Timely Permitting Decisions
DEEP is responsible for over 125 different state or federally-delegated permitting and environmental review processes. As part of 20BY20, DEEP established benchmark timeframes for completion of these permitting processes - from “immediate decision” permits with minimum review and public process required, to increasingly more complex permit types requiring 3, 6, and 12 months for decision. For Goal 2, DEEP is working towards a 90% on-time completion rate for permit applications that have a 3-month expected completion timeframe, covering 55 permit types, and an 80% on-time completion rate for the remaining 70 permit types that have 6- or 12-month expected completion timeframes. Background on this goal is presented in DEEP’s 20BY26, Setting the Target: CT DEEP 2026 Goals (February 2024).
Latest Progress (as of October 1, 2025)
For Q3 2025, DEEP achieved:
- 69% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- 68% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- 52% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
More detailed information can be found on the Permit Timeliness Dashboard.
PERCENTAGE OF PERMITS COMPLETED WITHIN EXPECTED 3-, 6-, AND 12-MONTH TIMEFRAMES BY DIVISION IN THIRD QUARTER OF 2025
In Q3 2025, LWRD is evaluating results of LWRD’s permitting lanes framework pilot. Preliminary data shows that applicants are no longer submitting applications that fall in the “grossly insufficient” bucket, which means lacking essential information. This has saved staff time to focus on processing complete or close to complete applications. Applicants appear to appreciate the more consistent and transparent contact with DEEP that the 30-day review window offers. Giving applicants 30 days to respond to the initial review comments reduces the time that DEEP waits for a response. As a result, applicants receive a faster decision on whether their applications are consistent with regulatory standards and can proceed to a detailed technical review.
To assist applicants in submitting complete applications for projects that involve wetlands, as a permit streamlining and time efficiency measure, Wetland Mitigation Guidance has been posted online. DEEP and ACOE also held a Mitigation Summit on August 28, 2025 for stakeholders to learn about how the state and federal programs intersect.
STATUS OF REISSUANCE OF WPED 2025 GENERAL PERMITS THAT REGULATE STORM AND WASTEWATER:
Up Next
We are preparing to implement the permitting lanes framework in other permitting divisions, with whatever adjustments are needed. We also will reissue more General Permits.
GOAL 2 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Spring 2025
- For Q2 2025, DEEP achieved 86% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- For Q2 2025, DEEP achieved 53% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- For Q2 2025, DEEP achieved 52% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
DEEP continues to implement process improvements to enable more timely completion of permits. LWRD initiated a pilot of the new permitting framework that will 1) create a fast lane for permit applications that are complete and actionable when submitted, 2) allow applicants 30 days to submit easily provided information that is missing initially, and 3) stop processing on applications missing significant components. LWRD has created new internal processes to align with the new permitting framework.
WPED continues its work to reissue nine General Permits regulating storm and wastewater in 2025. On July 1, 2025, WPED reissued the General Permit for the Discharge of Stormwater from the Connecticut Department of Transportation Separate Storm Sewer Systems.
Winter 2025
This quarter, DEEP updated the Permit Timeliness Dashboard to reflect more detailed information on the timeliness of application processing using Power BI, an interactive graphics tool. In Q1 2025, DEEP achieved 95% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe; 60% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe; and 35% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
LWRD initiated a pilot of a new permitting framework at a stakeholder meeting in Q1 2025. The framework will 1) create a fast lane for permit applications that are complete and actionable when submitted, 2) allow applicants 30 days to submit easily provided information that is missing initially, and 3) will stop processing on applications missing significant components.
WPED continued work on the reissuance of 9 General Permits in 2025. In Q1 2025, WPED hosted a stakeholder meeting for the reissuance of the Construction Stormwater GP and prepared the MS4 and Commercial Stormwater GPs for the 30-day public comment period.
An overview of 2024 shows DEEP’s EQ branch received 2,294 applications to be processed in the 3, 6, and 12-month timeframes. DEEP processed 2,304 applications in all, including permits from previous years.
Fall 2024
The percentage of permits processed within timeframes increased; although DEEP did not yet meet the goals of 90% for 3-month processing and 80% for 6- and 12-month processing. DEEP added a Permitting Report to complement our timeliness dashboard as well as adding tracking information for backlogged permits (those older than 12 months). DEEP is updating all 125+ permitting workflows to improve tracking and analysis of the permitting process, allowing us to determine sticking points so that we can address them. Two of seven programs have started their workflow analysis as of Q4 2024. DEEP is refreshing its permitting framework that will include a completeness review prior to DEEP’s sufficiency review for new applications so that DEEP can provide a timelier response to the applicant about their application’s readiness to be processed. WPED reissued the GP for Point Source Discharges to Waters of the State from the Application of Pesticides in October 2024, reducing redundant permitting requirements among programs.
Summer 2024
Between Q1 and Q2 of 2024, the number of divisions that met the 90% goal for the 3-month timeframe increased from 1 to 3. The percentage processed in 6- and 12-month timeframes improved as well, as programs cleaned up data and made various, specific changes to improve on-time processing for coastal permitting in collaboration with stakeholders on possible solutions; by identifying software constraints across data reporting platforms; and by reissuing the Swimming Pool General Permit on August 1, 2024 to allow an operator to follow the permit without going through a lengthier individual permitting process.
Winter 2024
DEEP aligned state permit processing timeframes with federal statutory timeframes. We also analyzed our Permitting Timeframes Dashboard to find that 3 of 7 permitting divisions are processing as many applications as they are receiving and to gain more insight into processing challenges and solutions.
Content last updated February 2026