A Summary: The Governor’s Order Suspending State Permitting Deadlines & Extending State Permits
March 31, 2020
Written By Tom Nally, Senior Advisor
As a result of the restrictions imposed by responses to the COVID-19 virus and the declaration of a state of emergency, Governor Baker issued an order on March 26, 2020 (COVID-19 Order No. 17) providing that a permit issued by agencies within the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs or the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development will not expire or lapse during the period that the state of emergency is in effect. The Governor’s order also pauses deadlines for these agencies to hold a hearing or decide on permit applications. The timing clock on those deadlines will resume 45 days after the end of the emergency.
Hearing deadlines, decision deadlines, and deadlines for filing appeals have all been suspended during the state of emergency. A permit issued by a state permitting agency to a holder of approval who was not in violation of the terms and conditions of the approval as of March 10, 2020, will not lapse or expire during the state of emergency.
This order will remain in effect until rescinded or until the state of emergency is terminated.
This permit order does not apply to permits or approvals required from other state or local authorities.
