Stavanger is the first municipality in Norway to process certain types of building applications automatically, starting with applications to rehabilitate chimneys. The first automated decision took exactly 50 seconds from submission to the applicant receiving a permit. The aim is to keep routine applications out of the queue for more complex building cases and to free staff for work that needs professional expertise.
How the automated process works
Instead of filling in a PDF form, applicants submit fully digitally through a dedicated portal. A self-declaration confirms that the applicant has the required competence. For fire-safety measures, certified professionals must apply on behalf of the homeowner, so applications are usually filled in correctly. Checklists from the Norwegian Building Authority (Direktoratet for byggkvalitet) make the rules clear enough for a decision to be made automatically. The solution was developed with the Norwegian Building Authority and the software suppliers Sikri and Norkart. The municipality uses the case system Elements eByggesak, while applicants use eByggesøk Proff.
Volumes and processing times
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| First automated decision | 50 seconds |
| Chimney rehabilitation applications per year | about 100 |
| Average processing time, building department | 16 days |
| Statutory deadline | 3 to 12 weeks, by type of measure |
Some of the applications come from Stavanger Varmesenter in Hillevåg. Manual handling of these cases usually took a few days because applications were assigned to a caseworker and placed in the same queue as all other applications. The time saved is meant to go to complex cases, inspection and guidance.
Fees and next steps
Building fees are set by politicians at each year-end, and the building department has proposed halving the fee for applications processed automatically. The proposal for a new fee regulation was due to go to public consultation. A proposed change to the building fee regulation went to consultation after a city council decision on 12 October 2026, with a deadline of 4 November 2026. The fee regulation for 2027 is to be adopted by politicians in December 2026, and the current regulation applies until the new one enters into force on 1 January 2027. Section head Børge Kallesten said the service cannot be entirely free, because the technology has costs and the department will still spend resources on spot checks, inspection and operating the solution.
After chimney rehabilitation, completion certificates, commencement permits and temporary use permits could be next in line for automation. Mayor Tormod Losnedal noted that Stavanger was named AI municipality of the year last year.