We're excited to announce the launch of Permit Advisor, a game-changing feature that takes the guesswork out of identifying required permits for your construction projects.
The Problem: Missed Permits Cost Time and Money
Every architect and builder knows the pain: you're deep into a project when you discover a critical permit you didn't know you needed. Maybe it's a design review required by the planning department, or an environmental clearance that should have been filed months ago.
The result? Delays, rework, and frustrated clients.
A single missed permit can mean:
- ⏰ Weeks of delays waiting for approval
- 💰 Thousands of dollars in holding costs and redesign fees
- 😤 Strained client relationships and damaged reputation
Researching permit requirements manually means:
- 📚 Digging through multiple jurisdiction websites
- 📞 Making calls to planning and building departments
- 🔍 Trying to interpret complex local codes
- ❓ Second-guessing whether you've found everything
The Solution: Permit Advisor
Permit Advisor uses AI and real-time web search to automatically identify all the permits you need—in seconds.
Here's how it works:
1. Tell Us About Your Project
Enter basic details: project name, type (residential, commercial, mixed-use, etc.), location, and scope.
2. We Search Official Sources
Permit Advisor searches official government websites (.gov, .us domains) to find:
- Building department requirements
- Planning department regulations
- Jurisdiction-specific permit processes
- Environmental review requirements
3. Get Instant Recommendations
Within seconds, you'll receive a prioritized list of suggested permits, including:
- Permit name (e.g., "Building Permit", "Conditional Use Permit")
- Issuing jurisdiction (e.g., "City of Oakland Planning Department")
- Phase (Planning vs. Building)
- Source links to official documentation, so you can verify details
4. Review and Add to Your Project
Review the suggestions, edit as needed, and add them to your project with one click.
Why This Matters
✅ Never Miss a Critical Permit
Permit Advisor considers both planning and building department requirements, ensuring you don't overlook early-stage approvals like zoning clearances or design review.
⏱️ Save Hours of Research
What used to take 3-5 hours of website searching and phone calls now happens in seconds. That's time you can spend on design, client communication, or winning new projects.
🎯 Location-Specific Accuracy
Every jurisdiction is different. Permit Advisor pulls real-time information from official sources to give you accurate, local requirements—whether you're in San Jose, Seattle, or a small town.
🧠 Planning + Building Department Coverage
Here's what most people miss: planning department permits often need to be filed first. Permit Advisor identifies both planning approvals (zoning, design review, conditional use) and building permits (structural, MEP, fire), so you can sequence them correctly.
📊 Smart Prioritization
Not all permits are created equal. Permit Advisor ranks suggestions by importance, so you know what to file first and can avoid bottlenecks.
Built for Architects, Builders, and Developers
Whether you're working on a single-family home in San Francisco or a mixed-use development in Austin, Permit Advisor adapts to your project type and location.
Common permit types identified include:
- Zoning approvals and variances
- Building permits (structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical)
- Conditional use permits
- Design review permits
- Environmental review (CEQA, NEPA)
- Grading and demolition permits
- Fire safety permits
- Historic preservation permits
- And many more...
How to Use Permit Advisor
Getting started is simple:
- Create a new project in Permitful
- Fill in your project details (name, type, location, scope)
- Click "Create Project"
- Review and add permits to your project
That's it. From there, Permitful helps you track deadlines, milestones, and statuses—all in one place.
Try Permit Advisor Today
Permit Advisor is available now to all Permitful users on the Pro Plan.
New to Permitful? Start your free 30-day trial and see how AI-powered permit tracking can transform your workflow.
📅 Get started with Permitful today
Questions?
We'd love to hear your feedback on Permit Advisor. If you have questions or suggestions, reach out to our team at support@permitful.com.
Here's to fewer missed permits and more successful projects. 🎉