience.
Cloudpermit is a user-friendly, cloud-based e-permitting software specifically designed to streamline community development processes for municipal building departments. It offers a comprehensive solution for managing building permits, business licensing, planning, and code enforcement activities. Your municipality can accept complete applications online, issue permits faster, and conduct mobile inspections in the field, even offline.
This platform enhances transparency by allowing all stakeholders to access and track permit statuses in real time through self-service portals. Cloudpermit features customizable workflows, GIS integration for spatial planning, and automated status updates to keep everyone informed and reduce manual follow-ups, ensuring a smooth and efficient permitting lifecycle.
GovPilot provides a cloud-based government management platform that includes robust permit software to streamline operations for municipalities. It allows you to digitize and automate permit applications, reviews, and approvals, reducing paperwork and improving efficiency. Your staff can easily manage various permit types, from construction to special events, all within a centralized system.
This software offers a public-facing portal for citizens to submit applications and track their status, enhancing transparency and convenience. GovPilot also includes features for GIS mapping, code enforcement, and inspection management, helping you consolidate community development functions and improve citizen engagement.
Clariti offers a comprehensive permitting and licensing solution designed to help governments modernize and simplify complex regulatory processes. This software enables you to digitize all types of permit applications, from building to zoning, and automate the entire workflow from submission to issuance. You can expect reduced processing times and improved operational efficiency.
With Clariti, you can provide an intuitive online portal for citizens and businesses to apply for permits, track their progress, and make payments. It also supports electronic plan review, mobile inspections, and robust reporting, ensuring greater transparency and accountability across your municipal departments. This platform is built to adapt to your unique regulatory requirements.
SwiftBuild.ai offers an AI-powered permit software solution designed to significantly accelerate the permitting process for construction professionals. It leverages artificial intelligence to automate research, preparation, and submission of permit applications, helping you navigate complex municipal regulations with ease. This platform is ideal if you want to drastically cut down on permit approval times.
The software provides a proprietary database of nationwide permit requirements, real-time tracking of applications, and direct communication tools with local authorities. SwiftBuild.ai aims to reduce errors, save time, and keep your projects on schedule by streamlining the entire permitting journey, allowing your team to focus on building, not paperwork.
PermitFlow is an AI-powered permitting platform built for construction and trade professionals, aiming to streamline the often-complex permit application process. It offers end-to-end management, helping you determine municipal requirements, prepare applications, submit them, and track their progress all in one centralized location.
This software helps reduce costly delays by confirming applications are correct before submission and providing instant notifications on status updates. PermitFlow supports multi-project tracking across various locations and offers a hybrid model combining AI with human experts for navigating regulations, making it suitable for managing complex permitting needs.
SeamlessDocs (now a part of Granicus) offers a digital forms and e-signature platform that can be leveraged to create a more efficient permit application process for government agencies. It allows you to convert any PDF form into a smart, online version that can be filled out, signed electronically, and submitted from any device. This significantly reduces reliance on paper and manual data entry.
While not exclusively a permit software, its core functionality directly supports digitizing permit applications, collecting fees, and managing submissions. You can integrate it with existing government systems, enhancing your overall digital workflow for various civic services, including permits, and improving the citizen experience.
Still struggling with slow permit approvals?
Choosing the right permit software can be overwhelming when weighed down by legacy tools and manual processes that bottleneck your entire workflow.
Today’s leading solutions help you streamline compliance, decrease turnaround times, and automate key steps—empowering your agency with modern efficiency.
Here’s who stands out above the rest.
OpenGov leads the pack, giving local government agencies intuitive, configurable tools that slash processing times, simplify compliance, and boost transparency at every step.
Accela and Cityworks are strong contenders, too, bringing scalable features and public sector expertise, but if you want the best permit software for government modernization, OpenGov stands unmatched.
Ready to accelerate permitting? Book a personalized OpenGov demo today.
Empower your team to work faster, smarter, and better.
