On Monday, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell announced an executive order aimed at accelerating the permitting process for housing and small businesses in the city. A key component of this initiative will involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to assist both permit applicants and city staff in their review processes. According to the mayor’s office, the AI pilot program, which operates under the city’s Responsible Artificial Intelligence policy, has the potential to reduce housing review times by 50% or more.
The new citywide initiative, known as the Permitting and Customer Trust (PACT) Team, is designed to tackle Seattle’s pressing housing shortage and affordability crisis by cutting through bureaucratic red tape, minimizing delays, and providing clear, consistent guidance. PACT also seeks to alleviate the challenges that small businesses face, such as high startup costs, lengthy timelines, and ambiguous requirements that can impede growth.
Seattle’s Innovation and Performance team is collaborating with the Seattle Department of Construction & Inspections (SDCI) and Seattle IT to implement this initiative. A pilot AI program commenced in April, with a public rollout of the technology anticipated in 2026. The mayor’s order outlines several ways in which AI is expected to enhance the permitting process:
– Identifying convoluted processes or overly complex regulations for future simplification.
– Pre-screening applications for completeness and compliance, enabling applicants to address issues before formal review.
– Reducing communication back-and-forth between applicants and reviewers by resolving common errors at an earlier stage.
– Assisting in the onboarding of new reviewers through AI-guided training on frequently misunderstood rules.
The city is partnering with CivCheck, a company based in Boston and Chicago, which was established in 2023 and is currently collaborating with around 10 jurisdictions across North America. The AI tool is designed to flag missing information, code compliance issues, and other relevant details for each project, allowing applicants to rectify these problems before submission to the city.
In a job posting for a PACT manager, SDCI noted that it reviews land use and construction-related permits, approving over 53,000 permits and conducting approximately 240,000 on-site inspections annually.
The mayor’s office referenced a 2023 report from the Seattle City Auditor, which highlighted deficiencies in the city’s permitting processes. A survey indicated that many applicants struggled to identify the correct point of contact for assistance. Seattle is joining a growing trend among state and local governments that are leveraging AI to automate parts of the permitting process and enhance wait times.
Cities like Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, are utilizing Australia-based Archistar to expedite permit reviews. This technology employs computer vision, machine learning, and automated rulesets to instantly verify designs against local zoning and building codes, according to Industry Dive.
