Naples to use AI to streamline permitting process – Gulfshore Business
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Artificial intelligence is set to streamline the city of Naples’ permitting process, allowing builders to use their smartphones to check permits and schedule inspections through a new AI-powered chatbot named “Fraser.”
City Council unanimously approved spending $514,096 to cover 15 licensed BlitzAI workspace users, customize and reconfigure existing CityView software to build out the permitting process, provide more transparency for residents and greater access for applicants with the CityView Assistant, Fraser and integrate the city’s Questys records management software to automate record retention and centralize building records in one location.
The vote waived the competitive bidding processes for three vendors: BlitzAI will be paid $120,000, Ontario, Canada-based N. Harris Computer Corp. will receive $369,620 to integrate CityView and maintain it and Questys, owned by Harris ERP, a subsidiary of N. Harris, will be paid $24,476 to integrate records management.
Tampa-based Blitz Permit Inc.’s AI program can conduct permit reviews in “minutes instead of hours and days,” producing a report showing which areas are compliant, in question, or that fail, Building Services Director Stephen Beckman told City Council in a memo last month, noting BlitzAI will be integrated with other city software.
It will take two to three months to set up BlitzAI for each department, starting with the Building Department, followed by the Planning Department, and some features will be operational as early as September or October, Beckman said after the vote. The complete buildout could take 12 to 18 months because each department involved in the permitting-review process must incorporate BlitzAI into their workflows.
“The city of Naples is the first in Florida to partner with BlitzAI to automate our residential and commercial building-plan reviews,” Mayor Teresa Heitmann said. “This groundbreaking initiative marks a significant milestone in our commitment to innovation, efficiency and service excellence.”
Heitmann said the city is setting a standard by combining advanced technology with a “human-centered approach” that will produce better outcomes for developers and residents.
CityView was initially set up by the Building Department for permitting, while its planning module, used by the Planning Department for site-plan petitions, was set up only to the extent necessary to use in the building permit process. BlitzAI will be integrated with all processes and departments.
The company’s website states it accelerates review times and reduces wait times, keeping projects moving forward swiftly for applicants and reviewers; enhances accuracy by identifying potential compliance issues early to minimize costly revisions and delays; and boosts transparency, providing applicants with clear, consistent feedback.
Blitz Permits Inc., which was incorporated last year, helps planning, zoning and building departments cut manual review time by up to 95%, improve compliance and fast-track housing and infrastructure development. BlitzAI also will enable homeowners, builders and developers to conduct a presubmittal review.
Using algorithms to complete work in minutes, BlitzAI analyzes plans against the Florida Building Code, environmental standards, local ordinances and zoning regulations, flags code violations and generates a detailed report with redlined drawings.
Beckman noted each application will still require a review to check accuracy or additional time to examine intricate and complicated details, but overall review time will be “reduced significantly.
“With proper configuration, many of the repetitive, mundane ‘checklist/checkbox’-type items can be quickly and very accurately completed,” Beckman’s memo said.
The city moved to an electronic, fully paperless permitting system in 2019, when it implemented CityView, an advanced software system with strong customer support that allows the integration of third-party software to expand system capabilities.
Beckman said they discovered Blitz Permitting at the 2024 Building Officials of Florida Emerging Technology Conference. BlitzAI was touted as a one-of-a-kind sole-source product that customizes AI software to assist community-development departments with permit-application reviews.
Beckman noted AI-powered tools can automate repetitive tasks, such as reviewing applications for completeness, enhancing accuracy and consistency, while streamlining collaboration between city departments. The Questys integration will enhance data security, reduce storage costs and administrative overhead.
BlitzAI will provide AI chatbots to assist residents 24/7 with common questions about permits, inspections and the application process, Beckman said, giving city staff more time to answer applicants’ and residents’ questions and provide guidance. It also will provide real-time insights and predictive analysis by analyzing historical data to provide insights that predict permit volume trends, identify areas where code violations are common and optimize staff allocation to address high-demand periods.
Although there are upfront costs, Beckman said AI will significantly reduce operating costs by streamlining workflows, minimizing errors and reducing manual labor, allowing savings to be redirected to other priorities, including training and community development.
The city already had set aside money in a restricted account for a new building under a state statute, but that law was amended Jan. 1 to allow municipalities to use funds that cannot be carried forward to pay for hardware and software upgrades to enhance service delivery.
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