“TechDesk” Consultation to Identify Service Gaps and Improve Cross-Departmental Coordination 

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond is pleased to announce the launch of TechDesk, a new pilot program designed to help commercial permit applicants navigate complex technical review questions which may arise during the permitting process. The structured consultation program will bring together representatives from reviewing departments and offices to provide coordinated guidance, clarify requirements, and identify next steps in resolving outstanding issues related to development permitting and review.  

“Government is here to work for people, not against them,” said Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald II . “TechDesk will ensure that, when a permitting or planning issue is raised through the course of development, applicants aren’t waiting around for an answer. This is a forcing mechanism for accountability, and I am confident it will set us on the right course for streamlining these processes moving forward.”

TechDesk is not a separate permitting process and does not replace standard permitting procedures. Rather, it is a mechanism through which commercial development applicants may escalate questions or concerns to ensure a coordinated response from all City-reviewing stakeholders.  

Insights gathered over the 90 – 180 day pilot will help the City identify high-impact opportunities for operational improvement, which will be incorporated to the City’s new permitting software platform, currently under development by the Department of Planning and Development Review.  

“Time and time again, we’ve heard from the development community how onerous our permitting and review process can be,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Al Wiggins . “TechDesk is an early start at making complex permitting challenges run smoother so that we can be a City of choice for the next great development. As a government, we need to be ready to partner in making those ideas a reality.”

For more information on the process, see below. To learn more about the TechDesk and review frequently asked questions, please visit the City of Richmond Permits and Inspections webpage and open the “TechDesk” drop down menu. 

How does it work?

Step 1:

Applicants who have questions or are otherwise experiencing issues with their project can contact the City at [email protected] to seek clarification or guidance. Please include the following information:

• Project name
• Permit number
• Property address
• Description of issue or question
• Relevant plan sheets or supporting documentation

Step 2:

City staff will review the inquiry and attempt to resolve the issue within five business days.

Step 3:

If the issue cannot be resolved through standard coordination, the matter may be elevated to the TechDesk.

Step 4:

The applicant will be prompted to schedule a consultation through the TechDesk scheduling portal. If you have not been contacted by the TechDesk to schedule your consultation within 6 business days from the receipt of your original inquiry, you may reach out to [email protected] to request a booking.  

Step 5:

Relevant departments will meet with the applicant to discuss the issue and identify clear next steps.  

Step 6:

Following the consultation, a summary of action items will be provided to the applicant.  

TechDesk consultations will be available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am –3:00pm EST and will be conducted via Microsoft Teams, unless otherwise coordinated by the applicant with TechDesk staff.