Agencies using CrossBeam Permits

The two agencies at a glance

What did Laguna Beach approve?

On August 4, 2026, the Laguna Beach City Council voted 5 to 0 to authorize the City Manager to execute a 12-month professional services agreement with CrossBeam to develop and implement AI tools that support permit application screening, building and zoning plan review, customer service, and related Community Development Department operations, in an amount not to exceed $100,000.

The City’s staff report gives the cost as $99,600, funded from $150,000 the Council included in the Community Development Department’s FY 2026-27 operating budget to evaluate and implement AI technologies.

Why did Laguna Beach choose it?

The staff report says the department evaluated multiple AI platforms over the past year, including AI tools in its existing permitting platform and other commercially available plan review products. Staff found that CrossBeam “allows the platform to be customized to the City’s permitting processes, review standards, and workflows rather than requiring the City to adapt to a standardized software product.”

What does the Laguna Beach agreement cover?

The City’s scope of work lists three parts:

• Application screening. Check planning and building applications against City-defined submittal requirements, produce a deficiency report and a draft applicant email that staff can edit, and recheck resubmittals.
• Building and zoning plan check. Identify deficiencies, mark up plans, draft correction notices and comment letters for staff to review and issue, fill in the City’s residential review checklists, and recheck revised plans. Covered permit classes include single-family residential, ADUs, additions and remodels, commercial tenant improvements and planning and zoning review.
• Permit status and information assistant. Answer routine questions about permit and project status and Community Development information, with an internal version for staff.

The scope of work sets a schedule of 30 days for the screening tool and 90 days for the plan check module and assistant, from contract execution.

How does Laguna Beach keep staff in charge?

The staff report states: “Every AI-generated review will continue to be evaluated by qualified City staff before comments are issued.” It also states that the City’s Information Technology Department completed a security review and found that the platform satisfies the City’s cybersecurity practices and protocols.

What did Buena Park launch?

On October 5, 2026, the City of Buena Park launched “Buena Park Plan PreCheck by CrossBeam.” Anyone building in Buena Park can upload construction plans and receive a list of likely corrections before submitting to the City’s building plan check. The City pays for it, and applicants need no account.

According to the City’s program page:

• Projects: new homes, ADUs, home remodels, commercial tenant improvements and other building projects.
• What it checks: missing notes or required information, information that does not match between sheets, missing documents, potential code-related corrections, and certain public records not shown on the drawings.
• Re-checks: up to three re-checks of the same project after revisions.
• FastPass: applicants who resolve more than half of the items found, as confirmed by a re-check, receive a FastPass certificate. FastPass submittals receive priority review. The City states that a FastPass is not an approval or a guarantee that a permit will be issued.
• Advisory and voluntary: the report is advisory only, use is voluntary, and all plans submitted to the City are still reviewed by City plan check staff. The Building Official makes the final permit decisions.

Why did Buena Park offer a pre-check?

In the City’s words: “In Buena Park, like most cities, the average number of rounds for building plan check is three. The City’s goal for projects utilizing Buena Park Plan PreCheck is one round.” That is the City’s goal, stated by the City.

Does CrossBeam Permits work with agencies outside California?

Yes. CrossBeam Permits works with cities, counties and agencies anywhere in the country. Beyond California, reviews already run on local code in the Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver and Kansas City areas.

Is the coverage list a customer list?

No. Most California jurisdictions are loaded in the rules library (549 jurisdictions in all, computed live), but coverage describes what the rules library holds. The agencies named on this page are the agencies that use CrossBeam Permits.