DPP Launches Priority Review to fast-track permits using CivCheck

News Release from DPP, July 1, 2026

The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP) is excited to announce the launch of Priority Review, a new program that rewards applicants who use DPP’s AI-guided software, CivCheck.

The program encourages applicants to begin using CivCheck before it becomes mandatory later this year, enabling a faster, more efficient permitting process. Increased participation will also provide staff with additional opportunities to build experience using the platform and support ongoing refinements to the system.

Through this program, projects that use CivCheck will be prioritized and routed straight to the prescreen portion of the application process, allowing them to move into review faster, as long as the submittal is complete and ready to proceed. This can result in shorter wait times, fewer corrections, and faster approvals.

“We want applicants to take full advantage of the tools and resources available through DPP,” said Director Dawn Takeuchi Apuna. “Priority Review rewards applicants for using CivCheck early and gives them an opportunity to experience a faster, more efficient permitting process before the platform becomes mandatory later this year.” 

How Priority Review Works:

Applicants must first verify that their project qualifies for CivCheck. At this time, CivCheck is available only for residential projects, though commercial projects are expected to be added later this year.

Eligible projects include:

• Single-family, two-family, and duplex projects
• Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and Ohana units
• New construction, additions, and alterations

Non-eligible projects include:

• Commercial projects
• Electrical meters, electrical vehicle chargers, and general electric work
• General plumbing work
• Fences, retaining walls, and rewire projects
• Solar projects

Once a project is confirmed eligible, applicants can complete the CivCheck review process. After the project passes screening, applicants will receive a CivCheck ID number.

Applicants can then proceed with submitting their permit application through HNL Build. It is important to enter the full CivCheck ID number in the designated field so DPP staff can properly track the application and place it in the priority review queue.

While Priority Review offers expedited processing, it does not guarantee immediate approval. All applications remain subject to official review and approval requirements by other agencies.

Because CivCheck will become mandatory later  this year, Priority Review is intended as a temporary program to help  applicants become familiar with the software ahead of the transition.

Benefits of CivCheck:

Since its launch in December, CivCheck has already delivered significant improvements to the permitting process. Nearly 40 applications used the software, with the majority experiencing substantially shorter review times and fewer corrections than similar applications that did not use the platform.

Key results include:

• A 67% reduction in corrections, with CivCheck applications averaging 7.7 corrections compared to 23.5 for non-CivCheck applications
• Average review times reduced from 73 days to 32.5 days, saving applicants an average of 40.5 days per permit
• Average plan review cycles reduced from 3.4 cycles to 1.4 cycles

“The results we’ve seen from CivCheck already show the real impact this technology can have on the permitting process,” said Apuna. “This is just a glimpse of what the full impact will be once all applicants begin to use the software.”

*Metrics are based on 19 CivCheck-processed residential permits (new construction, additions, and alterations) with comparable plan review data. Non-CivCheck metrics are based on 17 projects with sufficient comparison data.

Resources:

For more information on CivCheck, head to https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/getting-started-with-civcheck/

Applicants who would like to take advantage of the Priority Review program are encouraged to create a CivCheck account today: https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/create-a-civcheck-account/

There is also an FAQ page with common questions about CivCheck: https://www.honolulu.gov/dpp/frequently-asked-questions/

For those who already have an account, you can log into the CivCheck user portal here: https://app.civcheck.ai/login/Honolulu

Have additional questions? Email us at dpp@honolulu.gov.