Gov. Phil Scott touted reforms to the state’s fire permit program Thursday that he said will streamline the process while ensuring safety.
The governor said developers were frustrated how long it took to receive public safety permits from the Division of Fire Safety.
Among the changes outlined by Division of Fire Safety Executive Director Michael Desrochers were a shortened application for small projects and an expansion of the number of assistant fire marshals involved in the review and approval process.
Desrochers said he wants to see 95 percent of all permits be issued within 30 days. Currently, he said 82-85 percent of permits are decided in that time period. Typically, developers need one to three permits.
The division receives about 3,000 applications per year for permits that cover safety items including sprinklers and alarm systems. Desrochers said the review process was “extensive and complex.”
Scott, who was in the construction business, noted that a delay of six to eight weeks in a permit can push a project into the next season and add costs. He praised the division for identifying the “bottlenecks” in the permitting system and finding ways to remove them.
Desrochers said in addition to helping businesses, another goal is to be able to streamline permitting so officials can spend more time reviewing systems in residential buildings, where he said the most lives are lost in fires.
Scott, Desrochers and Public Safety Commissioner Tom Anderson emphasized the none of the streamlining measures would compromise public safety.
