Clariti – a leading provider of community development solutions – today announced the launch of Clariti AI Studio. The program gives local government teams direct access to Clariti’s expertise in applying AI across permitting and community development workflows.
“Cities want to approve housing faster, and AI can help, but only when teams know how to use it, and which tools to use,” said Cyrus Symoom, CEO of Clariti. “AI Studio offers tailored, one-on-one workshops with experts who’ve done this work for years. We've seen what’s possible when cities get this right, and we want more of them to have that opportunity.”
Housing approvals have become one of the most urgent challenges facing governments nationwide. A White House executive order, bipartisan congressional legislation, and dozens of states have all put permitting reform at the top of the policy agenda as housing shortages and affordability pressures intensify. While interest in AI is growing, many agencies still lack a clear, actionable path to apply it effectively to permitting workflows.
Cities using Clariti’s AI plan review tool are already seeing significant savings. Honolulu cut residential plan review times by 70% and reduced total review time by 64% – bringing what once took up to 90 minutes down to just 20–30. Most recently, the City of Denver selected Clariti and its AI plan review tool to modernize its building permitting process. CivCheck pilots are underway in communities like Seattle and Calgary. As Clariti’s clientele grows, AI Studio is launching to address teams’ challenges and give more city leaders a practical, hands-on path to the same results.
“When building permit approvals drag on for months, it creates real pressure for residents, builders, and city staff alike,” said Dawn Takeuchi Apuna, City and County of Honolulu. “What’s made the biggest difference with Clariti is that their team, including CivCheck, worked alongside our staff to fit AI into the way we already review plans and process applications. Their hands-on approach has been a game changer, helping us reduce review times significantly while giving our team more consistency and confidence throughout the process.”
Clariti AI Studio offers tailored 45-60-minute one-on-one workshops led by subject-matter experts. Each session is built around that agency’s actual workflow, highlighting where delays occur and how AI can reduce rework and improve consistency. These focus on three critical root causes where permitting teams tend to lose the most time:
- Incomplete or unclear submissions at intake
- Inconsistent code compliance interpretation
- Lengthy back-and-forth review cycles
Teams leave with a concrete picture of what AI could improve today, as well as a realistic sense of how it can shorten turnaround times and bring more consistency to decision-making. Clariti also provides a structured assessment and reference materials they can bring back to their teams and use as a guide when evaluating AI solutions.
Where other tools simply speed up existing steps, Clariti’s AI plan review solution is built differently, with AI at its core from day one – improving the quality of inputs and the consistency of decisions at every stage, from submission through final review. That means fewer errors, less rework, and timelines stakeholders can actually count on.
“What we see across agencies is that delays don't start at review – they begin before an application ever reaches the city, when applicants are asked to navigate a complex process with little context or guidance,” said Julia Richman, Clariti Government Relations. “In each one-on-one workshop, Clariti experts work with jurisdictions to uncover the root causes of delays, and identify where AI might address those challenges. They leave with a clear, concrete view of how AI can change the way they work and make the submission process faster and less frustrating for everyone.”
Clariti AI Studio is designed for agencies exploring using AI in permitting and community development, with participation prioritized based on fit and availability. Local government agencies interested in participating can request access here. Clariti serves communities across 26 states.
