The City of Surrey, in British Columbia, has introduced an AI-based pre-check system that reviews residential building plans for zoning compliance before they are formally submitted for permit approval. The system allows applicants to upload design drawings and receive automated feedback highlighting potential compliance issues at the pre-application stage, aimed at reducing delays in the review process.
The platform, known as AI PreCheck (formerly eCheck), has been deployed through a partnership with Archistar, a proptech company that develops digital compliance software for building plan review and zoning analysis.
The rollout follows a 2024 decision by Surrey City Council to award Archistar a three-year contract to develop an automated zoning bylaw compliance tool for residential permit applications. At the time, the initiative was described as a way to improve submission quality and reduce processing delays through early-stage compliance checking.
With the system now live, the project has transitioned from procurement and pilot phases into operational use in the city’s residential permitting process.
How AI PreCheck is being used in the permitting process
AI PreCheck has been introduced as a digital screening tool that reviews building plan sets for zoning compliance prior to formal submission to the city. The system is used at the pre-application stage, where applicants can receive feedback on potential compliance issues before entering the official review process.
City officials have highlighted that a large share of residential permit applications have historically contained zoning deficiencies, leading to repeated resubmissions and extended approval timelines. The tool is designed to address this stage by automatically flagging issues earlier in the process.
Reports generated through the system are also reviewed by trained architects based in Vancouver, working with Archistar, to support completeness and accuracy before submissions proceed to formal assessment.
Expansion across housing types and residential zones
The initial rollout coves the R3 Urban Residential Zone and is focused on single-family homes. The system is expected to expand to additional residential building types, including coach houses, garden suites, duplexes, and houseplexes.
Further expansion is planned across multiple residential zoning categories, including R1 Suburban Residential Zone, R2 Quarter Acre Residential Zone, R4 Small Lot Residential Zone, R5 Compact Residential Zone, R5-S Special Compact Residential Zone, R6 Semi-Detached Residential Zone, and RA Acreage Residential Zone.
The phased approach indicates that the system will be progressively extended as more users engage with the platform and additional zoning categories are incorporated into the digital review framework.
