We're excited to announce the launch of Permit Advisor, a feature that gives you a head start on identifying the permits your construction projects need.
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 suggest the permits your project is likely to need, in about a minute.
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 Suggestions to Review
In about a minute, you'll receive a list of suggested permits, each marked as required, likely or possible, 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
✅ Catch Permits Early
Permit Advisor considers both planning and building department requirements, so early-stage approvals like zoning clearances or design review are on your radar from the start.
⏱️ Save Hours of Research
Instead of starting from a blank page, you start from a list of likely permits with links to the official pages behind them, and spend your research time confirming the details with the agency.
🎯 Location-Specific Research
Every jurisdiction is different. Permit Advisor searches official sources for your project's city and county, 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 suggests both planning approvals (zoning, design review, conditional use) and building permits (structural, MEP, fire), so you can sequence them correctly.
📊 Clear Likelihoods
Not all permits are created equal. Permit Advisor marks each suggestion as required, likely or possible, so you know which ones to confirm first.
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. Suggestions are a starting point, not legal or code-compliance advice, so confirm them with the agencies that have jurisdiction. From there, Permitful helps you track deadlines, milestones, and statuses—all in one place.
Try Permit Advisor Today
Permit Advisor runs on every project with Pro, and every free account gets one run to try it.
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 less permit research and more successful projects. 🎉