# Questions about CrossBeam Permits > What CrossBeam Permits does for cities, counties and agencies, and for builders: where it works, who uses it, and what it costs. Agency questions come first, then builder questions. The answers are the same curated list the FAQ page shows. ## For cities, counties and agencies **What does CrossBeam do for a city, county or agency?** CrossBeam Permits builds AI plan check around each agency’s own team, rules and workflow. It covers both sides of the counter. Applicant-facing tools check plans before they are submitted. Internal tools handle intake screening, building and planning plan review, corrections letters on the agency’s letterhead, backchecks and staff questions. Your staff edits, approves, and decides. **Where does CrossBeam work?** CrossBeam works with cities, counties and agencies anywhere in the country. CrossBeam is available to every California city and county, and most California jurisdictions already have their local rules loaded. Beyond California, CrossBeam already runs reviews on local code in the Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver and Kansas City areas. **Which agencies use CrossBeam?** The City of Laguna Beach and the City of Buena Park use it today. The Laguna Beach City Council unanimously approved a 12-month agreement with CrossBeam Permits on August 4, 2026. The City’s staff report lists the cost as $99,600. The City of Buena Park funds a free, voluntary applicant pre-check, “Buena Park Plan PreCheck by CrossBeam”, launched October 5, 2026. **Does the AI approve or deny permits?** No. Staff make every decision. CrossBeam prepares findings with evidence. A reviewer accepts, edits, or dismisses each one. Nothing from a review goes to an applicant until your staff sends it. **How does it learn our local code?** CrossBeam loads the agency’s public rules before day one, then adds the checklists and judgment calls only staff know. Each agency gets its own setup. The rule set starts from your local code, handouts, and standard details, on top of state law, and your staff’s rulings are folded back in as we work with you, so the review matches how your counter works. **Does it work with our permit system and Bluebeam?** CrossBeam runs alongside your permit system. Nothing has to be replaced. For Bluebeam, you download a PDF with every finding placed as a markup, and you work in Bluebeam as usual. Upload the marked-up PDF, and CrossBeam reads your markups back into the findings and the letter. **Planning or building?** Both. CrossBeam covers building plan review, planning review, and a completeness screener at intake. It also checks a resubmittal against your original letter, item by item. **How is it priced for cities and counties?** Pricing depends on your permit volume and how you take submittals. Talk to us and we will scope it with you. **What is PreCheck?** PreCheck is a program where the city or county pays for applicant pre-checks. Applicants check their plans before they submit. Staff see cleaner first submittals. **Can residents ask permit questions?** Yes. The Permit Assistant answers permit and code questions with citations to your code. We can embed it on your website as part of setup. **Which AI providers do you use?** CrossBeam uses models from Anthropic and Google. The AI FactSheet at /ai-factsheet covers data handling and human oversight. Ask us for the full security posture document. **Is CrossBeam Permits the same company as crossbeam.com?** No. CrossBeam Permits (crossbeam-permits.com) is not affiliated with Crossbeam, the partner-ecosystem software company at crossbeam.com. ## For builders, architects and contractors **What is CrossBeam?** CrossBeam reads your full plan set the way a plan checker does. It checks the drawings against California law and your local code. You get a list of findings pinned to the sheet, before you submit. **What does a pre-check find?** Missing sheets, missing notes, code conflicts, and items your city or county asks for on every submittal. Each finding cites the code section, points to the spot on the sheet, and says how to fix it in plain language. **How much does it cost?** You pay per review. Simple permits are $25. ADUs are $100. Single-family homes and residential remodels are $250. Multi-unit and commercial projects are $1,000. You see the price before you pay. Your first review is 50% off, once per company, on reviews up to $250. **Which cities, counties, and permit types do you cover?** Available in California, Greater Seattle, the Las Vegas area, the Denver area and Kansas City. CrossBeam reviews permits with an architectural plan set: new homes, ADUs, additions, remodels, and multi-unit. Commercial tenant improvements are covered in some jurisdictions. Ask below about your city or county. **I already have a corrections letter. Can you help?** Yes. Upload the letter and your plans. CrossBeam pins each correction to its sheet and drafts a response letter you can hand to your architect or engineer. **Does this replace my architect or the city?** No. The city still reviews your plans and makes the decision. CrossBeam helps you submit a cleaner set, so you get fewer correction rounds. **Who is it for?** Developers, general contractors, architects, engineers, and expediters. Homeowners who pull their own permits use it too, most often for a corrections letter. **Can I ask a permit question without uploading plans?** Yes. The Permit Assistant answers code questions with citations. Sign in and open it at /chat. **Is there a subscription?** No. You can pay for one review, or buy credits and spend them per review. One credit is $25. Credit packs cost less per credit. **Is it ever free for me?** Yes, in some cities. A city can run PreCheck, a program where the City pays for applicant pre-checks. In those cities your pre-check costs you nothing. --- Canonical URL: https://www.crossbeam-permits.com/faq CrossBeam outputs are advisory. The authority having jurisdiction makes binding permit decisions. Markdown URL: /faq.md