Greater Sudbury city council has given the green light to an $800,000 initiative utilizing artificial intelligence to streamline the review of building permit applications. The primary aim is to detect issues at an early stage and expedite processing times. The AI technology will serve as an initial screening tool and not a substitute for city personnel.
The system will operate by examining submissions made through the city’s Pronto portal for missing details and potential violations of Greater Sudbury’s zoning regulations and sections of the Ontario Building Code. Kris Longston, the city’s general manager of planning and growth, highlighted that this approach could lead to prompt feedback for applicants, eliminating the need to wait days for an initial staff assessment.
Initially, the AI system will be trained on the city’s zoning laws and permit procedures. Longston likened this process to onboarding a new employee who requires training before handling complex tasks. The expectation is that the technology will eventually prevent incomplete applications from being submitted, raising the quality of submissions and potentially reducing turnaround times.
Morgan Roleau, CEO of the Northern Ontario Home Builders Association, expressed cautious optimism about Sudbury’s plan, citing significant delays in permit approvals across the region. While acknowledging the benefits of AI in standardizing requirements and checks, Roleau cautioned that quicker screening might not address underlying issues in the permitting process.
According to Mojgan Jadidi, an associate professor at York University specializing in regulatory compliance, AI is effective for repetitive tasks in permitting. Clear rules and high-quality data are essential for optimal AI performance, although human expertise remains crucial for complex scenarios requiring interpretation.
John Lane, president of the Ontario Building Officials Association, emphasized that AI is well-suited for routine inspections but cannot replace the judgment of plans examiners, particularly in intricate cases. The potential of AI lies in streamlining administrative tasks, allowing staff to focus on critical decisions.
The project will be financed through the city’s Building Permit Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund, with possible full implementation subject to the pilot’s evaluation. Should the initiative proceed, annual AI licensing costs of $350,000 would be covered by building permit fees. Sudbury’s pilot program aims to enhance the initial stages of the permitting process, with outcomes guiding future decisions on AI integration.