PermitFlow

There's a reason we share reports like this one. Menlo Ventures published a detailed framework recently on vertical AI. The industries it's transforming, what makes these companies defensible, and why now is an inflection point. It's a rigorous take on the category. And they named PermitFlow as an example of a company building the kind of compounding data moat that gets harder to replicate with every passing month. For anyone thinking about where to work right now: construction is a $2.1 trillion industry with decades-old workflows, real labor shortages, and a forcing function that's creating genuine urgency for AI adoption. We're at the center of that. We're growing our team. If that sounds like the kind of problem you want to work on, we'd love to hear from you. Link to the Menlo report in the comments.

Fence permits seem simple…until they aren’t. Height limits. Front yard vs. backyard rules. Corner lot visibility requirements. Material restrictions. HOA approvals. Requirements vary wildly by AHJ. Suddenly, what started as a simple project becomes a battle of revisions, resubmittals, and waiting on approval. It’s a good example of something we see in all sectors of our industry: minor permitting details create outsized delays. We broke down what you need to know about fence permits, what typically triggers reviews, and where projects get stuck 👉 https://hubs.la/Q049Sccn0

At IBS 2026, we took the stage with Al Trellis, Vincent Longo of Longo Custom Builders, Paul C. with On3 Inc., Ryan Fink of Digs, and Brent Clayton with The 2033 Higher Education Development Foundation to shed light on the real ways AI is helping builders today. This week, we found out the AI Demystified panel was recognized as one of the top 10 most popular education sessions at the event 🎉 The session’s standing-room only crowd proves how eager the industry is to leverage AI in practical, meaningful ways. Thanks again to Digs for organizing the panel and including us and Francis Thumpasery. Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ghM2V-yg 

AI could save construction $1 trillion a year. Not because of robots on jobsites. But because AI can prevent costly mistakes, large and small. Nearly 10% of construction spend is lost to rework, much of that during preconstruction: 🔹 Permit submissions that didn’t meet AHJ requirements 🔹 Outdated plan sets because documents live across multiple systems 🔹 Missed requests for revisions when comments get lost in inboxes These minor mistakes compound, leaving you behind schedule and driving up costs before work even begins. And those costs add up quickly. AI’s biggest impact may be catching these issues earlier, or preventing them entirely in the first place.

Bandwidth, efficiency, and quality are three of the most common challenges construction teams face with their permitting operations. Someone needs to prepare applications, track submissions, handle revisions, coordinate inspections, and keep projects moving. And that work has to get done (accurately) alongside everything else. On top of that, your business is growing: Project volume increases, and your operating model faces new challenges. Now you’re managing more contacts, new processes, and that many more scattered updates. Getting a clear status across projects becomes its own job. Permit management software is a better alternative. Submissions, tracking, revisions, and approvals live in one place instead of across emails, spreadsheets, and third parties. Permitting doesn’t go away, of course. But consistent processes mean faster timelines, less admin strain, and more capacity across your pipeline. Read more at the link in the comments 👇

AI isn’t replacing skilled trades. In fact, it’s increasing demand for them. New data shows: 📈 Robotics technician demand up 107% 📈 HVAC engineer demand up 67% 📈 Construction roles overall up 30% All driven by AI infrastructure and data center growth. The AI boom relies on the built world. Power upgrades, cooling systems, new facilities, and physical infrastructure require skilled trade workers. And as more of these projects move forward, demand on preconstruction teams grows too: More jurisdictions involved, greater operational complexity, and more coordination before crews ever step on site. AI may be accelerating demand, but the speed at which projects move still depends on how smoothly that upfront work gets done.

A lot of teams rely on permit expediters to keep projects moving. To be fair, they can help — but traditional expediters don’t fix the underlying process. You’re still dealing with a middleman, and still facing the same challenges: ▪️ Fragmented requirements across cities ▪️ Limited visibility into status and timelines ▪️ Back-and-forth communication that gets lost in inboxes Builders and the trades deserve modern solutions. Instead of pushing files and spreadsheets to someone else’s desk, you should be using an operational platform that standardizes how permitting gets done across projects, markets, and teams. So instead of relying on local expertise one project at a time, with PermitFlow you get: 🔹 Consistent workflows 🔹 Centralized tracking 🔹 Fewer errors and revisions You’re not just moving faster on one permit, you’re accelerating timelines, lowering operational overhead, and increasing revenue across your entire pipeline. Dive deeper into the differences between PermitFlow and permit expediters at the link in the comments 👇

Local governments are increasingly adopting AI to speed up internal workflows, including permitting. One example: Lancaster, CA is using AI to review permit applications before they’re even submitted. The goal is to flag gaps against building code so fewer applications get kicked back later. It’s refreshing to see municipalities across the country start to rethink how permitting gets done. It also begs the question: why aren’t more builders leveraging the same technologies to speed up their own permit submission processes? If cities and builders both start adopting tools like this, permitting becomes a lot more predictable, and a lot less of a bottleneck.

You got into siding installation for the hands-on work but find yourself drowning in paperwork and pre-construction processes. Sound like you? Our complete guide to siding permits is a good place to start (or a solid refresher) if you’re sick of the red tape around pulling permits, scheduling inspections, and keeping jobs compliant. Give it a read 👉 https://hubs.la/Q047zSs10

Early 2026 economic data is starting to show less momentum in construction. Here are a few signals from the latest reports 👇 ▪️ Construction planning fell 6.3% in January ▪️ Contractor backlog hit a 4-year low ▪️ Input costs are rising, with materials increasing at a 7.1% annualized rate ▪️ The industry lost 11,000 jobs in February Under these conditions, projects are moving forward with more scrutiny on cost, timing, and risk. As a result, how you execute matters even more. A permit stuck in review or an inspection pushed a week can completely throw off your timeline and margins. Staying ahead of preconstruction and permitting is going to be critical to keep projects on track this year.