People interested in opening a business in the city of Las Vegas can now do so by visiting the city’s website at http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Apply/25514.htm. The city of Las Vegas is the first government agency in Southern Nevada to offer customers the ability to apply for a business license online. Customers can also pay their application fee or renew their current business license online. These new features are part of the city’s priority to make it easier to do business with the city of Las Vegas.

In another major accomplishment, the city’s Business Licensing Division recently moved to the Development Services Center (DSC), a “one-stop-shop” for the business community and others doing additions around the home located at 333 N. Rancho Drive. Business Licensing rounds out the services now offered in one location to the development community, including the Planning Department, Building & Safety Department, Land Development, City Engineer, Fire Prevention, Public Works and Operations & Maintenance administrations.

The city began looking at the development service process several years ago. A consultant was hired to review ways the process could be improved. In addition to the consolidation of the development departments into one location at the DSC, several other improvements have been made since the DSC was dedicated in July. They include:

• In the Planning Department, 90 percent of front counter customers are being served within 10 minutes. Also, more items are being handled administratively instead of having to go through the City Council process, such as minor additions or modifications to commercial properties. This is significantly shortening the 45-60 days it may typically take, saving applicants time and money.

• For Building & Safety, so called first review times have been improved from 20 days to 10 days. There are also decreased customer wait times by plans being reviewed over the counter. These counter reviews are allowing small projects to be submitted, reviewed and permitted the same day at no additional cost to the customer.

• Public Works has reduced its review of civil plans, which are required for larger projects, from 10 days to 7 days.

• In Fire Prevention, 38-percent of fire plan reviews are now a result of shortened permit procedures.                                      

Going forward, the city is exploring several more ways to save customers time and money, especially through the use of technology. The city is currently looking at software that would allow customers to submit their development plans online and the departments to review those plans simultaneously, shortening the development time dramatically. Currently, when customers come to the DSC they may have to go from department to department to get everything reviewed and this new software would eliminate that.

The city is also looking at installing kiosks so customers know what they need as soon as they walk in the door of the DSC, and providing more online services such as scheduling inspections, checking the status of permits and more.

In addition, Business Licensing is working with the other municipalities on a regional license for contractors that would allow them one license to work in up to four jurisdictions, which should hopefully be available next year.

All of these initiatives are part of the city’s goal to make Las Vegas the “destination of choice” for the development community.