City launches online portal Aug. 1

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Builders, business owners and residents will soon have access to an online portal providing a one-stop shop for City services connected to planning and zoning, business registrations and code enforcement.

Partnering with OpenGov.com, the City will launch the “City of Roseburg Online Portal” on Friday, Aug. 1.

The new applicant portal to OpenGov.com’s public service platform was designed for Roseburg to give local businesses, builders, homeowners and other residents an online place to apply for and track:

· Site plan reviews;

· Land-use reviews;

· Pre-application meetings;

· Business registrations;

· Municipal Code enforcement.

“We are making the change to OpenGov to help make the permitting process more efficient, both internally and for our customers,” said Community Development Department Director Stuart Cowie, who oversees planning and zoning for the City. “Customers will be able to utilize an online permitting portal, which will enable them to submit plans online directly to our department. It will save them from having to come into our office.”

Builders, residents and business owners can sign up now for this new online service, which will save time compared to submitting applications in person and also speed up tracking a project by eliminating the need for phone calls. Applicants will be able to follow the process much more closely, Cowie said.

However, the City will continue to use the current processes for businesses and residents needing those services until Friday, Aug. 1. Please submit requests or applications as normal, or wait until that date to submit applications, business registrations or code complaints through the new online portal.

Currently, builders and developers must visit City Hall in person or email an application for a site plan review or land-use review, or to make a request for a pre-application conference, which is a preliminary meeting used for bigger projects. While the City’s website offers online forms for those services, applicants must download and fill out the document, then bring or email the document and other supporting paperwork.

Until Friday, Aug. 1, proprietors who need to register a business, service, product or trade with the City or make business registration changes must do so in person at City Administration or by mail or email. Those who have wanted to submit a complaint about a suspected code violation have needed to submit a form online or in person.

Starting Friday, Aug. 1, that all moves online to the new portal. Anyone who experiences challenges using the new portal can come in for help or call Community Development at 541-492-6750 or City Administration at 541-492-6866.