The design, construction, and/or renovation of residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, and governmental buildings place competing demands on today’s government leaders. To help state and local governments address these issues, national associations including the National Governors Association, Council of State Governments, National Association of Counties, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the National League of Cities have assembled examples of strategies, programs, and best practices that have been successful. Among such practices are those involving the streamlining of the building regulatory process through the effective use of information technology. This guide draws upon successful practices of state and local governments to provide elected officials and their building codes administration and enforcement agencies with examples that will help:

• Assess the need for streamlining the building codes administration and enforcement processes and procedures in your community;
• Assess the potential use of information technology to improve services; and
• Provide necessary steps to help ensure the successful implementation and effective use of information technology.

The guide will also be useful to communities who wish to exchange experiences with counterparts elsewhere in the country.