Permit Review
Identify permit requirements, submission checklists, and potential issues before submitting to the building department.
The Permit Review tool analyzes your project scope against local permit requirements and generates a pre-submission checklist so you catch issues before the building department does.
When to use this tool
Permit Review is most valuable:
- Early in design development to understand what permits will be required
- Before submitting a permit package to verify completeness
- When taking over a project mid-stream and needing a quick audit
- For projects in unfamiliar jurisdictions where you are less certain of local requirements
What you need
- Project address and jurisdiction
- Project type and description (new construction, tenant improvement, addition, change of use, etc.)
- Approximate construction value (for fee estimation)
- Proposed occupancy type
Running a permit review
- Open Permit Review from the sidebar
- Fill in the project details form
- Click Generate Review
The AI cross-references your project scope against the jurisdiction's published permit requirements and known local practices.
What the report covers
- Required permits (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, grading, etc.)
- Exemptions that may apply to your project scope
- Submission checklist with required drawings, calculations, and documents
- Third-party review requirements (DSA, OSHPD, structural peer review)
- Estimated fees based on construction value
- Common rejection reasons for similar project types in that jurisdiction
- Timeline estimate based on current department backlog data where available
Understanding permit pathways
Some projects qualify for streamlined or over-the-counter permit pathways. The AI will flag these opportunities, which can significantly reduce approval time. For example:
- Simple tenant improvements in many jurisdictions qualify for OTC review
- Certain residential additions qualify for expedited processing
- Pre-approved plan programs exist in several cities for common residential types
After you generate the report
Save the checklist and work through it systematically before your submission date. You can mark items as complete within the app to track your progress.
Share the permit checklist with your client so they understand what documentation they need to provide (title report, property deed, existing permit history, etc.).
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the fee estimates? Fee estimates are based on published municipal fee schedules. Actual fees may vary due to plan check cycles, surcharges, and department-specific line items. Use the estimate for budgeting purposes and confirm with the department before invoicing your client.
Does this replace a pre-application meeting? No. For complex projects, a pre-application meeting with the planning and building departments is always recommended. This tool helps you walk into that meeting better prepared.
Can I run this for projects outside the United States? Currently the tool is optimized for US jurisdictions. International permit review is on the roadmap.
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