AI to speed building permits in L.A. after wildfires

The permitting process in Los Angeles is getting a boost from artificial intelligence as residents look to rebuild their communities after the devastating Eaton and Palisades wildfires in January, which destroyed more than 16,000 homes, businesses and other buildings.

Gov. Gavin Newsom last Wednesday announced a new artificial intelligence tool designed to expedite the building permit approval process in Los Angeles City and County. The AI-powered e-check software, developed by Archistar, uses computer vision, machine learning and automation to instantly assess building designs against local zoning and building codes.

The tool, which local governments and other users can access for free through a partnership involving the state and philanthropic organizations, such as LA Rises and Steadfast LA, allows property owners to pre-validate their plans before submission, a move expected to reduce delays and expedite the review process by city and county staff.

“The current pace of issuing permits locally is not meeting the magnitude of the challenge we face,” Newsom said in a press release. “To help boost local progress, California is partnering with the tech sector and community leaders to give local governments more tools to rebuild faster and more effectively.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also highlighted the significance of the AI tool.

“Getting residents home quickly and safely is my top priority,” she said in the release. “With the announcement of this AI solution, we’re infusing new technologies into City Hall processes to ensure nothing stands in the way of families getting home.”​

Bass last month issued an executive action aimed at expediting the rebuilding process. It established the city’s Self-Certification pilot, a program designed to support homeowners in the plan check process by allowing qualified architects to self-certify that their plans meet the California Residential Code. Under the pilot, plans submitted for qualifying homes won’t require a plan check, a process in which building plans for proposed projects are reviewed by the city to ensure they comply with zoning laws, building codes, fire safety regulations and accessibility standards.

Once constructed, buildings will still be inspected for code compliance to ensure they are safe. The self-certification program only applies to single-family homes up to three stories that were destroyed in the January fires.

The Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety will conduct an evaluation of the pilot program at the end of the first year.

The directive also tasks the department with issuing a report on how artificial intelligence may be used to supplement and enhance the plan check process, which, a spokesperson for the department told StateScoop, the department hopes to complete over the next few weeks.