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Mayor Walsh releases a new tool created at first permitting hackathon

The City deploys a new address search tool for online permitting.

Mayor Martin J. Walsh today released an improved, map-based address search tool, which allows permit applicants to easily find addresses related to their projects, eliminating another roadblock in the permitting process. This new tool is based on a prototype that was created at the City’s inaugural HubHacks event last August. The second HubHacks is slated to kickoff on March 14 at 10:00a.m. at District Hall, 75 Northern Avenue.

Locating the "address of record" for a building is one of the first steps in the process to obtain any building or fire prevention permit in the City. This tool solves another major pain point for users in the permitting process, while the City is simultaneously working to rebuild its entire online permitting experience. A video demonstrating the new tool is available here.

“Making Boston’s permitting process easy, clear, and predictable has been a priority of my administration since taking office,” said Mayor Walsh.  “When residents, contractors, and business owners give us feedback and inform us of the challenges they face during the permitting process, we listen. I’m proud to launch this new tool. It will make business in the city easier.”

"When I opened my new restaurant, this was a major stumbling block," James DiSabatino, Owner of Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese, said. "It's great to see Mayor Walsh listening to small businesses, engaging them in process of problem-solving and making concrete improvements."

The HubHacks event highlighted four outstanding issues in the City’s permitting process and members of Boston’s tech community was able to aid in developing solutions. This is the second tool that the city has released built off a prototype from HubHacks. In December, the City unveiled a new online permit tracking tool called Permit Finder, which allows residents, contractors, and the general public to check the status of permits through the approval process. The search application is now accessible on our online permitting portal.

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