Pennsylvania Permitting Feels the Need for SPEED

Permitting is a mess in Pennsylvania, leaving many businesses in the dark about when they can begin their work. This is especially true with those seeking permission from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Fortunately, some lawmakers are working to speed up and clarify the commonwealth’s obtuse permitting system.

“It seems logical that DEP would share what those timelines are for specific types of permits,” mused state Sen. Kristin Philips-Hill during recent appropriations hearings. Thanks to her and the broader Senate Republican leadership, everyone with a DEP permit can track the status of their permit and the decision timeframe online.

This new development was made possible by the Streamlining Permits for Economic Expansion and Development program (SPEED). SPEED is chipping away at Pennsylvania’s reputation for bureaucracy and regulatory uncertainty.

The program initially applied to only five types of the more than 80 permits, renewals, and amendments that bog down Pennsylvania businesses. An applicant can choose to use the normal permitting process or pay extra and send their permit to a third-party reviewer for a faster decision.

DEP then decides whether they agree or disagree with the third-party reviewer, issuing approval or denial within the governor’s PAyback timelines set in late 2023.

SPEED provides a critical backstop for companies if their permit process goes on for too long. In that case, the permit moves to priority review. If the agency fails to decide by the established due date, it must refund all costs to the applicant.

In 2025, SPEED expanded to eight permit types and added a critical component called “deemed approved.” Complete air quality permits must be approved within 30 days, or they are approved automatically. Likewise, certain water-quality permits receive 60 days’ notice before triggering automatic approval.

In fact, each state agency must list all permits on its website, along with the estimated time needed for permit decisions and issuance.

SPEED is an important step towards creating certainty and accountability for regulators. However, SPEED applies to a small set of permits.

Even with the recent expansion, the SPEED option is far from universal. The permitting fast-track applies to about 13 percent of all DEP permits, licenses, or certifications. Looking across all of Pennsylvania’s 2,482 permits, licenses, or certifications, SPEED covers only 4 percent.

According to the Shapiro administration, the first speed permit was not issued until November 20, 2025, 497 days after the passage of SPEED legislation and 8 days after the passage of SPEED 2.0. The permit was reviewed and approved in 51 days, 56 days short of the time frame set in the governor’s payback program.

Lawmakers must continue to expand SPEED, especially the deemed-approved component, and pursue comprehensive regulatory relief, such as the REINS Act and regular review and elimination of redundant, outdated, or downright harmful regulations.