Hernando County, Florida, is testing artificial intelligence in zoning approval and permitting. The first results show a significant increase in efficiency.
Hernando County, Florida, is testing artificial intelligence to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of its local permit processing. Using an AI platform called SwiftGov (from SwiftBuild.ai), the county automated some of its zoning and building review for single-family homes and subdivisions. The system cross-references submitted plans with local zoning codes, identifies missing information and flags potential violations, reducing review times from approximately 30 days to just two. County officials estimate the move has already saved about $1 million in administrative costs while keeping final approvals in the hands of staff reviewers.
For Maryland counties, the Hernando pilot highlights both the potential and caution of adopting AI in local land use management. Automated review could ease workload, speed project approvals, and help meet housing delivery or disaster recovery needs, but successful implementation depends on strong safeguards. Key considerations include ensuring data security of applicant information, maintaining staff oversight to avoid over-reliance on algorithms, and ensuring the accuracy and transparency of how zoning codes are enforced.
