The Problem
1. 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 Most permits and entitlement applications are dominated by manual processes, physical paperwork, and outdated workflows.
2. 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.
3. Development Gridlock
These delays in entitlements and permitting result in tangible losses for professionals and private citizens want to develop, inflating the cost to build badly-needed housing and job-creating industries.
What We Do
At Civic Decode™, our passion is bringing cities along for the AI revolution and into the 21st century.
Zoning Decoder™
The Zoning Decoder is our AI-powered planning agent trained on your city's specific municipal zoning code. It empowers users to navigate complex and layered development standards in seconds. The zoning decoder agent is easily overlayed on your city's current planning page, providing fast implementation with immediate results.
Ask questions about specific parcels, development standards, and usage rights. Our AI parses thousands of pages of municipal code and geodata to give you citation-backed answers in seconds.
Don't just get an answer — get a roadmap. The agent automatically directs users to the correct permit applications, fee schedules, and department contacts based on their specific project type.
Free up your city staff to focus on complex entitlements rather than repetitive counter questions, supplementing their efforts. It is available to citizens 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We are currently available for pilot programs with city planning departments nationwide, overlaying directly onto your existing planning website.
Permit Decoder™
This is your step-by-step guide to navigating the unique permit process of your city. We provide clear, actionable guidance tailored to specific requirements.
- Transparent, step-by-step roadmaps for applicants.
- Visual workflows to simplify process understanding.
- Auto-fill for PDF and digital forms to reduce errors.
Civic AI Platform™
We can go behind the counter and revamp the way cities process entitlements and permitting, thereby bridging the gap between technology and process. It's a digital backend that handles inquiries, applications, and more, speeding up and simplifying the civic process for citizens and staff alike.
Plan Check Decoder™
Future ProductAutomated pre-screening of architectural and structural plans against local codes to accelerate the approval timeline.
Building Decoder™
Future ProductGain AI-powered access to your local building codes on job sites for instant verification with building inspectors.
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
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
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.
How It Works
Our zoning decoder and other AI-powered tools work in a similar step-by-step fashion.
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.
2. Geocode
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.
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.
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.
Leaders
Sitting at the intersection of modern technology and civic service, our leadership team drives the vision of a frictionless development process. We are industry veterans committed to modernizing municipal operations without losing the human touch required for city planning.
Shawn Kahen
Founder & CEOAdvisors
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.
Where to Find Us?
Let's start the conversation to bring your city into the 21st century.
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When can we start?
For Cities
If you're a part of a government agency or a municipality looking to modernize your systems, we're ready to help launch a pilot program.
For Citizens
If you're a citizen wanting your city to finally be decoded and would like to see what steps you can take to do so, let us know below!