Timely Permitting Decisions
DEEP is responsible for over 125 different state or federally-delegated permitting and environmental review processes. As part of 20BY20, DEEP established benchmark timeframes for completion of these permitting processes - from “immediate decision” permits with minimum review and public process required, to increasingly more complex permit types requiring 3, 6, and 12 months for decision. For Goal 2, DEEP is working towards a 90% on-time completion rate for permit applications that have a 3-month expected completion timeframe, covering 55 permit types, and an 80% on-time completion rate for the remaining 70 permit types that have 6- or 12-month expected completion timeframes. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of Winter 2025)
DEEP’s programs have made the following permit process improvements in Q1:
- For Q1 2025, DEEP achieved 95% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- For Q1 2025, DEEP achieved 60% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe. Most divisions have improved processing timeliness, with one division achieving 100%.
- For Q1 2025, DEEP achieved 35% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
Q1 2025 PERCENTAGE OF PERMITS COMPLETED WITHIN EXPECTED 3-,6-, AND 12-MONTH TIMEFRAMES BY DIVISION
This quarter, DEEP updated the Permit Timeliness Dashboard to reflect more detailed information on the timeliness of application processing using Power BI, an interactive graphics tool.DEEP continues to implement process improvements to enable more timely completion of permits. LWRD initiated a pilot of a new permitting framework at a stakeholder meeting in Q1 2025. This framework will 1) create a fast lane for permit applications that are complete and actionable when submitted, 2) allow applicants 30 days to submit easily provided information that is missing initially, and 3) stop processing applications missing significant components.
By the way, although not directly about the 3/6/12 month timeline goals, DEEP processed more permit applications in 2024 than it received in those categories (receiving 2,294 and processing 2,304).
WPED continues its work to reissue 9 General Permits in 2025. In Q1 2025, WPED hosted a stakeholder meeting for the reissuance of the Construction Stormwater GP and prepared the MS4 and Commercial Stormwater GPs for the 30-day public comment period.
STATUS OF REISSUANCE OF WPED GENERAL PERMITS, REGULATING STORM AND WASTEWATER:
Up Next
LWRD will pilot the new permitting framework beginning in Q2 2025, which will inform any adjustments to the framework needed before full implementation with other permitting divisions.
WPED intends to reissue the General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from the Connecticut Department of Transportation Separate Storm Sewer Systems.
GOAL 2 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Fall 2024
The percentage of permits processed within timeframes increased; although DEEP did not yet meet the goals of 90% for 3-month processing and 80% for 6- and 12-month processing. DEEP added a Permitting Report to complement our timeliness dashboard as well as adding tracking information for backlogged permits (those older than 12 months). DEEP is updating all 125+ permitting workflows to improve tracking and analysis of the permitting process, allowing us to determine sticking points so that we can address them. Two of seven programs have started their workflow analysis as of Q4 2024. DEEP is refreshing its permitting framework that will include a completeness review prior to DEEP’s sufficiency review for new applications so that DEEP can provide a timelier response to the applicant about their application’s readiness to be processed. WPED reissued the GP for Point Source Discharges to Waters of the State from the Application of Pesticides in October 2024, reducing redundant permitting requirements among programs.
Summer 2024
Between Q1 and Q2 of 2024, the number of divisions that met the 90% goal for the 3-month timeframe increased from 1 to 3. The percentage processed in 6- and 12-month timeframes improved as well, as programs cleaned up data and made various, specific changes to improve on-time processing for coastal permitting in collaboration with stakeholders on possible solutions; by identifying software constraints across data reporting platforms; and by reissuing the Swimming Pool General Permit on August 1, 2024 to allow an operator to follow the permit without going through a lengthier individual permitting process.
Winter 2024
DEEP aligned state permit processing timeframes with federal statutory timeframes. We also analyzed our Permitting Timeframes Dashboard to find that 3 of 7 permitting divisions are processing as many applications as they are receiving and to gain more insight into processing challenges and solutions.
Content last updated July 2025