Build Buddy

Plan your build. Check the 7-day construction weather forecast & easily switch between major Ontario cities from the main menu.
Your AI permit assistant! Chat with Build Buddy Bot to get a personalized document checklist and avoid application errors & delays
Pin your project location. Get permit rules tailored to your exact city in Ontario, removing confusion from the very start.

Inspiration

Builders and homeowners in Ontario often face long delays and confusing processes when applying for renovation or construction permits. Incorrect applications or drawings can extend review times, and starting a project without a permit can lead to fines or even removal of work. We wanted to simplify this process and give users confidence when navigating permits.

What it does

Build Buddy is a chatbot-driven web app that:

Explains permit requirements instantly
Lets users submit project details conversationally
Provides AI feedback on missing or incorrect information
Displays all active and pending permits on a clean, intuitive dashboard

It’s like having a personal permit assistant available 24/7.

How we built it

We combined a conversational AI chatbot with a modern web dashboard. Users interact with the bot to input project details, and AI checks for errors or missing information. The dashboard organizes all permit data in one place, making it easy to track progress.

Tech stack:

Frontend: React
Backend: Node.js
AI: Integrated conversational AI APIs for guidance

Challenges we ran into

Complex permit rules: Ontario regulations vary by municipality, making it tricky to design a one-size-fits-all solution
User input errors: Handling incorrect or incomplete information conversationally required multiple iterations of AI feedback
Dashboard clarity: Designing a clean interface that could handle multiple permits and statuses without overwhelming users was challenging

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully built a conversational interface that guides users step-by-step
Created a dashboard that organizes permits clearly and intuitively
Reduced potential errors in permit applications with AI feedback
Developed a solution that could save builders and homeowners weeks of confusion and delays

What we learned

Designing AI-guided workflows requires balancing guidance and flexibility
Visual clarity in dashboards significantly impacts user confidence
Iterative testing with real users is crucial for conversational AI to be effective