CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ELM PORTAL

• Submit an Application - This will allow you to select the appropriate department to begin the application process.
• My Records/Pay Fees - This will allow you to show you then list of records/applications associated with your citizen account and what fees need to be paid.
• Submit a Concern - This allows you to fill-out Community Enhancement's Submit a Concern form.
• Reports - This will show all reports that are available to the public.
• How To? - This will show links to various How-To/FAQ documentation for the Citizen Portal.
• Lookup Property Info - This will allow citizens to lookup property information.

Searching

There are 2 ways to search for a record. Use the Global Search feature (search bar top right corner of the page) by inputting a record/permit number, address, owner, project name, etc. This will return all matching results from the database, regardless of the department originating the record.

You can also select "Search Records" from each individual department dropdown

This will bring up the General Search page whereby inputting a record/permit number, record type, address, start/end date, project name, etc. This will return all matching results from the database, regardless of the department originating the record.

Helpful Links

The footer of the Citizen Portal home screen shows the Community Development Address, links to all county social media accounts, links to each departments' county webpage, and need assistance/How-To links.

Register for an Account

Without registering for an account, you will only be able to:

• Perform Application searches

Registering for an account gives you access to additional features:

• Submit Applications
• Request Inspections
• Pay Fees
• Create Delegates (other users you give permission to perform actions on your behalf)
• Check the status of your applications
• Upload and Resubmit Plan and other Documents
• Manage account information

Registration Process

1. Click on Register for an Account at bottom of ELM Citizen Portal
2. Read and check the Terms of Acceptance, then select Continue Registration
3. Fill in Account Information
4. Contact Information: Select Contact Type (either Organization or individual).
5. Fill in Contact information, add an address, and click submit.

Account Management

As a user, there may be circumstances when staffing changes require account updates. It is very easy to go into your account to make changes when necessary.

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click on My Account.
3. Determine which area needs to be changed or updated and expand that section. (This is where you can update your password, address, and add delegates to your account).
4. Update information
5. Save your changes.

Apply Online

1. Log in to your account.
2. Click desired department and then click 'Submit an Application.'
3. After reading the disclaimer, indicate that you have read and accepted the terms. Click Continue Application.
4. Select record type from the drop-down menu and Continue Application
5. Depending on the department and record type you select, please fill out each application step and clicking "Continue Application" at the bottom of each page.
6. Clicking 'Save & Resume Later' will allow you to save your work and return to it at a later date through a TMP record ID that is generated.

After clicking Continue Application, all ACA submittals will receive the Digital Projects Submission screen. If the customer does not have any required documents to upload, click Continue Application to bypass this section.

Digital Projects - First Submission

• Add Submission Package Description with appropriate naming convention. Example: 2025MAR17_WestChesterCommons_Submittal_1
• The blue bar will show any Required Documents needed for the specific application.
• Drag files to upload or click on box to select files from your computer. The system will run an Anti-Virus check.

• Once the file is done caching and running virus check, set your document type. As you select the required document type, they blue bar will update until all required documents have been satisfied. The status of the document upload will change to Ready to Submit.

• Click Continue Application
• Review all application information for accuracy, agree to certification and click Continue Application to submit application.
• Once the application is accepted, and routed for review, the system closes the submission package option and only activates the Files Tab.

Paying Fees

• After Logging into your account, go to "My Records" to see a list of all your records. You will see records with action of Pay Fees Due.
• Click the Pay Fees Due hyperlink

• Click Check Out, (Note: View the 'Cart' information below and see how to pay for multiple records at one time.)
• Click Pay Fees. This will take you to the Payment portal where you then select 'Start Secure Payment Process.'

• Choose either 'Debit/Credit Card' or 'Echeck' and select Proceed to Checkout.
• Once you submit your payment, the system will process your payment and then show a successful payment submission message. Click Ok to Finish.

Using Cart to Pay Fees

• To pay more than one fee, add Records to the cart.
• Go to My Records
• Check the box next to the Records that are to be paid
• Click Add to Cart
• Click Pay Fees to Pay or Edit Cart to remove Records or Continue to Add Records to add more Records.

Digital Projects – Resubmissions

• Sign into ACA
• Click on My Records
• Click on the Record Number
• Click on Digital Projects

• To review plans/documents, click on Files
• Click on the box beside the document you want to download then click Download.
• Scroll all the way down toward the bottom of the screen to find a notice of document download and click download. A message will appear stating, "Preparing to download.
• A pop-up screen will appear to Save or Open the document. Click the Open icon.

• To view and respond to comments (if any), Click the Comments.
• To respond to comments, scroll toward the bottom of the screen and enter response then click Respond.
• Once you have responded to all comments, click Submit Responses and then click Yes on the confirmation window.
• Now you can upload corrections and any supporting documents.

• Now you can upload corrections and any supporting documents.
• Add Submission Package Description. Example: 2025MAR17_WestChesterCommons_Submittal_2
• Drag Files to upload or click on box to select files from your computer. The system will run an Anti-Virus check.
• Once the file finishes caching and running Anti-Virus check, select the appropriate document type.

• Once all plans/documents are ready to submit, click the Submit Package for Review at the bottom of the screen.
• Click yes to confirm your package. A thank you for your submittal package message will appear.

Requesting Inspections

• To schedule inspections, click on the Record number.
• Click on Record Info dropdown followed by Inspections.
• Click on Request an Inspection.
• Locate the type of inspection and click on the circle beside it, then click.

• Choose one of the five business days available and click on the date and click continue.
• Verify correct location and contact person. Click Continue if there will be no contact change. There is an option to change the contact person for the inspection. Click Submit and then Continue.
• If you need to add notes for the inspector, click on Include Additional Notes, then click finish for the notes. Click Finish again to confirm your inspection request.

Rescheduling Inspections

• To reschedule an inspection prior to the day of, go to your record.
• Click on Record Info dropdown followed by Inspections.
• Locate the inspection that is to be rescheduled and click on the Actions dropdown arrow.
• Select Reschedule
• Choose one of the five business days available and click on the date and then click Continue.
• Verify correct location and contact person. Select Finish.

Inspection Results

• To view inspection results, go to your record.
• Click on Record Info dropdown followed by Inspections.
• Find the Inspection you want results and select View Details.
• Click on View Result Comments.

Additional Features: Viewing Related Records

• On the Record Page, click the Record Information dropdown and select Related Records.
• Click the green highlighted word View to see permit and inspection information.

Additional Features: Viewing Record Detail

• On the Record Page, click the Record Information dropdown and Record Details.
• You will be able to see all the basic information of the record including parcel information under more details.

Additional Features: Viewing Conditions

• On the Record Page, click the Conditions tab and you will be able to see all conditions associated with the project

Additional Features: Viewing Attachments

• On the Record Page, click the Record Information dropdown and select Attachments.
• You can click on the header title in each column to sort alphabetically or by earliest to latest or vice versa.
• Click on the document name (green Hyperlink), this will download the document into your file library on your computer

Additional Features: Viewing Processing Status

• On the Record Page, click the Record Information dropdown and select Processing Status.

• Initially all required department reviews will have an hourglass indicating that step has not been completed.

• Completed steps will have a green checkmark next to them.

• By selecting the arrow next to the checkmark or hourglass, you will see when the task is due, who it is assigned to, and any status updates.
• If there are any comments, click on the displayed plus sign [+] that will be seen if there are comments on that processing step.

Additional Features: Create Collections

• Create collections of records for easy accessibility. For example, a project with multiple permits can have all related records viewable in one “collection” or you might want to group permits by type or address. After logging in, your collections are accessible at the top of every screen.
• Log in to your account.
• Records associated to your account will be shown in a list.
• Use the checkboxes on the left to select the records you want to group into a collection.
• Click Add to collection.
• Enter a name for your group of records and a description if desired or choose an existing collection from the drop-down menu.
• Click the “Add” button to create and submit the records into the new collection.
• After selecting a specific collection, a useful overview of the records will be displayed in the Collection.