311 code complaints become Accela code cases
When Sentra 311 receives a code enforcement request, SentraBridge creates an Accela enforcement record with the address, description and reporter contact.
Permitting & land useConnector
Accela integration
for local government
Accela Civic Platform is the permitting, licensing and code enforcement system behind many city building departments. Staff track permit applications, inspections, workflow tasks and code cases in it, and residents apply and pay online through Accela Citizen Access.
Pre-built connector
Accela Civic Platform
- Tier
- Pre-built connector
- Category
- Permitting & land use
- Sign-in
- OAuth 2.0 password grant (agency app)
- Paging
- offset
§ Overview
What connecting Accela does.
SentraBridge connects to Accela through the Construct API v4. Flows read records changed since the last run, create new records and inspections, update workflow tasks and add comments. Records move in memory between Accela and your other systems, and run history keeps only counts and record IDs.
- Records: Permits, licenses and code cases: read changed records, create new ones, update status and details.
- Inspections: Read inspection status and dates; schedule new inspections on a record.
- Workflow tasks: Read the tasks on a record and update their status and comments.
- Contacts and comments: Read and add contacts on a record; add record comments, optionally shown on inspections.
- Documents and parcels: List documents attached to a record; read parcel numbers, owners and GIS IDs.
What SentraBridge can do with Accela Civic Platform
| resource | read | write | changes only | fields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Records | list, read one | create, update | yes | ID, Record number, Record type, Status, Description, Address… |
| Inspections | list, read one | create | — | ID, Record, Status, Scheduled, Inspection type (schedule), Record (schedule)… |
| Comments on a record | — | create | — | Record ID, Comment, Show on inspection |
| Workflow tasks on a record | list | update | — | Task ID, Task, Status, Department, Comment (update) |
| Documents on a record (list) | list | — | — | Document ID, File name, Category, Uploaded, Size |
| Contacts on a record | list | create | — | ID, First name, Last name, Email, Phone, Contact type |
| Parcels | list, read one | — | — | ID, Parcel number, Owner, GIS ID |
§ Use cases
What cities connect Accela for.
Close the 311 request when the case closes
Every 15 minutes, Accela records closed since the last run close the matching 311 request, so residents hear back without staff updating two systems.
A Laserfiche folder for each new permit
New building records get a Laserfiche folder named with the record number and address, ready for plans and inspection reports.
Issued permits on the city map
Issued permits are written to an ArcGIS feature layer or a PostGIS table, so planners and the public see where construction is happening.
Inspection results to the permit counter
Completed inspections are posted to a Teams channel or emailed to the permit tech, with the record number and result.
§ Examples
Flows that use Accela Civic Platform.
Accela Civic Platform → Sentra 311
Closed Accela records close their 311 requests
Every 15 minutes, finds Accela records closed since the last run and closes the matching Sentra 311 request.
Accela Civic Platform → Laserfiche CloudMake a Laserfiche folder for each new Accela permit
Every hour, creates a folder in Laserfiche for each new building record in Accela, named with the record number and address.
§ How it works
How to connect Accela
- 01Get accessRegister an agency app at developer.accela.com and note the app ID and secret.
- 02Add the connectionCreate an Accela user for SentraBridge with access to the modules flows use.
- 03Preview real recordsEnter the agency name and environment (PROD or a test environment) in the connection.
- 04Turn it onPreview a few records to confirm your record types and statuses.
§ Often connected with
Accela and the rest of city hall.
Systems cities commonly connect with Accela, each with its own connector page.
Sentra 311§ FAQ
Accela integration questions
Does Accela have an API?
Yes. Accela publishes the Construct API v4, a REST API for records, inspections, workflow, documents, contacts and parcels. Agencies register an app on the Accela developer portal and sign in with OAuth.
Does Accela support webhooks?
SentraBridge doesn't use Accela webhooks. It checks Accela on a schedule, as often as every minute, and reads only records updated since the last good run using updateDateFrom.
How do I connect Accela to ArcGIS?
Read issued permits from Accela, build a map point from the address coordinates with the Make map point step, then send them to an ArcGIS feature layer. Run it nightly or every few minutes.
Our record types are custom. Will it still work?
Yes. Every agency configures its own record types and statuses. You pick and check them on real records in Preview before the flow is turned on.
Connect Accela Civic Platform to the rest.
We'll set up a workspace with your systems in a sandbox and build your first flow with you.