Greater Sudbury city council has greenlit an $800,000 initiative utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline the review of building permit applications. The aim is to identify issues earlier and expedite processing times. The AI technology will serve as an initial screening tool in collaboration with city staff rather than as a complete replacement.
Through the Pronto portal, when applicants submit their plans, the AI software will analyze applications for missing data and potential zoning bylaw or Ontario Building Code violations. This process could lead to immediate feedback for applicants, eliminating the wait time typically required for staff reviews to identify missing or incorrect information.
The system will initially undergo training on the city’s zoning regulations and building permit procedures, akin to onboarding a new employee. The technology is anticipated to evolve to prevent incomplete applications from being submitted through Pronto, setting a higher standard for incoming applications and potentially expediting processing times.
Morgan Roleau, CEO of the Northern Ontario Home Builders Association, expressed cautious optimism about Sudbury’s plan, citing significant permit delays impacting builders in the region. While AI may help standardize requirements and compliance checks, Roleau emphasized that faster screening might not resolve other issues in the permitting process, such as delays caused by processing inefficiencies and inconsistent requirements.
According to Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor at York University, AI can streamline repetitive tasks in the permitting process, allowing professionals to focus on complex decisions. However, human expertise remains vital in cases involving nuanced interpretations or conflicting priorities, emphasizing the need for human oversight alongside AI assistance.
John Lane, president of the Ontario Building Officials Association, noted AI’s suitability for checking straightforward and repetitive requirements but underscored the irreplaceable role of human judgment in complex scenarios or ambiguous building code interpretations. AI’s primary potential lies in reducing administrative bottlenecks and expediting compliance checks.
The project’s funding will come from the city’s Building Permit Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund, with potential annual AI licensing fees of $350,000 covered by building permit fees if full implementation proceeds after the pilot phase. Sudbury’s pilot project aims to enhance the initial stages of the permitting process, with a thorough evaluation of results before committing to full implementation.