Inventory of business permits — Information to be tracked and recorded — Performance data — Reports.
RCW 43.42A.020
in effect(1) By June 30, 2014, each agency shall prepare and submit to the office an inventory of all the business permits indicated in the December 30, 2013, performance audit report by the state auditor. (2)(a) Each agency shall track and record the time it takes to make permitting decisions. (b) Agencies are encouraged to track all relevant information that can assist Washington businesses in determining how long a permit process will take so that the businesses may successfully plan their activities and make sound investment choices, reduce permitting costs to the taxpayers in the form of unnecessary or duplicate staff work, and avoid permitting decision delays that can result in higher costs and lost revenue. (c) At a minimum, each agency shall track and record the following information for each permit application it receives or decision it issues: (i) The application completion time, which is the time elapsed from the initial submission of an application by an entity seeking a permit to the time at which the agency has determined that the application is complete; and (ii) The permit decision time, which is the time elapsed from receipt of a complete application to the agency's issuance of a decision approving or denying the permit. (3) Each agency shall calculate, for each permit it has identified in its inventory, the following performance data: (a) The average application completion and permit decision times for each permit, as measured by the times tracked for ninety percent of applications or permit decisions, excluding the five percent that took the shortest and the five percent that took the longest; (b) The maximum application completion time, excluding applications that were withdrawn or never completed; and (c) The maximum permit decision time. (4) Each agency shall report to the office, as provided in this subsection (4). (a) By March 1, 2016, each agency shall report the times calculated under subsection (3) of this section for the period from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016. (b) By March 1, 2018, and March 1, 2020, each agency shall report based on the times tracked and calculated since the previous reporting period. (c) In each of the reports required under this section, each agency shall submit an updated inventory of permits. Each agency shall identify any permits listed in its inventory for which the agency has not yet posted permit processing times and other information as required under RCW 43.42A.030 and an estimated date for such posting prior to June 30, 2015. (5) The office shall make available to the legislature, upon request, the individual agency reports submitted under subsection (4) of this section.
(1) By June 30, 2014, each agency shall prepare and submit to the office an inventory of all the business permits indicated in the December 30, 2013, performance audit report by the state auditor.
(2)(a) Each agency shall track and record the time it takes to make permitting decisions.
(b) Agencies are encouraged to track all relevant information that can assist Washington businesses in determining how long a permit process will take so that the businesses may successfully plan their activities and make sound investment choices, reduce permitting costs to the taxpayers in the form of unnecessary or duplicate staff work, and avoid permitting decision delays that can result in higher costs and lost revenue.
(c) At a minimum, each agency shall track and record the following information for each permit application it receives or decision it issues:
(i) The application completion time, which is the time elapsed from the initial submission of an application by an entity seeking a permit to the time at which the agency has determined that the application is complete; and
(ii) The permit decision time, which is the time elapsed from receipt of a complete application to the agency's issuance of a decision approving or denying the permit.
(3) Each agency shall calculate, for each permit it has identified in its inventory, the following performance data:
(a) The average application completion and permit decision times for each permit, as measured by the times tracked for ninety percent of applications or permit decisions, excluding the five percent that took the shortest and the five percent that took the longest;
(b) The maximum application completion time, excluding applications that were withdrawn or never completed; and
(c) The maximum permit decision time.
(4) Each agency shall report to the office, as provided in this subsection (4).
(a) By March 1, 2016, each agency shall report the times calculated under subsection (3) of this section for the period from January 1, 2015, to January 1, 2016.
(b) By March 1, 2018, and March 1, 2020, each agency shall report based on the times tracked and calculated since the previous reporting period.
(c) In each of the reports required under this section, each agency shall submit an updated inventory of permits. Each agency shall identify any permits listed in its inventory for which the agency has not yet posted permit processing times and other information as required under RCW 43.42A.030 and an estimated date for such posting prior to June 30, 2015.
(5) The office shall make available to the legislature, upon request, the individual agency reports submitted under subsection (4) of this section.
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=43.42A&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026