Ontario Construction News staff writer
The City of Burlington has launched a new artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to help streamline the development application and building permit process.
Called eCheck, the free online platform allows applicants to review plans against the city’s zoning bylaws and the Ontario Building Code before submitting development or permit applications. City officials say the tool is intended to identify potential issues earlier, resulting in more complete submissions and a smoother review process.
Municipal officials said Burlington is among the first cities in Canada to adopt assistive AI technology for development reviews and the first municipality to extend the technology to building code assessments.
The tool, available through the city’s website, is currently in a testing phase and supports a limited range of building types and zoning reviews. In its initial rollout, eCheck can assess single detached dwellings for compliance with Ontario Building Code requirements, including ceiling heights, room sizes and fire protection measures. It can also review employment and industrial building proposals for zoning compliance, including setbacks, height limits, floor area ratios, landscaping requirements and parking ratios.
Applicants can search property addresses through an interactive map, upload plans and architectural drawings, and receive assessment reports showing where projects meet requirements or where revisions may be needed 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 modernizing Ontario’s development review process.
The municipality is the first in Ontario to deploy AI to support building code assessment.
By proactively reviewing drawings before they are submitted, eCheck helps applicants identify potential issues earlier, improve the quality of their submissions, and reduce potential delays, helping to accelerate the permitting process and construction starts.
Additional zoning categories and building types are expected to be added to eCheck as testing continues.
