Greater Sudbury city council has approved an $800,000 pilot project on Tuesday that will utilize artificial intelligence to assist in reviewing building permit applications. The aim is to detect issues earlier and reduce processing times without replacing city staff.
The AI technology will serve as an initial screening tool when applicants submit plans through the city’s Pronto portal. It will check for missing information and potential problems related to Greater Sudbury’s zoning bylaw and sections of the Ontario Building Code. This immediate review process could provide feedback to applicants promptly, eliminating the need to wait for days for staff to identify missing or incorrect details.
Kris Longston, the city’s general manager of planning and growth, explained that the AI system will initially be trained on the city’s zoning regulations and permit procedures. He likened it to onboarding a new employee who needs to grasp the system before handling complex tasks. Longston anticipates that this technology will prevent incomplete applications from being submitted through Pronto in the future, setting a higher standard for incoming applications and potentially leading to quicker processing times.
Morgan Roleau, CEO of the Northern Ontario Home Builders Association, expressed cautious interest in Sudbury’s AI project, citing significant permit delays faced by builders in the region. While AI could streamline requirements and compliance checks, Roleau warned that faster screening might not address underlying issues in the permitting process such as delays due to processing inefficiencies, staff turnover, and inconsistent requirements.
According to Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor at York University, AI can effectively handle repetitive tasks in the permitting process by cross-referencing documents against clear rules and generating reports for human review. However, human expertise remains crucial for applications involving complex circumstances or interpretation.
John Lane, president of the Ontario Building Officials Association, highlighted AI’s potential in identifying clear and repetitive requirements but emphasized that it cannot replace the professional judgment of plans examiners for intricate or subjective building code interpretations. He noted that AI can expedite compliance checks, leaving final decisions to staff.
The project’s funding will come from the city’s Building Permit Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund. If the pilot proves successful, annual AI licensing fees of $350,000 would be covered by building permit fees. Sudbury plans to assess the pilot’s effectiveness before deciding on full implementation to enhance the initial stages of the permitting process.