Chula Vista Elementary School District

The Challenge

Before implementing Facilitron DevFees™, every developer fee application required multiple manual steps.

Developers and homeowners would visit the district office in person, complete paperwork, submit checks, receive handwritten receipts, and wait while staff manually calculated fees and produced the certificates required for local permitting agencies.

For district staff, every application required significant administrative effort. For applicants, obtaining the required documentation often became one more stop in an already complicated permitting process.

Streamlining an Outdated Process

As communities grow, new housing developments place additional demands on local schools. In California, districts can collect developer fees. These state-authorized impact fees are paid during residential and commercial construction to help fund future school facilities. Traditionally, collecting these fees has involved paper forms, in-person visits, manual calculations, and lengthy administrative processes.

For developers and homeowners, obtaining a developer fee certificate was often the final hurdle before receiving a building permit. For district staff, every application meant paper forms, handwritten receipts, and manual calculations. Chula Vista Elementary School District knew there had to be a better way.

Chula Vista Elementary School District implemented Facilitron DevFees™ to modernize the entire experience, giving developers an easier way to submit applications and payments while freeing district staff from time-consuming manual work.

The Solution

Facilitron DevFees™ digitized the district's entire developer fee process.

Today, applicants can:

• Submit applications online
• Upload required documentation
• Pay developer fees electronically
• Receive a digital Certificate of Compliance
• Track the status of their application

District staff now manage applications from a centralized platform rather than relying on paper files and manual tracking.

The result is a faster, more transparent process for everyone involved.

Improving the Customer Experience

One of the biggest benefits has been reducing friction for developers and homeowners.

Many applicants arrive after navigating city planning departments, building permits, inspections, and numerous other agencies. By the time they reach the school district, they're simply trying to complete the final requirement before moving forward with construction.

The online workflow means applicants no longer need to schedule office visits or coordinate paperwork during business hours. Even when no developer fees are ultimately owed, applicants can still receive the documentation needed to continue their permitting process without unnecessary delays.

For applicants, it's a simpler, more convenient experience. For district staff, it's fewer interruptions and less time spent processing paperwork.

Easier for District Staff

Beyond improving the public experience, Facilitron DevFees™ has significantly streamlined internal operations.

Instead of maintaining paper records and manually tracking payments, staff now work from a centralized system that organizes applications, payments, and documentation in one place.

The platform has reduced repetitive administrative tasks while creating a more consistent process for managing developer fee requests.

As the district continues to grow, having a standardized digital workflow provides greater consistency and scalability.

A Partnership That Continues to Improve

For Chula Vista, one of the most valuable aspects of working with Facilitron has been the partnership itself.

Throughout implementation and beyond, Facilitron worked closely with district staff, providing training, responding quickly to questions, and incorporating customer feedback into future product improvements.

Rather than delivering software and walking away, Facilitron continues working with districts to refine the experience, improve reporting, and support evolving operational needs.

Looking Ahead

As Chula Vista Elementary School District continues serving one of California's growing communities, Facilitron DevFees™ provides a modern foundation for managing developer fee collection efficiently and professionally.

By replacing manual processes with a digital-first workflow, the district has improved service for developers, reduced administrative burden, and created a more sustainable process for the future.