- Kingston, Ontario moved Archistar AI PreCheck into production for building permit intake, starting with low-density residential applications and expanding to mid-rise housing later this year.
- Completeness Check and Compliance Analysis give applicants clearer feedback upfront, reducing resubmissions and speeding up review for both staff and applicants.
- The go-live builds on Kingston’s recent recognition as a 2026 Top7 Intelligent Community, positioning it as a model for AI-assisted plan review among mid-sized cities.
Kingston, Ontario – As part of its commitment to build 8,000 new homes by 2031, the City of Kingston is bringing Archistar AI PreCheck into its intake process for building permit applications.
Nestled in the heart of eastern Canada on the Lake Ontario waterfront, Kingston is known as the “Limestone City” and was once the capital of Canada before the government relocated to Ottawa. As part of its uniquely beautiful landscape, Kingston sits at the base of the St. Lawrence River, which starts from the outflow of Lake Ontario and serves as the gateway to 1,864 islands called the “1,000 Islands.”
Kingston recently made the “2026 Top7 Intelligent Communities” list by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF), an organization that recognizes cities around the world for community success related to connectivity, workforce development, innovation, digital inclusion, community engagement, and sustainability. Kingston is the only finalist from Canada and one of two in North America.
Setting the Pace for Mid-Sized Cities
Using a phased approach, the AI PreCheck platform will apply its Completeness Check tool to confirm that submissions include all required documentation, while Compliance Analysis will assess plans against Kingston’s zoning bylaws and the Ontario Building Code.
Building permit applicants will continue to submit through the City’s Development and Services Hub (DASH), and building staff will begin the review process by running applications through AI PreCheck.
Low-density residential applications, including single detached and semi-detached dwellings, detached garages, and additional residential units, will go live first, with mid-rise buildings such as row houses and stacked townhouses following in a second phase later this year.
Empowering High-Quality Permit Applications
One of Kingston’s goals with AI PreCheck is to reduce the number of application resubmissions. “The main priority in integrating AI PreCheck is to give applicants greater transparency around any issues or deficiencies with their submission by indicating what needs to be added or updated,” says Lisa Capener-Hunt, Director of Building Services and Chief Building Official at the City of Kingston.
“It’s beneficial for both sides,” she says. “Applicants get clear feedback from the beginning and therefore have time to make corrections and submit a higher-quality application. There’s less back-and-forth required, the turnaround time is quicker, and staff can process applications more efficiently.”
The strong collaboration between Kingston and Archistar ensures that the City’s AI PreCheck platform is highly accurate. “What impresses me most is the engagement we’ve had from Lisa and the City of Kingston team staff,” says Joe Philbrook, Archistar’s VP of Customer. “They’ve taken a staff-first approach and provided input to help us train the system to meet their precise needs. Kingston is proving that mid-sized cities can lead on AI-assisted plan review, going live in production and setting the pace for what’s possible across Canada.”
Archistar’s AI PreCheck platform is already supporting digital permitting initiatives across 30-plus cities and government agencies in North America and Australia, including Surrey, Burnaby, Burlington, Ottawa, Austin, and Los Angeles.
For a city that just earned global recognition as a Top7 Intelligent Community, moving AI PreCheck into full production adds another concrete example to that story. It’s the difference between a pilot with promise and a program with results: As staff begin reviewing real applications, applicants are now getting clearer feedback, and Kingston has a foundation in place to extend AI-assisted review to more permit types as its housing needs grow.
To learn more about AI PreCheck, visit the City of Kingston’s website.
