Cumberland County Planning & Inspections rolls out online permitting tools

By Staff Report, posted Jul 2, 2026 on BizFayetteville.com

Cumberland County Planning & Inspections has announced online tools designed to offer a user-friendly, streamlined permitting process for residential and business customers.

Residents or business owners can apply for permits through the EnerGov Permit Self Services window on the Planning & Inspections webpage here or via the current Energov Citizens’ Self Service (CSS) Portal at Application Assistant on the Cumberland County website, and offers an online permitting process for the County’s Planning & Inspections Department, Environmental Health and Fire Marshal’s Office.

Community Insights, formerly known as Citizens Connect, is a public-facing platform that provides interactive maps, dashboards and visualizations related to planning, permitting and inspection activities. It allows residents, businesses, developers and community stakeholders to better understand development activity occurring throughout Cumberland County and provides greater visibility into projects and growth trends. Some of the key benefits include:

Improved transparency into development and permitting activity
Faster access to information for residents, businesses, and development professionals
Reduced staff time spent researching regulations and historical information
More consistent responses to customer inquiries
Modern digital tools that improve the overall customer experience
Responsible use of artificial intelligence with human oversight and decision-making remaining with County staff

The Application Assistant guides applicants and users through the permitting process by asking questions and uses the responses to help identify the correct permit, application type, requirements or next steps needed to complete the permit application. The intent of the software is to reduce confusion for customers and help ensure users are routed to the right information before submitting the application.

The County’s Innovation & Technology Services Department worked with Planning & Inspections to implement Community Insights Solutions.

The addition of the application to the County’s website is the latest effort to fulfill the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners’ commitment to deliver high-quality, innovative and fiscally responsible services that enhance the well-being of residents and businesses. These tools are designed to improve access to information, increase transparency and enhance efficiency for citizens and County staff.

“The Planning & Inspections Department is very excited to add these tools to our repertoire of public services,” said Planning & Inspections Director Rawls Howard in a press release.. “We believe these additions bolster the department’s commitment to enhance the public’s customer experience while implementing the Board of Commissioners’ strategic goals of championing responsive and transparent government services.”

To learn more about Cumberland County Planning & Inspections, visit cumberlandcountync.gov/planning or call 910-678-7600.

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