Using the chat assistant

Written By Kevin Ruth

Last updated 3 months ago

The chat assistant is your permitting copilot. Ask questions, and it gives you answers grounded in your city’s data sources.

Getting started

  1. Go to your Permit Guide URL (e.g., [your-city].govstream.ai)

  2. Click Assistants tab in the top left nav bar, and then click on Chat Assistant

  3. Type your question and press Enter

  4. Optionally, you can enter the address into the project context sidebar to pull in GIS information

What it knows

The chat assistant pulls from the relevant data sources that have been configured by your department, which may include:

  • Building codes (ICC, fire codes, plumbing, mechanical, etc.)

  • Website content (guidelines, instructions, operating procedures)

  • GIS data from your mapping system (zoning, critical areas, lot coverage)

  • Permit History from your permitting system of record

Every answer includes citations so you can click through to the original source and verify it yourself.

Adding an address for context

Many permitting questions depend on where you're building. Setbacks, lot coverage, and critical area rules all vary by location.

To get location-specific answers:

  1. Type an address in the project context area

  2. The map appears, showing lot size, critical areas, and zoning

  3. All answers now reference that location's data

Update the address anytime by typing a new one.

Example session

Here's a typical use case. A homeowner emails asking about building an ADU in their backyard at 342 102nd Ave SE?. You can ask the chat assistant:

"Can I build an ADU at 342 102nd Ave SE, Bellevue WA"

More things you can ask:

  • Code lookups: "What are the egress window requirements?" or "What's the maximum building height in R-7.5?"

  • Process questions: "What documents do I need for a residential addition?"

  • Research: "What setback requirements apply to detached ADUs on this parcel?"

Asking follow ups can help you get to the specific answer you are looking for, and the AI will use the entire context of your conversation to answer. This is an example of an extended conversation:

Giving feedback

If an answer isn't right, let us know:

  1. Click the question mark speech bubble icon near the response

  2. Add details in the feedback form

Your feedback helps us fix problems faster.

Good to know

  • The AI can make mistakes, so double-check anything important by clicking the citations

  • Specific questions get better answers than vague ones

  • Add an address for any location-dependent question