Lewis County has launched a new online permitting system for food establishment applications, providing applicants with a more accessible, efficient and transparent permitting process.
The new system, Accela, allows applicants to submit applications, upload supporting documents, pay fees and track the status of temporary and permanent food permits through a single online portal.
The software was funded through a foundational public health grant from the Washington state Department of Health.
“Accela is a significant improvement over the paper application process because it allows customers to track and verify the status of their permit applications,” Environmental Health Manager Kirsten Wecker said in a news release. “The online system will save applicants time and make it easier to manage both temporary and permanent food permit applications.”
To give applicants time to adjust, Lewis County will continue accepting paper applications through July 31. Beginning Aug. 1, all food permit applications and supporting documents must be submitted online.
The online permitting portal is available at https://tinyurl.com/9hzx7wkv.
Applicants must create an online account before submitting a permit application. A step-by-step applicant guide for permanent and temporary food establishments is available at https://tinyurl.com/5tv85f4v.
The guide includes instructions and screenshots covering account setup, permit selection, contact and location information, document uploads, application review, fee payment, plan review status, and responses to requests for revisions.
Food Safety Program staff will remain available to help applicants create accounts, understand the new process and submit applications or supporting documents.
“This project involved much more than moving a paper form online,” Jacob Cleary, food inspector, who worked extensively on the project, said in the release. “Over the past 600 days, we reviewed each step of the permitting process, tested the system and worked through technical details to make it as practical and user-friendly as possible. We are excited to provide applicants with a system that offers greater visibility and convenience throughout the permitting process.”
