How AI is Shaping the Future of Government Plan Review

Building, planning, and community development departments play a critical role in managing the safety and growth of communities. However, the processes behind plan review, permitting, and code compliance are becoming increasingly complex. State and local agencies are grappling with mounting submission volumes and rising expectations from applicants, all while trying to maintain consistency and improve timelines.

On average, complex plan reviews take between 6 to 12 weeks, and in some cities, it can extend up to a year. The process is often slow and prone to inconsistencies. Communication delays between reviewers and applicants can stretch from days to weeks, and even minor errors in submissions often lead to significant delays. Beyond the loss of efficiency, these issues create frustration for staff, reviewers, and applicants.

To address these challenges, municipalities are seeking smarter, more consistent ways to process and evaluate plans. Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers a way to rethink how plan review is handled without compromising accuracy, transparency, or accountability.

A Practical Approach to AI in Plan Review

Implementing AI for plan review and permitting isn't about replacing staff and reviewers; it's about empowering them. The most successful approach is phased, deliberate, and in partnership with trusted solution providers. An AI maturity model provides a structured roadmap to guide agencies from foundational automation through to intelligent workflows.

Here’s how an AI maturity model can reshape the plan review lifecycle:

1. Foundational Automation with Machine Learning - Machine Learning technologies can handle time-intensive, repetitive tasks like pre-checking submitted plans for completeness and proper formatting. Early detection can prevent delays up front by catching errors in submissions before agency staff ever open the file. This automation supports staff by reducing manual checks and decreasing back-and-forth with applicants.

2. Intelligent Review Assistance with Large Language Models - Large Language Models can enhance plan review processes by automatically flagging common code violations in submitted plans, identifying key differences between plan revisions, and drafting initial review comments based on jurisdictional standards. For applicants, Large Language Models can deliver instant answers to common code-related questions, clarify documentation requirements, and provide submission guidance—reducing the burden on staff while improving the overall applicant experience.

3. Full Workflow Automation with Intelligent Agents - AI can leverage intelligent agents to orchestrate entire workflows. These agents can predict timelines, group and categorize related documents, and sync information across integrated systems. They can bring consistency to the process by helping to standardize reviewer comments and code interpretations. AI can move from helpful to transformational by prioritizing urgent reviews, routing plans, and updating review statuses.

Government agencies are already embracing these capabilities, scaling them according to their unique needs. By partnering with trusted solution providers, agencies can adopt AI in a way that prioritizes transparency, reliability, and compliance.

Laying the Groundwork for a Smarter Future

The use of AI in plan review and permitting is no longer just a concept; it’s a reality reshaping how agencies engage with their communities and residents. For building, planning, and community development offices, AI offers a path to do more with fewer resources, improve collaboration across departments, and meet the growing demands of the public

Whether it’s accelerating reviews, improving communication with reviewers and applicants, or standardizing the interpretation of codes, AI can provide benefits that align directly with agency goals. As these technologies evolve, agency staff will be able to spend more time focusing on higher-value work like community engagement, policy development, and ensuring community and resident safety.

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e-PlanSoft™ is committed to working with government agencies to explore the benefits of AI and incorporate AI capabilities that align with this maturity model. Through pilot programs, collaborative feature development, and a user-first design philosophy, the goal is not just automation but meaningful innovation that serves agency staff, reviewers, and applicants.

 

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