The Greater Sudbury city council has given the green light to an $800,000 pilot initiative on Tuesday that will utilize artificial intelligence to streamline the review of building permit applications. The aim is to detect issues at an early stage and reduce processing times, supplementing the work of city staff rather than replacing them.
Through the Pronto portal, the AI software will conduct an initial assessment of applications, checking for missing information and potential violations of Greater Sudbury’s zoning regulations and relevant sections of the Ontario Building Code. Kris Longston, the city’s general manager of planning and growth, highlighted that this approach could lead to applicants receiving prompt feedback, eliminating the previous wait times for staff reviews to identify missing or incorrect details.
The system will undergo training on the city’s zoning laws and permit procedures before implementation, likened to the onboarding of a new employee familiarizing with the system. Longston anticipates that the technology will eventually prevent incomplete applications from being submitted, setting a higher standard for incoming applications and potentially expediting the processing times.
Morgan Roleau, CEO of the Northern Ontario Home Builders Association, expressed cautious interest in Sudbury’s plan, citing significant delays in permit approvals across the region. While AI could assist in standardizing requirements and checks, Roleau cautioned that quicker screenings may not address underlying issues in the permitting process, such as delays caused by processing inefficiencies or inconsistent requirements.
According to Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor at York University specializing in regulatory compliance, AI can effectively handle repetitive tasks in the permitting process by cross-referencing documents against set rules. However, human expertise remains crucial for complex scenarios requiring interpretation or decision-making, emphasizing the need for human oversight alongside AI assistance.
John Lane, president of the Ontario Building Officials Association, noted that AI is best suited for identifying clear and repetitive issues in building plans, such as non-compliance with specific requirements. However, he emphasized the irreplaceable role of human judgment, especially in cases involving intricate drawings or subjective interpretations of building code provisions.
The pilot project will be financed through the city’s Building Permit Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund, with potential annual licensing fees of $350,000 if full implementation follows. Sudbury aims to assess the effectiveness of the technology in improving the initial stages of the permitting process before committing to broader adoption.