Primary Department: County Engineer
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Milton Rahman, PhD, P.E., PMP, CFM, ENV SP
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Discussion Item
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request for discussion and action of a plan to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other software improvements to make the permitting process faster, more accurate, and easier for the public to use.
end
Background and Discussion:
On September 9, 2025 Commissioner Court directed the Office of the County Engineer (OCE) to develop a plan for using artificial intelligence and other software improvements for permitting. The OCE has conducted research on AI software tools. The City of Austin and the County of Los Angeles are utilizing AI tools in the permitting process. The OCE staff conducted site visits and meetings to understand the scope and budget of their AI software tools. The use of AI for permitting is an emerging area in technology. In response to the court order, OCE’s plan for using AI to make the permitting process faster, more accurate, and easier for the public to use is described in different tasks and timelines below:
1. Internal Review of our Current Software Platforms/Systems: September 2025, staff began reviewing our existing software platforms to determine if we already have capabilities to review and approve permits without human interactions. Our existing ePermits currently auto-permits over 50% of track home and all fireworks stand applications. A more technical assessment of compatibility will be required prior to deployment of any AI platform(s).
2. Conduct Best Practice Research & Site Visits: September & October 2025, staff conducted initial research across Texas and the United States and discovered that very few counties are using AI for permitting processes. The City of Austin and the County of Los Angeles are currently the leaders in using AI permit review. Both cities use an AI platform named Archistar to expedite permit and plan review. The company’s AI-powered eCheck is a recognized e-permitting technology that fast-tracks building permit approvals and boosts building supply.
3. Visit Localities that are Currently Using AI Permit Platforms: During October and November 2025, OCE staff visited the City of Austin and the County of Los Angeles to learn more about the AI platform and their processes.
4. Next Step: OCE will continue collaborating with Universal Services to pilot a recognized AI platform and integration with ePermits for plan review. Recommending direction for a 2-yr pilot.
Expected Impact:
The adoption of new and enhanced software will assist the public with transparency, efficiency, communication and processing of permitting applications.
Alternative Options:
Not utilizing AI tools in the permitting process may result in manual permitting process in status-quo.
County Strategic Plan Goal: 2. Connect our community with safe, reliable, equitably distributed, and well-maintained infrastructure.
County Strategic Plan Objective: H: Improve the condition and resilience of County transportation, flood control, and other infrastructure.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): N/A
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
9/9/2025 |
8 |
To direct the Office of County Engineer to report back to Commissioners Court by November 13, 2025, with a plan for using artificial intelligence and other software improvements to make the permitting process faster, more accurate, and easier for the public to use. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): Unincorporated Harris County
Precinct(s): Countywide
|
Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
|
Service Name |
|
|
|
|
Current Fiscal Year Cost |
Annual Fiscal Cost |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
Recurring Expenses |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
Existing Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Existing Budget |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
|
|
1000 - General Fund |
$ |
$1,000,000 |
$ |
$1,000,000 |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Additional Budget Request |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$ |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
Grants - Proposed Budget (For Grants Items only) |
|
|
Labor |
Non-Labor |
Total |
No. of Grant Years |
|
Local Match Source - Existing Budget: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Local Match Source - Additional Budget Request: Choose an item. |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
$ |
$ |
$ |
|
|
Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new Position Control Numbers (PCN)s) |
|
|
Current Position Count for Service |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Additional Positions Request |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Total Personnel |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
County Attorney’s Office Legal Review (for Harris County Code Items only) |
|
CAO Reviewer Name and Title |
|
CAO Review Completion Date |
Click or tap to enter a date. |
Anticipated Court Date: 11/13/2025
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department: Dr. Mike Etienne, Chief of Planning and Development Services, OCE
Attachments (if applicable):