Laguna Beach reports faster permit processing, eyes fee updates and digital shift

Laguna Beach community development leaders told council the department reduced zoning plan‑check wait times from a 57‑day average to about 18 days, largely by hiring and retaining staff and launching an electronic submittal portal.

Director Matt Schneider said roughly 1,200 unique applications have used the Intergov online portal since mid‑January, but that figure remains below 50% of total submissions. He recommended continued encouragement of digital submittals and a gradual shift away from over‑the‑counter plan checks so staff resources focus on higher‑throughput online processing.

Council members pressed for an updated analysis of the current subsidy that leaves many permit fees below full cost recovery. Schneider said a 2021 study set a plan to reduce subsidies to 15% in the next budget cycle; staff recommended a new fee‑study to reflect inflation and current processing costs. Council asked staff to bring a schedule for a public hearing on fee updates and to return with an estimate of the subsidy in dollar terms.