Spokane homeowners rebuilding after the devastating fire that razed 501 single‑family homes can now take advantage of a new, free permit‑review service that uses artificial intelligence to catch missing paperwork before the city’s full review process begins.
AI checks for completeness in minutes
Development Services Director Tami Palmquist explained that the biggest bottleneck in the rebuilding effort has been incomplete applications—missing forms, absent energy‑code calculations, or incomplete surveys. To address this, the city partnered with Permittable.ai, a startup that built a platform specifically for permit‑application quality control.
Founder and COO Barry Alavi described how the system works: once a homeowner uploads their drawings and supporting documents to the Permittable.ai portal, the software runs a series of checks using a team of AI scientists. Within roughly 15 minutes, the platform generates a report that tells the applicant how complete their submission is and highlights any missing items.
“You submit your application and, make sure that from an administrative perspective, you have all the forms, the documents, the survey—everything the city needs for their checklist. Then you get a report within like 15 minutes that tells you if your application is 50% complete or if you’re missing documents,” Alavi said.
Faster approvals for fire‑related rebuilding
With the AI review in place, Palmquist said the city’s overall approval timeline has dropped dramatically. Where the process once took an average of four weeks, many fire‑related permits are now approved in three to five days.
Homeowners who wish to use the service simply create a profile on the Permittable.ai website. The system automatically pulls the property’s address, verifies it against Spokane’s records, and waives the usual completion‑check fee, making the tool both convenient and cost‑free for those rebuilding their lives.
Local impact and future plans
The AI‑driven review is part of a broader effort by Spokane’s Development Services Department to streamline rebuilding after the fire and to reduce the administrative burden on both residents and city staff. By catching errors early, the city can focus its resources on more complex aspects of each project, ultimately speeding the return of safe, habitable housing to the community.
City officials emphasized that the technology is a supplement—not a replacement—for human reviewers. “The AI gives us a second set of eyes,” Palmquist noted, “but our staff still conducts the final safety and code compliance checks.”
Local contractors and builders have welcomed the change, noting that quicker permit approvals mean faster start dates for construction crews and less downtime for families awaiting a new home.
How to get started
Homeowners can begin the process by visiting Permittable.ai, creating an account, and uploading their permit package. The platform will then run the AI check and provide a detailed completeness report. If any items are missing, the homeowner can address them immediately and resubmit, avoiding the back‑and‑forth that traditionally slowed the process.
Spokane’s adoption of AI for permit reviews reflects a growing trend among municipalities to leverage technology for more efficient government services, while still preserving the personal touch and oversight that residents expect from their local officials.
Original reporting: KHQ Spokane (news) — read the source article.
