An increase in permit applications, timelines that keep shrinking, and difficulty finding experienced reviewers is leaving planning departments underwater, with review cycles stretching for weeks or even months.
It’s no surprise that AI-powered plan review tools are gaining traction. But what’s actually working? What are jurisdictions learning as they use these tools? And if you’re still deciding whether AI makes sense for your department, what should you be looking for?
We’ve talked with dozens of jurisdictions across North America, both Clariti customers and others testing AI plan review tools. Here’s what they say:
Different AI plan review tools do different things and don't all behave the same. But generallt speaking, they're built to handle the repetitive, time-consuming parts of permitting, like flagging incomplete submittals, checking basic code compliance, and taking pressure off senior staff.
Teams use AI plan review to catch missing documents before formal review, automatically count parking spaces or trees and check setbacks, pull up relevant code sections, and apply the same checks every time so nothing slips through. That dynamic standardization is changing how plan review staff work.
Tools like CivCheck catch issues early, so applicants are more likely to submit complete and compliant plans, and you get fewer rounds of back-and-forth. Reviews move faster, and your staff has time for work that requires their expertise.
One customer described the value of AI plan review: “The [CivCheck] platform’s value comes from its ability to automate routine, objectively evaluable tasks, free up staff for more complex, value-adding work.”
Early adopters of the software are figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and where the biggest gains from AI plan review are:
One unexpected takeaway from early pilots? The biggest time gains aren’t during the review itself, but before it even starts. When tools like CivCheck catch incomplete applications at intake, your staff avoids reviewing the same plans multiple times.
For straightforward projects like homes or small commercial buildings, this pre-screening means fewer review cycles and faster approvals, letting staff reallocate time to projects that need closer review.
Codes change constantly, local ordinances get amended, and new staff need time to get up to speed. AI plan review keeps things consistent across all of it.
These tools apply the same checks and standards every time, flagging issues even buried in 700-page plan sets. For small teams or those with high turnover, AI can double as a quality control layer and a training tool, helping new reviewers check their work and learn faster.
A CivCheck customer explained: “Through working with CivCheck, I’ve found that the system effectively eliminates many redundant processes. We have the potential to streamline even more processes moving forward.”
CivCheck hits 97% accuracy on code interpretation and covers 99% of relevant code books. It’s also the only platform that supports every required check, from fire and zoning to structural, accessibility, and plumbing. That’s consistency you can’t match manually.
Despite early panic about automation, most jurisdictions now see AI plan review as an assistant, not a substitute for reviewers. AI supports tedious tasks, like checking that a submitted permit application includes all required documents, so senior staff can focus on more technical reviews.
One jurisdiction told us: “CivCheck’s approach is centered on augmenting and supporting staff, not replacing them. This philosophy resonated strongly with our team, as it addressed concerns about job security and made adoption smoother.”
Some teams even use CivCheck as a coaching tool. New hires compare their work with the AI output and learn from the differences. Because CivCheck’s applicant-side pre-checks mean reviewers start with “approvable” plans, complete with flagged issues, code references, and calculations already done, reviewers can focus on the detailed work.
Early adopters warn that not all AI plan review platforms are built for government processes or local codes.
Several jurisdictions we’ve heard about abandoned pilots because the tools threw too many false flags or couldn’t adapt to local code amendments. Reviewers spent more time fixing AI mistakes than reviewing plans.
The lesson? Accuracy matters, but so does local adaptability. The tool needs to work with your rules, not force you into someone else’s.
When jurisdictions evaluate AI plan review tools, three things keep coming up:
CivCheck delivers on all three. It has guided AI portals that walk you through every requirement, code copilots that link straight to relevant rules, and it’s PDF-native, so it works with all documents. Run it standalone or easily integrate it with your permitting system.
A plan reviewer at a major West Coast jurisdiction told us, “CivCheck has a lot of features that we never had before and that we’ve always been asking for. That was one of the major benefits.”
If you’re still thinking about AI plan review, you’re not behind. But the jurisdictions moving now are preparing for the next surge in permit volumes.
Early adopters did the hard work. You can skip the mistakes and start seeing results for your staff in weeks, not months.
Where to start:
Figure out what’s slowing you down. What's the biggest bottleneck? Pick a tool that solves that problem first.
Make sure it handles your codes. Ask how the vendor supports jurisdiction-specific rules and how fast they can update them. The best platforms can be updated in near real time.
Look at the vendor, not just the features. Ask other cities about implementation time, support responsiveness, and partnership quality.
Need help getting this approved internally? Here’s how to build the case.
The technology is ready, and the sooner you start, the more prepared you’ll be for the next plan set, the next hire, and the next thousand permits.