Oxnard schedules March 27, 2026 go‑live for new EPL permitting system; staff warn of stabilization period

Oxnard City plans to implement the Enterprise Permitting and Licensing (EPL) module for Community Development on March 27, 2026, Community Development Director Jeff Bengilly said.

Bengilly said staff and consultants have worked on configuration and testing since 2024 and that EPL will enable digital plan review, online submittals, a customer portal with real‑time status updates and inspection scheduling, and enhanced internal reporting.

"It's a modern permitting software," Bengilly said. "Among other enhancements is digital plan review and online submittals. So no longer will we be managing thousands of pounds of paper, and customers will not have to drive into our office to submit the projects for each cycle of plan review."

He cautioned that implementation requires intensive staff time for configuration and training and that other jurisdictions experienced a stabilization period after go‑live. "It's not uncommon to have up to 6 months of learning curve for both customers and staff," he said, noting the department will perform internal trainings before the rollout.

The presentation did not record any council action; the briefing was informational and staff said they will be available at the Jan. 6 appointment item for questions.