By Phil Crone
Executive Officer, Dallas Builders Association
The year 2020 presented an unprecedented array of challenges for builders operating within the City of Dallas. As the global pandemic swept across the nation, the construction industry, like many others, faced immense uncertainty. However, thanks to the proactive advocacy of organizations like the Dallas Builders Association (DBA), a critical first hurdle was overcome: housing was rightfully designated an essential business. This crucial classification allowed construction projects to continue, preserving jobs and ensuring the supply of much-needed housing across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
While the initial designation of housing as essential provided a glimmer of hope, it quickly became apparent that new obstacles were emerging. As communities adapted to a socially distant world, city permitting offices nationwide were tasked with transitioning their operations to accommodate new safety protocols. Impressively, many cities across the Metroplex managed this transition with remarkable efficiency, implementing new digital processes or streamlining existing ones without significant processing delays. Builders in these areas could largely continue their work, albeit with new safety measures in place, thanks to their respective city governments’ adaptive responses.
Regrettably, Dallas stood as a stark exception to this otherwise smooth transition. Instead of adapting efficiently, the City of Dallas’s permitting system plunged into disarray, creating a bottleneck that has severely impacted the local construction industry. Processes that historically took a mere day or two to complete stretched into three months or even longer, leaving vital projects in limbo. This dramatic increase in permit turnaround times stemmed almost entirely from the problematic rollout of a new online permitting system. Far from being a modern solution, the system proved to be fundamentally unprepared for widespread use, lacked intuitive design, and was introduced without adequate support or comprehensive training for city staff and users alike.
The extent of these specific issues with Dallas’s online permitting system was initially highlighted and brought to public attention in a detailed Daltxrealestate.com article published back in August. This early warning sign signaled a deepening crisis that would continue to plague the Dallas construction sector for months to come, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic improvements and transparent communication from city officials.
Over the ensuing months, the Dallas Builders Association staff dedicated immense effort to address this escalating crisis. Through countless meetings, public hearings, and persistent requests for assistance on behalf of our frustrated members, the DBA worked tirelessly with city staff and council members to identify and implement efficiencies within the broken process. Despite these extensive and sustained efforts, the progress achieved has been profoundly unsatisfactory. The industry continues to grapple with prolonged delays, adding considerable stress and financial strain to businesses and individuals reliant on timely permit approvals.
Uniting for Change: A Rally Cry for Permitting Progress in Dallas
Recognizing the severity and widespread impact of these permitting delays, the Dallas Builders Association intensified its advocacy by engaging with prominent media organizations. To heighten public and political awareness, the Association shared its concerns with leading print publications such as The Dallas Morning News and D Magazine. Furthermore, the issue gained significant traction through television media exposure on Fox 4 and NBC 5. These concerted media efforts have begun to yield tangible results, bringing the critical issue of Dallas permit delays into the public spotlight and fostering a broader understanding of its detrimental effects on the city’s economic vitality and housing supply.
The impact of this robust advocacy was clearly demonstrated during Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson’s “State of the City Address” on December 8th. In a significant acknowledgment of the ongoing crisis, Mayor Johnson explicitly stated, “We must demand that our city’s management provide a better, more efficient permitting process for our businesses. Dallas is a great city for businesses but to grow as we know it can, it must also be a great city to do business with.” This powerful statement directly echoed the concerns raised by the Dallas Builders Association, coming on the heels of a city council hearing and a comprehensive letter the Association sent to the mayor and city council just the previous day. This high-level recognition underscores the undeniable urgency of the situation and signifies a crucial step towards implementing effective solutions for the city’s beleaguered permitting system.
Slow and Unsteady: The Economic Impact of Permitting Stagnation
Despite increased awareness and mayoral acknowledgment, the pace of progress on this critical issue has been, predictably, frustratingly slow. City staff, while expressing optimism, indicated that permit turnaround times of 2-3 weeks might realistically be achieved by April of the following year. If this projection holds true, it means the City of Dallas will have taken over a year to make the same fundamental adjustments to its permitting process that many other comparable cities across the Metroplex successfully implemented in a matter of days back in March. This glacial pace not only highlights a severe deficiency in responsiveness but also perpetuates a state of uncertainty and significant financial burden on the local construction industry.
The stark reality is that improvements are needed now, not next spring. These ongoing delays are not merely an inconvenience; they are actively crippling small businesses, the lifeblood of our local economy. Entrepreneurs are facing substantial financial losses due to stalled projects, increased overheads, and penalties for missed deadlines, some even contemplating closing their doors permanently. This ripple effect extends to depriving countless workers of their livelihoods, as construction crews sit idle awaiting permit approvals that never arrive. Furthermore, the city itself is losing out on significant tax revenue—from property taxes on completed homes to sales taxes generated by construction materials and related purchases—at a time when public funds are more crucial than ever.
Perhaps most critically, these pervasive delays are severely curtailing access to housing at a time when Dallas residents need it the most. The DFW Metroplex continues to experience robust population growth, fueling an ever-increasing demand for new homes, renovations, and essential infrastructure. When the supply of housing is artificially restricted by an inefficient permitting system, it inevitably drives up costs, exacerbates affordability challenges, and makes it harder for families to find suitable living spaces. This creates a challenging environment for both aspiring homeowners and those looking to improve their existing properties, directly impacting the quality of life for Dallas citizens.
It is reassuring to note that Mayor Johnson and the entire city council now clearly understand and broadly support the Dallas Builders Association’s resolute position on this critical issue. They openly share our frustrations regarding the chronic inefficiencies plaguing the permitting department. Most importantly, city leadership has expressed a renewed and unequivocal willingness to commit to significantly reducing permit turnaround times immediately. This commitment includes a pledge to enact the specific, actionable recommendations outlined in our most recent letter to city officials. While acknowledging this positive shift in rhetoric, the imperative now lies in translating these promises into concrete, measurable actions that deliver tangible relief to the struggling construction sector.
We fully realize that these assurances offer little solace to those who have already endured months of frustrating waits for building permits and navigated the numerous complexities of the city’s dysfunctional system. The emotional and financial toll on individual builders, developers, and homeowners has been considerable. Therefore, we strongly urge our members and the broader community to continue actively communicating their challenges to us at the Dallas Builders Association. Furthermore, it is equally vital to share these experiences directly with the council members who represent the specific district where a home is being built or remodeled. Your individual stories and detailed accounts provide crucial evidence of the systemic problems and reinforce the urgency for immediate change.
To assist in this vital communication, please click here to easily find your council member by address. Once identified, you can then click here to find their corresponding email address. When drafting your correspondence to council members, it is important to include their office staff in the email. This ensures that a broader team is aware of the issue and can help track and escalate your concerns. Consistently hearing about the direct impact of these delays on projects within their respective districts is essential for council members to fully grasp the ongoing crisis and maintain the necessary political will to drive lasting reform.
The Dallas Builders Association has already directly assisted numerous homeowners and builders in navigating their complex building permit applications, often acting as a vital intermediary with city departments. Recognizing the need for streamlined communication, the Association has developed a template letter designed to empower individuals to more easily convey their specific concerns, project details, and the quantifiable impact of delays directly to their council member. This tool ensures that your voice is heard clearly and effectively, contributing to the collective push for a more efficient and responsive permitting system in Dallas.
We deeply understand the profound significance of this issue—not only to your individual business and your valued clients but also to the broader realization of our city’s crucial housing goals. The Dallas Builders Association remains steadfast in its commitment. Our unwavering fight to overcome these systemic challenges will not cease until the debilitating permit delays are entirely eradicated, and the City of Dallas’s permitting and development processes are transformed into systems that are consistently predictable, transparent, efficient, and ultimately effective. This is essential for fostering a thriving construction industry and ensuring a robust, affordable housing supply for all Dallas residents.
Phil Crone is the executive officer of the Dallas Builders Association, the leading trade association and comprehensive network for builders and developers in the Dallas area. For more information about the invaluable work and resources offered by the DBA, please visit their official website at dallasbuilders.com.