Dallas has seen a dramatic reduction in permit wait times, benefiting residents and contractors alike

For commercial construction, the median wait time has also improved, going from 276 days down to 189 days. Can you believe it?
These updates were shared during a briefing with the Dallas City Council, highlighting the new strategies put in place since last summer. Kimberly Tolbert, the interim city manager, merged the planning and development departments last June as part of a 100-day action plan.
District 11 council member Jaynie Schultz mentioned that the results have been great for both the city and the contractors. She called it a transformative experience for everyone involved.
Chad West, from District 1, even referred to the permitting office as “the heart and engine” of the city. He feels like they’re finally playing in the major leagues now, which is a big change from a few years back.
Back in 2022, builders were waiting months for approvals on permits for demolition and new construction. But now, with the departments merged, it looks like they’re finally seeing some positive results!