CSS stands for Citizen Self Service portal. This portal allows customers to apply for permits, request inspections, and make payments online. It also gives the general public the ability to conduct basic searches for permits and code cases.

The dashboard is your 'Homepage'. It's a quick snapshot of all your open permits, plans, inspections and invoices. It places all of these items into categories based on their status:

• Items in the 'Attention' column indicate permits that need more information, inspections that failed, etc.
• The 'Pending' column shows all items that are currently in review.
• 'Active' items are issued permits and plans.
• Items that have not yet been submitted can be found in the 'Draft' column.
• Permits or plans with recent activity can be found in the 'Recent' column.

 The Inspections section has different column names:

• 'Requested' inspections are those that have been requested, but not yet confirmed and scheduled.
• Once an inspection request is approved, it gets moved to the 'Scheduled' column. Please note that an inspection request is not a guarantee. Once the inspection moves to the 'Scheduled' column, you will need to verify the date and time of the inspection as the requested time may not always be available.
• 'Closed' inspections are recently completed inspections. Use the 'Closed' column to view your inspection results.
• The 'Invoices' sections shows any fees owed.
• All fees will show in the 'Past Due' column. This does not mean that they are overdue. If there are fees in this column, the permits associated with the fees have not been issued. All fees must be paid prior to a permit being issued. The 'Add to Cart' button allows you to go directly to MyGovPay to submit payment.

Permit Numbering 

Why do some permit numbers begin with letters and others with numbers?

Permit numbers beginning with two digits represent permits that were obtained prior to the implementation of EnerGov (our
current software). The two-digit number at the beginning of the permit indicates the year the permit was pulled. So, permit number
16-00002465CAEL is for a Commercial Alteration Electrical (CAEL) permit pulled in 2016.

Permit numbers beginning with letters represent permits that have been obtained since the implementation of EnerGov. The first four letters indicate the type of permit and the last four numbers indicate the year. Permit PLMB-000489-2018 indicates a Plumbing permit pulled in 2018. (Plumbing permit number 489 pulled in 2018.) 

A permit with no year in the permit number indicates a rental permit. For example, 0000000752 SF is a Single-Family rental property.

Creating Reports

What do I do if the permit information that I would like to obtain is not available through the report drop down?

All of our information is public record and can be obtained when requested. The Report tab allows customers to run the reports that we thought would be most requested. If the information you would like to obtain is not listed, please file an
Open Records Request with the City Clerk's Office (click here). 

Additionally, if there is information that you plan to obtain frequently, please email inspections@cityofames.org and we
will try to add the report to the drop-down menu.

Our building permit fees are based on the valuation of your project. The Fee Estimator is a helpful tool to determine the cost of your building permit. You just need to know the valuation of your project and the square footage. The valuation includes all labor and materials, regardless of who is doing the work or what the materials cost. If the labor and materials are being donated, the valuation would be the market value of the materials and labor. Please remember that this is only an estimate and that the valuation may change upon review by our Plans Examiner.

Why does my Inspection Time say 8:00 a.m. or 1:00 p.m.?  I thought the window was 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m.

When choosing an inspection time, you will only need to choose whether you want the morning timeframe (AM) or the afternoon timeframe (PM). The software program automatically assigns an hour to the timeframe. Please ignore the hour and only use the
AM or PM timeframe. For example, if you choose AM, the software may show the inspection occurring at 12 AM. We promise to
not be there at 12 AM! We will be there between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m.