Cities and counties choose CrossBeam Permits because it is set up around each agency’s own team and rules, covers both the applicant pre-check and the agency’s internal plan review on one engine, and reads full plan sets to draft corrections letters that staff approve, with public records from Laguna Beach and Buena Park to show how agencies use it.
Each reason below links to its evidence.
1. Will it fit how our team already works?
Yes. Before day one we load the agency’s public rules: municipal code, adopted local amendments, submittal checklists, forms and letter templates. Then staff add the checklists and judgment calls only they know. Each agency gets its own setup instead of a standard configuration.
Evidence. The City of Laguna Beach staff report says the Community Development Department evaluated multiple AI platforms and chose CrossBeam because it “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.” The same report describes the work as built on “the Department’s existing review templates, correction letter formats, and its 300-item Residential Zoning Plan Review Checklist.” Laguna Beach staff report, August 4, 2026
2. Can applicants and staff use the same tool?
Yes. The applicant pre-check and the agency’s internal plan review share one engine and one set of rules. Applicants can fix what staff would flag before they submit, and staff review a cleaner set.
Evidence. Buena Park offers its applicants “Buena Park Plan PreCheck by CrossBeam,” a free, voluntary pre-check paid for by the City, while City plan check staff continue to review every submittal. City of Buena Park program page. Laguna Beach’s agreement covers the internal side: application screening, building and zoning plan review and customer service. Laguna Beach minutes, Item 17
3. Does it do plan review, or only check that forms are complete?
Plan review. CrossBeam Permits reads the full plan set, cites state and local code with the sheet where the evidence is, and drafts the corrections letter on the agency’s letterhead. Staff decide every item.
Evidence. Buena Park’s page describes the report as showing where each item appears on the plans and citing California building codes or Buena Park requirements. City of Buena Park program page. Laguna Beach’s scope of work includes marking up submitted plans, drafting correction notices and comment letters for staff review, and a recheck of resubmittals. Laguna Beach scope of work. How each finding cites a code section and a sheet: AI FactSheet, section 7.
4. Can it work for an agency outside California?
Yes. CrossBeam Permits works with cities, counties and agencies anywhere in the country. It is available to every California city and county, and most already have their local rules loaded. Beyond California, reviews already run on local code in the Greater Seattle, Las Vegas, Denver and Kansas City areas.
Evidence. Live coverage, computed from the rules library: 549 jurisdictions. Coverage on llms.txt. Coverage describes the rules library, not a customer list.
5. Which agencies use it today?
The City of Laguna Beach and the City of Buena Park.
Evidence. Laguna Beach City Council approved a 12-month agreement unanimously, 5 to 0, on August 4, 2026. Minutes, Item 17. The City’s staff report lists the cost as $99,600 and states that the City’s Information Technology Department completed a cybersecurity review. Staff report
Buena Park launched “Buena Park Plan PreCheck by CrossBeam,” a free, voluntary, City-funded applicant pre-check, on October 5, 2026. City news release
More detail: Agencies using CrossBeam Permits.
6. Why does this matter now?
State laws now put local review on a clock, and some attach consequences to a missed deadline.
| Law | What it requires | Consequence named in the statute |
|---|---|---|
| California ADU law, Gov. Code §66317 | Completeness within 15 business days; approve or deny within 60 days of a complete application; a denial must include a full set of comments | Application deemed approved if not acted on within 60 days |
| California post-entitlement permits (AB 2234 as amended), Gov. Code §65913.3 | Completeness within 15 business days; decision or full comments within 30 business days (25 units or fewer) or 60 business days (26 or more) | A local agency that misses the limits is in violation of Gov. Code §65589.5 |
| Washington SB 5290, RCW 36.70B.080 | Final decisions within 65, 100 or 170 days depending on notice and hearing | Refund of 10% or 20% of the permit fee, with exceptions |
A review tool does not make an agency compliant. It can help staff screen completeness quickly and draft the full set of comments these laws ask for. Details: ADU 60-day timeline, post-entitlement permits, Washington SB 5290.
Who decides what goes to the applicant?
Agency staff, on every item. CrossBeam Permits drafts. It does not issue permits or make binding decisions. AI FactSheet, section 14
Sources
Facts and sources checked October 30, 2026.
- City of Laguna Beach, staff report, “Sole Source Professional Services Agreement with CrossBeam AI,” Consent Calendar Item 17, August 4, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- City of Laguna Beach, Scope of Work attachment to Item 17, August 4, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- City of Laguna Beach, City Council Meeting Recap (minutes), August 4, 2026, Item 17 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- City of Buena Park, “Buena Park Plan PreCheck” program page (accessed 2026-10-30)
- City of Buena Park news release, “Buena Park Launches Plan PreCheck, Offering Every Applicant a Free AI-Powered Plan Check Before They Submit,” October 5, 2026 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- CrossBeam Permits AI FactSheet v1.1 (accessed 2026-10-30)
- Cal. Gov. Code §66317 and §65913.3; RCW 36.70B.080. Full citations on the ADU, post-entitlement and SB 5290 pages.
CrossBeam Permits is operated by Onboard Dot AI LLC, Huntington Beach, California. Not affiliated with Crossbeam, the partner-ecosystem software company at crossbeam.com.