As the days get longer and temperatures rise, local governments can take advantage of technology to lighten their workload. Summer brings an influx of residents looking to enjoy camps, events, and outdoor dining, as well as visitors hoping to experience all that your town offers. To meet the increasing demand while staying efficient, many local governments are embracing digital tools to streamline their summer operations.
Here are six summer processes that local governments are bringing online to make life easier for everyone:
1. Short-Term Rental Permits
With the rise of platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, local governments in tourist-heavy areas often see a surge in short-term rental activity during the summer. Managing permits and ensuring compliance can quickly become overwhelming if the process is paper-based or spread across multiple departments.
Online short-term rental permit systems allow property owners to apply for permits, submit required documentation, and seamlessly comply with local laws. By digitizing the permitting process, local governments can monitor short-term rentals more efficiently, address compliance issues promptly, and streamline renewals.
Say, for example, a zoning department in Florida relies on manual tracking, spending hours chasing paperwork. By digitizing the short-term rental process with a company like SDL, zoning officials can streamline approvals, track renewals, and enforce local ordinances more effectively.
2. Summer Camp Applications
As seasonal rentals ramp up, so do other summer services that can see digital benefits. Many parents are familiar with the stress of registering kids for summer camps, especially when it means printing forms, writing checks, and visiting town offices during limited hours. Now, many local governments are offering online summer camp applications.
Parents can browse offerings, register their kids, and pay from their phone or laptop. Staff no longer have to chase paperwork, gaining access to centralized records and easier roster management, so they can return to enjoying their summer.
3. Pool Permits
Just like camp registration, summer also brings an increase in residential projects requiring timely approvals. As homeowners look to enjoy the summer season, many apply for pool construction or reopening permits. In towns where this process is still paper-based, delays and confusion are common, especially when inspections or approvals involve interdepartmental coordination.
Online permitting systems allow residents to upload documents, schedule inspections, and track progress without making multiple phone calls or in-person visits. Communities that have adopted digital solutions have seen reduced turnaround times and fewer bottlenecks in the permitting process.
4. Online Pool and Aquatics Facility Reservations
Beyond construction, digital tools assist the safe and efficient operation of existing facilities. Public swimming facilities are among the most popular summer attractions, which can make managing capacity a challenge. Reservation systems have become essential for ensuring safety and avoiding overcrowding. Many parks and recreation departments are now using online tools to manage daily attendance. Staff can monitor reservations while residents enjoy a faster check-in process.
For example, a parks and recreation director in California who previously managed attendance with a clipboard and pencil could instead view capacity with a few clicks. It’s a win-win: Residents can apply for summer access to their local pool facilities online, while office staff can track capacity on the backend.
5. Outdoor Dining Permits
While keeping public spaces running smoothly is key, supporting local businesses is just as important during the summer months. Outdoor dining has become a staple of summer life in many communities, and restaurant owners are eager to take advantage of it. However, applying for sidewalk café permits and submitting layout plans by hand can delay openings.
To support local businesses and promote outdoor dining options, local governments are implementing online permit systems for sidewalk cafes, parklets, and outdoor dining areas. Restaurant owners can apply for permits, submit design plans, and receive approvals digitally. This will facilitate the expansion of outdoor dining spaces and enhance the vibrancy of commercial districts during the summer season.
6. Outdoor Event Permit Applications
Summer festivals, concerts, and community markets require extensive coordination. Managing these events with paper applications can lead to lost documents, overlapping requests, or last-minute issues.
Many local governments are now using online systems that allow event organizers to submit requests, upload insurance documents, and track approvals in one place. Staff can route applications through the proper channels and ensure compliance with regulations, reducing stress on all sides and improving the overall event experience.
Choosing the Right Tools
By bringing these seasonal processes online, local governments are improving service delivery, reducing administrative headaches, and making summer more enjoyable for everyone. As more communities embrace this shift, the result is a more responsive, efficient, and connected local government.
SDL helps local governments digitize their most important processes quickly and affordably. Whether you need a structured solution or something tailored to your department’s unique needs, SDL Connect gets your applications, submissions, and workflows online in no time. Click here to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with one of our experts and learn how to bring your summer processes online.