Urban Planners
City planning departments, zoning staff
- Instant zoning guidance
- Less back-and-forth with applicants
- Deep internal analytical tools
Govtech Platform for Cities
Decoding complex cities.
We build AI-based solutions for local governments.
Built For
Civic Decode
The Problem
Outdated, byzantine processes have trapped cities in the past, driving up housing costs and stalling economic growth.
01
Web 1.0 Operations
We live in a modern world, but our cities still operate on late 20th century websites and post color-coded PDF zoning maps online and old, hyperlinked zoning codes. Most permits and entitlement applications are dominated by manual processes, physical paperwork, and outdated workflows.
02
Information Maze
Searching for the right answers is tedious, prone to error, time-consuming, and varies city to city. Information is scattered across multiple documents, departments, and platforms, further delaying results for citizens and professionals alike.
03
Development Gridlock
These delays in entitlements and permitting result in tangible losses for professionals and private citizens who want to develop, inflating the cost to build badly-needed housing and job-creating industries.
Civic Decode
What We Do
At Civic DecodeTM, our passion is bringing cities along for the AI revolution and into the 21st century by solving problems around the entire community development lifecycle, from project conception to final building certifications.
Solution
Zoning DecoderTM
An AI planning agent trained on your city zoning code that gives instant, citation-backed answers and can be layered onto your current planning page.
- Instant, citation-backed answers to zoning questions.
- Parcel-level analysis tied to your city's GIS data.
- Available 24/7 for citizens and staff alike.
- Exclusive analytics and insights for city planners.
AI Agent
Chat with Planning Agent
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Solution
Permit DecoderTM
A step-by-step permit roadmap tailored to your city that helps applicants avoid errors and reduce delays.
- Transparent, step-by-step roadmaps for applicants.
- Visual workflows that simplify process understanding.
- Auto-fill for PDF and digital forms to reduce errors.
- Tailored to each city's specific department requirements.
Solution
Civic AI TerminalTM
A city hall kiosk that gives walk-up visitors instant AI help with zoning, permits, and queue-aware department routing.
- Zoning Decoder built in — instant answers at the counter.
- Guided permit form completion with the Permit Decoder.
- Integrates with the counter queue system to hold a citizen's place in line.
- Auto-translation for non-English speakers, supporting more inclusive access to city services.
Solution
Civic AI PlatformTM
A unified digital backend that routes applications, answers routine inquiries, and connects departments through shared knowledge.
- AI-powered intake and routing of all application types.
- Automated responses to routine citizen inquiries.
- Unified knowledge base for staff to reference and research.
- Dashboards and analytics for city leadership.
Future Solution
Plan Check DecoderTM
Automated pre-screening of plan sets against local codes to catch issues early and speed up approvals.
- Automated pre-screening of plans against local codes.
- Instant flagging of common code violations.
- Reduces back-and-forth between applicants and reviewers.
- Integrates with existing plan review software.
Future Solution
Building DecoderTM
Mobile-first AI code lookup for inspectors and contractors to reduce field disputes and keep projects moving.
- AI-powered access to local building codes on job sites.
- Instant verification support for building inspectors.
- Reduces code interpretation disputes in the field.
- Mobile-first design for real-time job site use.
Civic Decode
Why It Matters
Our Mission
Our goal is simple: bringing cities into the 21st century. Whether it is using the latest AI technology to do an end run around complex zoning codes or providing visual guides for the permitting process, we believe municipal governments have a civic duty to function better for the average citizen.
For Cities
Operational clarity for departments.
Empower your planning department with AI tools that streamline zoning navigation, reduce administrative friction, and help you build housing faster.
Free your talented staff from answering the same repetitive questions daily. Let our AI handle routine inquiries so planners can focus on complex entitlement work.
Stop the flood of incomplete applications before they enter your pipeline. Our tools ensure citizens submit correct, code-compliant forms the first time.
Bridge the gap between your various departments. We consolidate fragmented data into a single, accessible source for all city staff.
With housing shortages and economic backlogs, cities need to build faster and smarter. It's time to revolutionize municipal operations.
For Citizens
Accessible guidance for the public.
Building in your city shouldn't be a mystery. We bridge the gap between having an idea and getting a permit, making development accessible to everyone.
No more digging through dense legalese. We turn complex codes and maps into clear, instant answers about what you can build on your property.
Get clear feasibility data before you spend a dime. Avoid expensive delays, rejected applications, and unpredictable timelines.
Complexity shouldn't scare away homeowners and small businesses. We level the playing field so you don't need deep pockets or specialized consultants just to get started.
Municipal governments exist to serve the public. Our tools ensure their processes are actually accessible to the everyday citizen.
Civic Decode
How It Works
Our zoning decoder and other AI-powered tools work in a similar step-by-step fashion.
Step 1
Decode
We investigate the current state of your city's zoning code, training our custom AI agent to understand and interpret the rules as they are written in the official municipal code. We make sure to include all relevant zoning layers including but not limited to various state laws like density bonuses and ADUs.
Step 2
Gecode
We tie in your city's GIS data with our AI models to ensure accurate spatial interpretation. If your city doesn't have an interactive map, we can help set one up using open-source GIS software.
Step 3
Encode
We implement clean, visual solutions on your city's own websites. From a simple chat agent to a complete revamp of your community development services, we use common sense principles to reform processes and empower your citizens.
Civic Decode
Who We Are
The team behind the code.
Engineers
Our team of AI specialists are building the digital infrastructure that powers our cities. They are dedicated to turning complex, unstructured municipal data into reliable, secure, and intuitive tools that function seamlessly in the real world.
Shawn Kahen
Founder & CEO
Educated as an urban planner, shaped by years in construction and real estate development, and driven by a belief that technology can fix what bureaucracy has broken, Shawn founded Civic Decode to modernize the way cities serve their communities.
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We are guided by a trusted group of former city officials, urban planners, and real estate executives. Their regulatory expertise and real-world experience ensure that our solutions aren't just technologically advanced, but practically useful for the cities we serve.
Civic Decode
Where to Find Us?
Let's start the conversation to bring your city into the 21st century.
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Civic Decode
When can we start?
Get Started
Tell us about your city or department.
If you are interested in learning more about what Civic Decode can do for your city or department, fill out the form to request a demo, and we'll be in touch with you soon.