AI FOR HOUSING
Building the future of housing approvals.
One Ontario’s initiative to bring together municipalities, industry, researchers and technology leaders to build the next generation of housing approvals.
One Ontario or 444 systems?
Ontario’s 444 municipalities operate under common legislation, yet planning and permitting remain fragmented across hundreds of separate systems, workflows and data standards.
Canada has invested billions in housing and municipal modernization, but much of that investment has been implemented in silos. The result is duplicated technology, inconsistent processes, fragmented data and a complicated experience for applicants.
AI for Housing is working toward a different model: shared, standardized permitting infrastructure that municipalities can use while maintaining local authority and decision-making.
By connecting data, workflows and requirements through a common foundation, we can reduce duplication, improve consistency and create a better path from application to approval.
The AI for Housing Coalition believes that rather than each municipality investing in hundreds of different processes, platforms and AI solutions, we should create one system that unifies the process for everyone–municipalities, applicants and reviewing agencies alike.
One unified framework for every municipality.
Need a permit now?
Users can already try out the first phase of our permitting tool for free. Ask questions about your property’s potential and use, discuss project requirements and request a permit all directly through one conversational platform.
Why this matters
Ontario has spent billions encouraging municipal technology adoption. And yet the process still hasn’t meaningfully changed. We now have the chance to revolutionize the permitting process and develop a globally leading AI platform. But only if we act now.
Cost savings
Eliminate duplicate municipal spending on separate technology procurement and implementation. Build once. Use everywhere.
Less friction
Applicants’ requirements, forms and compliance are verified upfront so municipalities receive more complete, higher-quality submissions.
Improved transparency
Gives applicants and municipalities one centralized place to understand requirements, track status, and coordinate approvals.
Faster processing
Automated building code and zoning checks integrated with GIS systems can reduce approval processing for residential permits up to 70%*.
"We've spent years funding permitting modernization without addressing the root problem: fragmentation between municipalities. The future isn't hundreds of disconnected systems. It's one shared platform built for Ontario."
Richard Lyall, ICD.D, MA, CAE, President & CEO RESCON
What is the AI for Housing Coalition?
The AI for Housing Coalition brings together leaders from industry, technology, research, and the not-for-profit sector to solve one of Ontario's biggest barriers to housing: a fragmented planning and permitting system.
Modernize development approvals to reduce delays, improve efficiency, and help deliver housing faster.
Reduce system fragmentation through shared standards, interoperable technology, and more consistent applicant experiences.
Apply AI responsibly to automate routine work, improve application quality, and simplify regulatory information.
Build shared digital infrastructure that municipalities, applicants, and approval agencies can use together.
Strengthen cross-sector collaboration between government, industry, researchers, and technology partners across Ontario.
Create scalable solutions that support province-wide adoption while preserving municipal authority and local decision-making.
What the coalition is building.
Shared data
The Coalition is working toward standardized planning, zoning, environmental and infrastructure data that can be shared across municipalities. A common foundation reduces duplication, improves consistency and supports better decisions throughout the approvals process.
AI-powered permitting
AI can help applicants and municipalities interpret regulations, run e-checks and prepare stronger submissions. By automating rule-based tasks, it allows professionals to focus on review, collaboration and decision-making.
Digital compliance
AI-assisted compliance checking can evaluate applications against planning policies and regulations, helping identify potential issues earlier and improving consistency throughout the review process.
Shared standards
The Coalition supports common digital standards and interoperable workflows that simplify the applicant experience while allowing municipalities to maintain their own planning policies and approval authority.
Municipal infrastructure
Rather than developing similar solutions independently, municipalities can leverage shared digital infrastructure that reduces production costs, accelerates implementation times and supports long-term collaboration.
Research & collaboration
Working with government, industry, non-profit and research partners, the Coalition evaluates emerging technologies, develops best practices and helps ensure new approaches are scalable, transparent and ready for real-world adoption.
Coalition members
The AI for Housing Coalition is built on collaboration between industry, research, technology and not-for-profit leaders. Together, these organizations are working toward a shared vision for modernizing Ontario's development approvals ecosystem.
Coalition Lead
One Ontario brings together industry, government, academia and technology partners around a shared vision for modernizing development approvals. The coalition provides leadership, coordination and advocacy to accelerate the adoption of AI-enabled permitting across Ontario.
Industry Partner
RESCON represents Ontario's residential construction industry, bringing the voice of builders and developers to the Coalition. Their leadership helps ensure proposed solutions address real industry challenges and support faster housing delivery.
Technology Partner
LandLogic provides the geospatial data platform and AI technologies that support feasibility analysis, planning intelligence and digital permitting. Its expertise in integrating complex planning data helps power the Coalition's vision for a shared digital foundation.
Research partner
RCI Lab contributes regulatory compliance research, innovation and academic collaboration to ensure the Coalition's work is evidence-based, scalable and aligned with emerging best practices in digital transformation and the built environment.
The Coalition invites municipalities, government agencies, researchers, industry organizations and technology partners who share our vision for a more connected, AI-enabled approvals system.
Become a member
Why is AI the key?
Ontario's planning and permitting system is built on thousands of pages of policies, regulations and technical documents that require significant time to interpret and apply. Much of this work is repetitive, manual and inconsistent across jurisdictions.
Artificial intelligence creates an opportunity to simplify these processes by helping applicants navigate requirements, supporting planners with faster access to information, and identifying potential issues earlier in the review process.
The goal isn't to replace professional expertise or municipal decision-making. It's to equip the people who build, review and approve projects with better tools—reducing administrative effort while improving consistency, transparency and speed.
Join the Coalition
Help shape the future of AI-enabled housing approvals. The AI for Housing Coalition is bringing together governments, industry, researchers and technology leaders to build the shared digital foundation Ontario needs. If your organization shares this vision, we'd love to work with you.