Archistar.ai, a global leader in AI-driven urban planning and property technology solutions, is thrilled to announce its partnership with the City of Surrey. This three-year contract marks the full deployment of Archistar’s eCheck technology to revolutionize zoning bylaw compliance processes in Surrey’s residential development sector.
The eCheck platform, powered by advanced AI, allows developers and city planners to automate and streamline the evaluation of building permits. By conducting pre-application compliance checks against Surrey’s zoning bylaws, eCheck significantly accelerates approval times, improves application quality, and supports the City’s commitment to meeting its growing housing demands.
“We’re addressing Surrey’s growing housing needs with innovative solutions to ensure our community is supported as it grows,” said Mayor Brenda Locke. “The goal of this tool is to help speed up the permitting process and help accelerate housing development. We’re committed to being a leader in urban planning and development, and this new tool will help us achieve our vision of building a vibrant, sustainable, and liveable city for all.”
The eCheck platform provides developers with instant feedback on zoning compliance issues such as building height and setbacks, reducing the need for multiple submissions and revisions. While eCheck speeds up the approval process, it does not eliminate the essential role of plan checkers in reviewing complex projects.
Expansion Follows Global Success
This expanded contract in Surrey comes on the heels of Archistar’s growing success in North America, including an agreement with the City of Vancouver and more recently with the City of Austin, Texas. Austin’s implementation, following a three-month pilot, demonstrated how Archistar’s technology reduces approval times and enhances the quality of applications, enabling the city to focus on complex reviews and advance housing projects more efficiently.
Dr. Benjamin Coorey, Founder and CEO of Archistar, commented on the expanding North American footprint, saying, “We are proud to support the City of Surrey in its leadership role within urban planning. Surrey is at the forefront of digital transformation in Canada, and we are confident that eCheck will continue to drive efficiency and sustainability in the City’s housing development initiatives. This collaboration builds on our successes globally, with over 30 cities now implementing or piloting our platform.”
About Archistar’s eCheck Technology
Archistar’s eCheck platform automates the zoning compliance review process by reading designs directly from submitted drawings and evaluating them against digitized building and zoning codes. By producing a comprehensive compliance report in minutes, eCheck simplifies complex regulatory frameworks and reduces back-and-forth between applicants and city planning authorities. This leads to faster permit approvals, reduces project costs, and helps developers bring new housing to market more quickly.
The Benefits of Full eCheck Deployment in Surrey
The full-scale implementation of eCheck will allow the City of Surrey to:
- Accelerate Housing Development: Faster permit approvals will help Surrey meet its housing targets by expediting new development projects.
- Improve Application Quality: Developers receive detailed feedback early in the process, reducing the number of revisions and improving the overall quality of submissions.
- Increase Efficiency: Automated compliance checks free up city staff to focus on complex evaluations, increasing overall efficiency.
- Reduce Costs and Delays: Fewer resubmissions and quicker approvals reduce holding costs for developers and streamline project timelines.
- Enhance Transparency: Standardized reports provide clear, data-driven insights into compliance, improving communication between developers and the city.
