Communities across the country are booming, yet the building inspector shortage, a parallel home inspector shortage, and a broader government staff shortage threaten to stall that growth. Permit backlogs are piling up, seasoned inspectors are retiring, and public agencies can’t match private-sector salaries to fill the gap. To keep projects moving and local economies thriving, building departments need to boost productivity without adding headcount. Smart permitting and inspections software provides the leverage. Some of the best permitting software on the market is from Accela.
Why the Government Staff Shortage Is Hitting Building Departments Hard
Several factors have led to the overall code personnel shortage. First, building departments and private sector industry participants compete for the same scarce resources. A design firm needs licensed architects or engineers to draft plans while at the same time, a building department needs licensed architects or engineers to review and approve plans.
As design firms scale up to meet the demands of the booming economy, they have the flexibility to offer wage premiums that typically exceed what public agencies can offer. As a result, building departments are hit hard twice. They struggle with an increased volume of activity, and they see candidates choose to pursue more lucrative private sector opportunities over public employment.
Another factor impacting the labor shortage is credentialing. Plans examiners need to be licensed architects or engineers, which typically requires a certain amount of schooling and experience. Similarly, inspectors must also have certifications that require a certain amount of training and field experience.
In both cases, the requisite experience typically needs to be attained outside the public sector. The standards required for licensure and certification limit the available applicant pool for open positions. That shrunken pool, coupled with private sector competition, can make filling expansion positions or back-filling existing positions extremely challenging.
Additionally, plans examiners and building inspectors, on average, are getting older. Each year a fresh wave of retirements ushers out employees with the most institutional knowledge and experience, and replacing those individuals is difficult. A pension is one of the most attractive benefits of public sector employment, and those nearing retirement are incentivized to leave the workforce. On the other hand, the specter of retirement for those entering the workforce is very distant, and the incentive of the pension is comparatively small. Therefore, more code officials’ careers end than begin.
What’s to be Done About the Shortage?
Amidst a labor shortage, the phrase “do more with less” isn’t just cliché management jargon – it is a necessity. Permit volume will not slow if there aren’t enough plans examiners to review them. Construction activity will not cease if there aren’t enough inspectors to approve it. Instead, chief building officials must find a way to get more productivity from their staff. They must determine how to do more with less.
How Permitting Software Offsets the Building Inspector Shortage
A modern permitting platform, like the Accela Civic Platform, lets departments “do more with less” by automating manual tasks and empowering field staff.
Key Productivity Boosters
Mobile Inspection App
Automated Plan Review
Public Permit Portal
Inspectors update results on-site, dictate comments via voice-to-text, and upload annotated photos.
Configurable scripts route applications, trigger fee calculations, and auto-approve routine items that meet business rules.
Applicants submit and track permits online, reducing front-counter traffic and data re-entry.
Together these tools shorten review cycles, increase daily inspection counts, and free seasoned staff to focus on complex cases rather than paperwork.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long will the inspector shortage last?
Industry groups expect retirements to outpace new licenses for at least the next decade. Agencies that adopt automation now can maintain service levels while recruiting and training the next generation of inspectors.
What ROI can software deliver when inspectors retire?
Departments that deploy permitting and inspection platforms typically cut manual data entry by 60%, clear 20% more inspections per day, and avoid hiring 1–2 additional staff. That savings can often offset subscription costs within the first fiscal year.
Which Accela features specifically help building departments operate with fewer inspectors?
Accela’s software tackles staffing shortages on three fronts: 1. Its public permit portal shifts data-entry work to applicants. 2. Automated plan-review scripts pre-screen applications and auto-approve routine items . 3. The mobile inspection app lets field staff post results, notes, and photos in real time.
Learn Exactly How Accela Can Help Your Municipality Combat Staff Shortages
The building-inspector shortage may be out of your control, but how you respond isn’t. By automating plan review, empowering field staff with a mobile inspection app, and shifting permit intake online, Accela’s Civic Platform lets building departments keep projects moving even as head-count shrinks. Invest in smart permitting software today, and you can deliver faster approvals, maintain public safety, and support local growth without waiting for a hiring miracle.