New Asbestos Requirement Options

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As of February 1, 2022, customers have new options to comply with asbestos requirements for commercial properties.

Customers may choose to submit a City of Austin Asbestos Certification Form, submit an asbestos survey (no City of Austin Asbestos Certification Form required), or submit a Texas Department of State Health Services approved Asbestos Demolition/Renovation Notification Form.

The DSD Commercial Intake and Service Center Request online forms have been updated to include these options during the application process. 



City Launches CityBase Payment Portal 



The City of Austin has transitioned customer payment activities to the new CityBase payment portal. CityBase replaces Chase Bank as the payment mechanism for DSD customers paying for services through the AB+C portal. CityBase has a more user-friendly interface with responsive design for a better mobile experience. Customers also now have the ability to save their payment information for use across multiple billing systems at the City. Learn more about the new payment portal in the AB+C user guide. 

Stakeholder Meeting Recap & New Resources

The Development Services Department (DSD) kicked off the new year with a January 26 stakeholder meeting where we got to share insights about what we accomplished together in Fiscal Year 2021 and what is on the horizon for 2022.

If you missed the meeting, check out the recording on the new DSD webpage dedicated to hosting details about department engagement opportunities.

PDC Receives City's First WELL Gold Certification

The Permitting and Development Center (PDC) is now the first building in Austin to receive WELL Gold certification for maximizing health and well-being for the area residents and employees who use the facility. Green Business Certification Inc. scored the building highly on a range of measures, including:

• Indoor air quality
• Drinking water quality
• Availability of nutritious food
• Lighting design
• Integration of physical activity
• Thermal comfort
• Noise reduction
• Healthy building materials
• Mental health promotion
• Access to essential healthcare

DSD and our partner departments are happy to be able to offer services in such a healthy environment for our customers. We look forward to returning to more in-person services soon. 

Permitting ATX Moves to City Website 

Permitting ATX, the popular resource for residential permitting information, has a new home at austintexas.gov/permittingatx. Permitting ATX explains the permitting process in plain language, details popular projects, and includes sample project plans. Moving this content to the City website will help us ensure the information is always up to date and will make it easier for users to access, alongside a treasure trove of other resources and tools to help with your development needs. Explore Permitting ATX on the City of Austin website. 

How Preliminary Plan Review Can Help You  

If you are looking for additional input on your next residential or commercial building plan review submittal, consider scheduling a Preliminary Plan Review. This one- to two-hour consultation allows an applicant to meet with plan reviewers to discuss preliminary design or code issues. It is designed to identify items that need to be addressed or modified before construction plans are submitted. Here are some ways to make this a successful meeting: 

• Prepare a meeting agenda in advance. Include the topics and questions you want to discuss to help keep the meeting focused and to make the most of your time.  

• Plan to take notes during the meeting. Notes are an important component so that there is a record of the guidance provided by the City.  

• Understand this is not a review of plans. A Preliminary Plan Review is meant to discuss design or code issues; it does not guarantee plans will be approved.  

Learn more and schedule a Preliminary Plan Review. 

Planting Seeds for the Future

The City of Austin’s Youth Forest Council (YFC) is an immersive, yearlong, paid internship connecting young Austinites (ages 16-19) to careers that support trees and our communities. Launched within the Urban Forest Program (UFP), the initiative engages youth perspectives on tree canopy preservation and encourages lifelong civic participation in line with Austin’s Strategic Direction 2023 outcomes.

The YFC interns, who are chosen to represent the diverse community we serve, work with the Urban Forestry staff on priority projects, engage with professionals during Visiting Leaders sessions and complete Community Action Projects (CAP).

CAP are independent research projects in which interns write, propose and implement an engagement event or project that benefits specific segments of the community (neighborhood, faith-based organization, school, etc.) and reflects the goals of the Urban Forest Program. This work helps cultivate connections between the community and Austin’s urban forest.

By the end of their year in the program, YFC interns gain an understanding of the benefits and challenges of protecting and preserving the urban forest, environmental and public sector career opportunities, and how racial equity and the environment intersect. The work also allows participants to develop professional and communication skills, practice project management, and explore personal stories to discover their authentic leadership styles.

The feedback received from past council interns about the program includes a desire to pursue careers related to nature, sustainability and equity.



The 2022 participants, who have already been selected, will kick off their yearlong service in June. If you know a young person who is interested in participating in Youth Forest Council 2023, please encourage them to fill out an interest form so they are notified when the application period begins in March 2023.