How do I submit a permit through a partner city?
Quick answer: Go to the city's portal URL (e.g., /submit/buena-park), click Create Your Account, sign in with Google / Microsoft / email, accept the city's Terms of Service, then drop your plans into the upload area. The city gets your submission and an AI pre-check report at the same time.
What "partner city" means
A partner city has CrossBeam wired into its permit-intake process. For you, that means:
- It's free. The city pays for the AI review; you don't spend credits.
- The city sees your AI pre-check. Your findings go to the reviewer alongside your plans.
- You submit in one place. No separate Accela login, no email-to-plancheck@city.gov.
Partner cities today include Buena Park (pilot). The portal URL is always /submit/{city-slug} — for example, /submit/buena-park.
Steps
- Open the city's portal URL:
/submit/{city-slug}. - If the portal is still in preview (pre-launch), enter the preview code the city gave you.
- Click Create Your Account (or Sign In if you already have one).
- Sign in with Google, Microsoft, or email.
- Accept the city's Terms of Service — you have to scroll to the bottom before the checkbox enables. See Accept the terms.
- You land on the dashboard with the city pre-filled. Click + New Project and pick the permit type.
- Upload your PDF plan set (up to 2 GB). See Upload your plans.
- The AI pre-check runs (usually 15–30 minutes). You can close the tab — you'll get an email when it's done if notifications are on.
- When the pre-check finishes, review the findings, fix what you need to, then click Submit to City. The city's reviewer queue picks it up.
What happens next
See After you submit for the city-side flow and how you hear back.
What if the city isn't a partner yet?
Use the normal dashboard pre-check flow. A simple review is $25, an ADU is $100, a residential review is $250, and a multi-unit or commercial review is $1,000. You submit to the city through its own portal afterward.
See Run a pre-check and Review pricing.