A validated framework for assessing digital building permit maturity

The digitalisation of building permit processes is a driver for greater efficiency, transparency, and quality in urban development and regulatory management. Yet, public authorities face substantial challenges in assessing digital readiness and laying practical, incremental pathways for transformation. Existing maturity models, while helpful in related domains such as information technology and e-government, often lack the granularity and domain-specific focus necessary for the unique organisational, technical, and informational complexities of digital building permit systems.A maturity model for digital building permit is validated in this study through broad expert collaboration, empirical testing, and iterative refinement within the European Network for Digital Building Permit (EUnet4DBP). The model is structured around four key dimensions: process, organisation, technology, and information. It incorporates detailed key maturity areas and sublevels to digital maturity assessment. Two validation methods were used: first, the maturity model was tested against a large dataset of interviews and mapped processes from multiple European municipalities; second, it was applied in a guided trial by the City of Vienna’s building permit authority. The results demonstrate that the obtained maturity model enables consistent maturity assessment and facilitates strategic planning for digital transformation of building permit processes. The framework provides municipal authorities with a practical tool for self-assessment by supporting the development of interoperable and digital permitting processes across diverse municipal contexts.