The City of Tallahassee's Growth Management Department continuously works to provide the most efficient and effective service possible. With that goal in mind, we created our Customer Permit Portal and ePlan Review for electronic submittal and review of all development permits. The Customer Permit Portal covers all approvals from the beginning to the end of the permitting process. You'll find information below regarding the application submittal and review process for all land use approvals from the Growth Management Department and the Fire Department. The reviews from Growth Management include land use (e.g., site plans, subdivisions, etc.), environmental (e.g., Natural Features Inventory, Environmental Management Permit, etc.), and building inspections (e.g., building permits, certificates of occupancy, etc.). There are two things to keep in mind as you review this page. First, be sure to review the "Applications & Permits" page from our main menu for a detailed description of individual permits. The "Applications & Permits" page describes the types of permits, while this "Electronic Plan Review" page provides an overview of the permitting process. Second, the video on our website titled "Permitting from Start to Finish" explains each type of land use permit and how each one fits in to the overall development review process.
What Online Review Means to You
Online submittal and electronic review reduces paperwork and allows you to file your application and pay fees from the convenience of your office. When you submit an application via the Customer Permit Portal, you will be automatically redirected to the ePlan Review website to begin the document submission process. Your required documentation may be uploaded into ePlan Review, allowing Growth Management staff to begin the initial review process to ensure a complete application. You will receive automated emails as your review moves through the process and the ePlan Review site will be your workspace for resubmittals, while also allowing you to track the progress of your project.
Electronic Submittal of General Application Data
To begin the application process, visit our Customer Permit Portal. First time portal users must create a new account. Select the "Create New Account" link and enter the required information, including a valid email address, password, contact information and security questions. Once your new account request has been submitted, you will receive an email notifying you of a successful account creation. You may then login with your username and password to begin the application process. The bulleted summary below provides an overview of the key steps in filing your online application. Please also see this detailed step-by-step example.
- Getting Started - While applying, you will be prompted to furnish the same information requested from the previous paper applications of the past, including people and contacts. For these individuals, you will also be asked to input their email information. The individual listed as the Applicant will be the individual who is notified about documentation upload and fees due.
- Submitting Your Application - After entering the required information and project details, a summary of your project will display with a permit number and brief description of the data entered. A submit button will be active at the bottom of the permit summary page. Select the button when you are ready to submit your application to Growth Management.
- Uploading Your Documents - Once the application has been submitted, your browser will redirect you to the ePlan Review site from the Customer Permit Portal. The ePlan Review site will allow you to browse your files on your computer and begin the upload process of required documentation and/or plans. After verifying all of the correct documents have been uploaded, you may proceed to submitting the documents for review, which will begin the initial review process by Growth Management staff.
- Monitoring Progress - You will continue to access the ePlan Review site from the Customer Permit Portal by navigating to "Existing Permits" and selecting the corresponding project number from which an "Open Plan Review" button will be available. You will be able to view project status, track progress, and submit documentation through the ePlan Review site. Only the Applicant will have access to the ePlan Review site initially. If the applicant would like to invite others to access the project, a project invite action is available. The Applicant can choose to give the invitee view only or upload capability. A valid email address must be entered for the invitee so that an email can be sent with instructions and a link to the Review site, where they can either view documents or upload documents, depending on the access given by the applicant.
Completion of Project and Approval Documents
One of the biggest changes with the adoption of ePlan Review is that you will no longer receive paper stamped copies of your approved plans, certificates, or letters. These and all other correspondence will be accessible electronically on the ePlan Review site. Upon approval of a project, you may print the electronically signed and/or stamped approval documentation located within the project folder. If the allotted time to access the review has expired, you may obtain a copy from Records Management by completing their online records request form.
eRecording of Leon County Clerk of Courts Documents
Growth Management now offers electronic filing, or eRecording, for Leon County Clerk of Courts in the Growth Management eGovernment Services Center, 1st floor Renaissance Building, 435 N. Macomb St. For a listing of services please see our eRecording and Notarial fee schedule. Please note this service is only for documentation related to a City of Tallahassee Growth Management review.
Digital Signatures
Engineers, Notaries, Surveyors and Architects: Learn about going paperless by using Digital Signatures on your Growth Management permit submittals.
Old Applications/Forms
While applications are now only accepted online, the old applications and forms are available for reference only. We are in the process of updating all our permit completeness checklists. They will include relevant reference information from these old applications/forms and will be made available as they are completed.