(Washington, DC) The Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) today launched the first fully-online permitting process available to District residents and contractors licensed in the District–Postcard Permits. The permits are available for limited-scope jobs within the District, such as:

• Repairing or replacing an existing fence,
• Interior demolition (for less than 5,000 square feet),
• Fire escape repair,
• Fixing the front porch steps in a single-family home, and
• Installing 10 or fewer lighting fixtures or electrical outlets 

District Mayor Adrian M. Fenty was on hand to introduce the system and try it out for himself, "This online permit process is more than another enhancement for DCRA,” said Fenty. “It is the beginning of improving this agency that is the backbone of our economic development pipeline in the District. This move to online permitting is just the beginning of improving the overall DCRA experience for District residents and businesses."

“We realize that many District residents and businesses have simple permitting needs,” said Acting Director Linda K. Argo. "Moving some of these less-complicated permit process applications online will mean that thousands of DCRA customers will no longer have to make a trip to our offices. This new feature is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and customers can access and submit permit applications at a time that’s most convenient for them. It is the first step in automating our entire permitting infrastructure.”

The move to online permitting follows DCRA's recent opening of a completely restructured, redesigned Permit Center. Many permitting forms for more complex construction jobs are now available online–easily available to download and fill out, before making a trip to DCRA.

"These steps illustrate Mayor Fenty's determination to simplify and improve DCRA's permitting process," said Argo.

The application process for a Postcard Permit is simple:

• Visit dcra.dc.gov
• Click on the "Permits" link
•  Then click on "Get a Postcard Permit Online" 

The permit may be paid for online with a credit card. After completing the application process, the postcard permit is issued as an Adobe PDF file. This file can then be printed or saved on a personal computer.

There are six categories of Postcard Permits:

1. Building Postcard Permit (available to all)

2. Electrical (General) Postcard Permit (available to all)

The following permits are only available to licensed contractors:

3. Electrical (Heavy-Up) Postcard Permit

4. Mechanical Postcard Permit

5. Plumbing Postcard Permit

6. Gas Fitting Postcard Permit