California Governor Gavin Newsom Announces Launch Of New AI Tool To Supercharge The Approval Of Building Permits and Speed Recovery For Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Pasadena, and Malibu Communities
Steadfast LA, LA Rises, and other key philanthropic groups are funding this new AI-powered e-check software, developed by Archistar, so it can be provided to LA City and County at no cost, speeding the pace at which local governments are approving building permits.
Coalition partner Mike Hopkins and Amazon identified and worked with Archistar to build this tool that will help people rebuild faster and safer
LOS ANGELES – April 30, 2025 – Leveraging the power of private sector innovation and in collaboration with Steadfast LA, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the launch of a new artificial intelligence-driven software to aid Los Angeles City, specifically the Pacific Palisades, LA County, namely Altadena, as well as the cities of Malibu and Pasadena in accelerating the approval process for rebuilding permits to help communities recover more quickly from the Eaton and Palisades fires.
“The current pace of issuing permits locally is not meeting the magnitude of the challenge we face. To help boost local progress, California is partnering with the tech sector and community leaders to give local governments more tools to rebuild faster and more effectively,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
The software, created by Archistar, will be provided free of charge to the local governments and to users through a partnership between the state and philanthropic partners including LA Rises and Steadfast LA. with contributions from Autodesk and Amazon.
“Bringing AI into permitting will allow us to rebuild faster and safer, reducing costs and turning a process that can take weeks and months into one that can happen in hours or days,” said Steadfast LA Chairman Rick Caruso. “Working with our coalition partner Mike Hopkins and Amazon, I’m proud Steadfast LA identified Archistar as the right company to develop and apply this game-changing technology. Now we can work with great philanthropic organizations, including LA Rises, to provide this critical tool at no cost to taxpayers. We will continue bringing forward new technology and ideas to cut through red tape and expedite this recovery.”
The software uses computer vision, machine learning, and automated rulesets to instantly check designs against local zoning and building codes in the assessment process for building permits. This technology will allow property owners to pre-check their building plans before submission to ensure they submit valid plans. Thus avoiding frustrating delays and expediting the review process once received by city/county staff
Once fully implemented by local leaders, this e-check tool will improve efficiency, accuracy, transparency, and speed of the rebuilding process from the Eaton and Palisades fire while also improving the experience for disaster survivors.
"Getting residents home quickly and safely is my top priority,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “Last week, I signed an Executive Directive to spearhead an AI pilot program to streamline the permitting process for Palisades residents. With the announcement of this AI solution, we’re infusing new technologies into City Hall processes to ensure nothing stands in the way of families getting home – and to keep our recovery effort on track to be the fastest in modern California history. I thank Governor Newsom and our County partners for their collaboration on this exciting effort.”
The County of Los Angeles has also committed to using the software and passed a Board Resolution to establish a unified permitting authority for the Altadena one-stop recovery center.
“I’m excited to see Los Angeles County embrace innovative technology like Archistar to accelerate the rebuilding process in Altadena and neighboring communities recovering from the Eaton Fire,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “This AI tool has the potential to save homeowners valuable time by helping them submit code-compliant plans from the start. I appreciate Governor Newsom’s stewardship of this opportunity and SoCal Grantmakers for their fiduciary support. Their help—along with collaboration from our County’s permitting departments—helped make this opportunity possible. Our collective work will help ensure we’re delivering real, efficient solutions to those working hard to rebuild their lives. Our wildfire survivors deserve nothing less.”
“Together, government and philanthropy are standing with our community to ensure a safe, swift, and lasting recovery from the Palisades and Eaton Fires,” said Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath. “With new AI-powered tools and LA County’s One-Stop Permitting Centers, we’re cutting red tape to help residents rebuild and return home sooner. I’m grateful to Governor Newsom, Steadfast LA, and LA Rises for their investment in our recovery.”
The technology is already being used by more than 25 forward-looking municipalities across the United States, Canada, and Australia, including cities like Vancouver, Austin, Houston and Seattle as well as states like Colorado, British Columbia (Canada) and New South Wales (Australia). In addition to providing the software free of charge in Los Angeles, the tool is now available on a statewide contract that any local government can now access quickly to streamline their own plan review process.
About Steadfast LA
Steadfast LA, founded and led by Rick Caruso, is a civic nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding Los Angeles after the devastating January 2025 fires. United by resilience and a shared vision for a stronger future, the organization comprises Angelenos committed to revitalizing the Altadena, Malibu, Pasadena, and Pacific Palisades communities. The group aims to accelerate the rebuilding process with efficiency and innovation by bringing together top leaders, bold ideas, and effective solutions to get things done right and fast.
Steadfast LA includes two arms, a 501(c)(3) foundation to fund key initiatives and a 501(c)(4) organization to execute and promote efforts to expedite the rebuild. Visit https://www.steadfastla.com for more information about the organization and follow their efforts on social media: X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube. Those interested in supporting Steadfast LA can go to https://donorbox.org/steadfast-la or can text “Steadfast” to 707070.
About Archistar:
Archistar is a global leader in AI-driven property technology, specializing in automating zoning and building code compliance, 3D generative building design, and providing data-driven insights for city planning and property development. The company operates globally with clients across Australia, the U.S., Canada, and the Middle East.