Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Burlington has unveiled a fresh tool powered by artificial intelligence, aimed at simplifying the development application and building permit processes.
Named e Check, this free online platform lets applicants check their plans against the city’s zoning bylaws and the Ontario Building Code before they submit their development or permit applications. City officials state that this tool is designed to catch potential issues early on, leading to more thorough submissions and a smoother review process.
Municipal representatives mentioned that Burlington is one of the first cities in Canada to implement assistive AI technology for development reviews and is also the first municipality to apply this technology to building code evaluations.
This tool, accessible through the city’s website, is currently undergoing testing and supports a limited variety of building types and zoning reviews. In its initial launch, e Check can evaluate single detached homes for compliance with Ontario Building Code standards, including ceiling heights, room sizes, and fire safety measures. It can also assess employment and industrial building proposals for zoning adherence, such as setbacks, height restrictions, floor area ratios, landscaping needs, and parking requirements.
Applicants have the ability to search property addresses using an interactive map, upload plans and architectural designs, and receive assessment reports that indicate where projects meet regulations or highlight areas needing revisions before formal submission.
“This is a significant milestone in modernizing the development review process in Ontario,” said Mayor Marianne Meed Ward, describing the launch as a major step in updating Ontario’s development review process.
The municipality stands out as the first in Ontario to use AI for supporting building code assessments.
By reviewing drawings proactively before submission, e Check helps applicants spot potential problems sooner, enhances submission quality, and minimizes delays-thereby speeding up both permitting processes and construction timelines.
More zoning categories and building types are expected to be integrated into e Check as testing progresses.
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