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 April 1, 2026)
This goal is 75% complete.
For Q1 2026, DEEP achieved:
- 98% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- 76% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- 41% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
PERCENTAGE OF PERMITS COMPLETED WITHIN EXPECTED 3-, 6-, AND 12-MONTH TIMEFRAMES BY DIVISION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2026
More detailed information can be found on the Permit Timeliness Dashboard.
Over the past year, DEEP has put strategies in place that will significantly improve permitting timeliness, such as the Permitting Lanes Framework (discussed below in previous quarterly progress reporting) and the reissuance of nine (9) general permits that regulate storm and wastewater to clarify and streamline those processes. Now we are evaluating how these programmatic improvements will be reflected in the metrics. Since they were the first division at DEEP to apply the new Framework, a closer look at DEEP Land and Water Resources Division’s metrics reveals true improvement and confirms definite productivity and a paradigm shift for both DEEP staff and applicants.
DEEP took a creative approach to certifying the 2026 USACE Nationwide Permits by connecting the certification to state regulatory programs and require consultation with fisheries and wildlife prior to applying to USACE. Connecticut was the first state in New England to certify the 2026 USACE Nationwide Permits on December 8, 2025, and the second in the nation to provide certification.
STATUS OF REISSUANCE OF WPED GENERAL PERMITS THAT REGULATE STORM AND WASTEWATER AS OF APRIL 1, 2026
Up Next
We are preparing to implement the permitting lanes framework in other permitting divisions and are working to get over 80% on time completion for the 6- and 12-month applications consistently.
Additional general permits for LWRD will be developed when the US Army Corps of Engineers applies to DEEP for a 401 Water Quality Certification for the implementation of Regional General Permits (Dredging, Boat Ramps and Development) in Connecticut. DEEP’s general permits will streamline the federal permitting requirements and 401 Water Quality Certification, by expanding some of the eligible activities under the 2026 Nationwide Permits.
Metrics on timely processing of In-situ remediation GPs through REACT are trending upward, and we will continue to monitor timely action for these important cleanup GPs. The REACT system, which was developed in support of Goal 1 and Goal 10, is a very useful tool to track all submittals through the cleanup programs and will be able to be used to alert DEEP staff of upcoming milestone goals for department action. We anticipate future quarterly metrics will improve with the use of this newly launched tracking tool.
GOAL 2 PROGRESS FROM PREVIOUS QUARTERS
Fall 2025
For Q4 2025, DEEP achieved:
- 91% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- 71% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- 50% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
Overall, for 2025, DEEP achieved:
- 81% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- 69% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- 49% on-time completion for permits in the 12-Month Timeframe.
Summer 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.
Preliminary data from the Land and Water Resource Division's permitting lanes framework pilot shows that applicants are no longer submitting applications that lack 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 also 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.
DEEP posted the new Wetland Mitigation Guidance, as a permit streamlining and time efficiency measure that will assist applicants. DEEP and ACOE also held a Mitigation Summit on August 28 for stakeholders to learn about how the state and federal programs intersect.
Spring 2025
For Q2 2025, DEEP achieved:- 86% on-time completion for permits in the 3-Month Timeframe.
- 53% on-time completion for permits in the 6-Month Timeframe.
- 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 July 2026.