How do I use Ask AI?
Quick answer: Click Ask AI in the top nav. Tell it what you're building and where, then ask your question — permits, codes, fees, setbacks, process. You can add a photo or a screenshot of a plan sheet. Sending a question does not start a plan review. Personal accounts receive a limited number of free questions in the general assistant; see the limits below.
Steps
-
Click Ask AI in the top nav, or go to Ask AI.
-
Type your question in Describe your project or ask a question, or click one of the suggestions under Start with a question.
-
Press Enter to send. The answer appears as it's written.
-
Ask follow-up questions in the same conversation.
The California assistant and city assistants
- Ask AI covers every city CrossBeam supports. Name the city in your question and it uses that city's local rules. Examples: "Do I need a permit to add a 200-amp panel in Costa Mesa?" or "What are the rear setbacks for a second-story addition in Laguna Beach?"
- A city's assistant at
/chat/plus the city name, for example /chat/buena-park, answers for that one city only. Its suggestions are that city's common permits, like EV chargers, reroofs, solar, or ADUs. Anyone can open a city assistant, even without signing in.
Add a photo or screenshot
- Click Photo or screenshot next to the message box and pick an image (JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP), or paste an image into the message box.
- Up to 5 images per message.
- Good for a plan sheet excerpt ("is this stair section compliant?"), a field photo, or a screenshot of a code section.
Conversations are saved
Your conversations are saved when you're signed in. Use History to go back to one, and New chat to start fresh. See Ask AI chat history.
Question and daily limits
- A personal account starts with 10 free answered questions in the general Ask AI assistant. The page shows the remaining questions near the message box as you approach the limit. This allowance does not reset each day.
- After those questions, Check my plans opens /start for a plan review. I just need more questions registers your interest; it does not unlock more chat immediately.
- City staff and company-team accounts do not have the ten-question allowance. Buying credits also removes that allowance for your account. A city-specific assistant does not use it.
- A separate daily limit can show Chat paused. That limit resets at midnight Pacific time. Contact support if you need help with access.
What Ask AI isn't for
- Reviewing your plan set. Start a pre-check instead. See Run a pre-check.
- Questions about one project's findings. Use the assistant inside that project's results. See Plan Review Assistant.
- Official code interpretation. Ask AI cites code, but the city decides. Confirm critical items with the building department.