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Streamlining Building Departments with Innovation and Affordability

jar546

jar546

CBO
Joined
Oct 16, 2009
Messages
12,723
Location
Not where I really want to be
In my years of working as a Building Official, I’ve had the opportunity to use MyGovernmentOnline (MGO) for permitting services in multiple jurisdictions. While I cannot allow MGO to advertise directly on The Building Code Forum (TBCF) due to ethical considerations—I'm responsible for managing contracts with them in my official capacity—I feel compelled to share my experience with their platform. Neither TBCF nor I earn a penny from this; my sole motivation is to highlight a solution that can genuinely transform any building department.

MGO stands out in the industry as not only one of the most affordable options but also one of the most effective. Their roots in the permitting business mean they deeply understand the needs of departments of all sizes. Whether you’re running a large metropolitan office or a small-town department, MGO’s pricing and features are structured to fit within your budget, making it accessible to even the smallest teams. They’ve managed to bridge the gap between affordability and high-quality service—a rare find in this industry.

What truly sets MGO apart is their commitment to constant improvement. They regularly update and upgrade their software, ensuring it evolves alongside the needs of building departments and the communities they serve. Even more impressive is their responsiveness to recommendations. MGO listens and acts when users provide feedback, creating a collaborative environment that benefits everyone. It’s rare to find a company in this space that prioritizes user input so highly, and it’s a testament to their dedication to excellence.

Let’s be honest: if your department still operates with paper-based systems, you’re doing a disservice to your staff, permit applicants, and property owners. Paper is inefficient, outdated, and costly in the long run. The future of permitting lies in streamlined, user-friendly software like MGO. With MGO, you’re not just adopting a tool; you’re elevating your customer service to meet modern expectations. From applying for permits to scheduling inspections and tracking progress online, MGO empowers departments to deliver the service their communities deserve.

My relationship with MGO has been nothing short of fantastic. Their team consistently delivers support and innovation that makes my job easier and my department more efficient. I believe in their product because I’ve seen firsthand how it benefits everyone involved—from staff to residents.

If you’re serious about improving your department and keeping up with the times, I encourage you to reach out to MGO for a free demo. See for yourself how their platform can revolutionize your operations. Change is hard, but staying stuck in the past is worse. It’s time to embrace the tools that will define the future of building departments. MGO is that tool.

Click Here to Visit MGO
 
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My city went full hook, line, and sinker with OpenGov, I feel like we're in too deep for me to jump ship right now, but I'll keep them in mind. Thanks for sharing!
 
Joe.B said:
My city went full hook, line, and sinker with OpenGov, I feel like we're in too deep for me to jump ship right now, but I'll keep them in mind. Thanks for sharing!
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OpenGov was out of our budget for the size of the department we have. I have not heard complaints about them. We issue about 2,700 permits a year between both towns I serve. We have the permitting, contractor licensing, planning and zoning and code enforcement modules and pay just under $1,600 per month and had ZERO setup costs and unlimited users and custom reports.
 
jar546 said:
OpenGov was out of our budget for the size of the department we have. I have not heard complaints about them. We issue about 2,700 permits a year between both towns I serve. We have the permitting, contractor licensing, planning and zoning and code enforcement modules and pay just under $1,600 per month and had ZERO setup costs and unlimited users and custom reports.
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That's crazy! We do 500-600 permits a year... I was not a fan of any of the options provided, I wanted a cheap, "out-of-the-box" software, but the entire city is eventually going to switch over, they offer different modules for all the different departments. But we were the guinea pig, we got to have it first. Planning and Finance are next. Eventually agendas, minutes, etc...
 
Here’s the deal with MyGovernmentOnline (MGO): I’m sitting at their annual conference right now, and guess what it costs? Absolutely nothing. That’s right—no registration fee. All you pay is your travel, lodging, and food. What other software provider does that? Seriously, name one. And before you call MGO a company, let me stop you—they’re not. They’re a quasi-government agency, part of a Council of Governments (COG), and operate as an enterprise fund. That’s a big part of what made them such an easy choice for us. Instead of going through a long, painful bid process, we just signed an intergovernmental agreement and got rolling.

And if that wasn’t enough, here’s the kicker: they don’t charge a setup fee. Let that sink in. No setup fee, and if you’re already using another software, they’ll migrate all your data over—for free. If you’ve been through a data migration before, you know how crazy this is. It’s a time-intensive, labor-heavy process that most vendors charge an arm and a leg for, but MGO includes it. No extra charge. It’s honestly ludicrous in the best way possible.

Now, here’s the part that gets me excited: they’ve been working on and fine-tuning this software for almost 20 years, and it shows. Right now, they’re in the final stages of releasing their newest iteration. And when I say “new,” I don’t just mean an update—it’s more like an upgrade on steroids. It’s going to be a total game changer, making the system lightning fast and more intuitive than ever. It’s the kind of leap forward that reminds you why MGO is leading the pack.

This is why I’ve been so vocal about how much I believe in MGO. They’re not here to nickel-and-dime you or make the process harder than it needs to be. They’re here to give building departments, big or small, the tools they need to succeed—without breaking the bank. If you’re not at least reaching out to them for a demo, you’re doing it wrong.
 
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