Archistar’s eCheck is an AI-powered solution that is redefining the way councils, state governments and planning authorities assess and approve building and planning applications. Designed to automate complex development checks, eCheck ensures applications are assessed accurately against planning and building codes within minutes, not weeks.

The innovation has seen landmark adoption in California, where the State Government recently partnered with Archistar to help speed up the rebuilding process following devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. As announced by Governor Newsom in April 2025, eCheck is now enabling faster recovery by automatically checking building permit applications against zoning and safety codes, removing bottlenecks, improving consistency, and supporting overburdened local agencies.

This solution addresses a critical challenge for governments globally: growing housing demands and increasingly complex regulatory frameworks are placing unsustainable pressure on assessment teams. eCheck helps overcome this by augmenting existing workflows, freeing up resources and significantly reducing turnaround times.

Designed for local and state governments, building professionals, and urban planners, eCheck supports the shift towards digitised, AI-enabled service delivery in the built environment. Its proven impact in California directly aligns with the ALGIM 2025 theme of “Reimagining Local Government” showcasing how technology can enhance operational capacity, citizen outcomes, and resilience in times of crisis.

Key Takeaways What will attendees learn or gain from your showcase?

1. How AI-driven tools like eCheck can significantly accelerate planning and building approval processes, reducing assessment time from weeks to minutes.

2. Lessons from California’s implementation of eCheck to support disaster recovery and housing supply—insights directly transferable to New Zealand’s planning challenges.

3. Practical steps for councils to adopt digital assessment technologies that improve compliance, streamline workflows, and enhance service delivery.

By sharing our experience at ALGIM, we aim to demonstrate how New Zealand councils can adopt similar digital innovations to support planning reform, improve housing supply pipelines, and better serve their communities.