Building permit reviews in Blaine are moving significantly faster than they were at the start of the year, according to a second-quarter report from the city’s Community Development Services Department.
The city issued 21 building permits during the second quarter while receiving 20 new applications, bringing the total number of permit applications received in 2026 to 42. Community Development Services completed permit reviews in an average of nine days during the quarter, down from an average of 39 days in the first quarter.
Across the first six months of 2026, the average review time was 17 days.
City staff attributed the improvement to new permit tracking policies, staff training, improved record-keeping and the types of projects being reviewed. Many second-quarter applications involved subdivisions with architecturally similar homes, allowing reviewers and applicants to identify revisions on one set of plans and apply those changes across multiple permits, reducing the need for repeated reviews.
Accessory dwelling units made up about one-quarter of all permit applications received during the second quarter.
At the end of the quarter, the city had processed 43 active permits, including 21 issued permits, 11 approved permits awaiting payment and 11 applications still under review.
The report also found that the Planning Division is now completing reviews faster and more consistently than other departments. Public Works Administration continues to account for the longest portion of the review process, although its review times have also improved significantly, according to the report.
