The problem
Each city and county does permits a little differently. The office manager carries most of it in their head, and a missed inspection means a second trip. New office staff take months to learn it.
What Cowork does
- The shop keeps a Google Sheet of permit rules by city and job type, with links to each city's own permit pages.
- A daily task reads newly approved jobs from Jobber.
- It matches each job to the sheet and writes a checklist: permit yes/no, which office, inspection stages, typical lead time, and the link to the city page.
- If a city or job type isn't in the sheet, it says so and asks the office to add it.
Where the draft lands
A checklist in a Google Doc or Sheet row per job, linked from the job. With Composio, it can be added as a Jobber note (if available).
What stays with you
Pulling the permit and confirming the rules. Codes and fees change, so the city's own site is the authority.
Job J-2207, service upgrade, Millbrook.
Permit: yes, city building dept (online portal, link). Typical approval: 3 to 5 business days per our sheet (checked Sep 2).
Inspections: rough-in, then final. Utility disconnect/reconnect: schedule with the power company.
Missing from sheet: none.
Watch-outs
- The checklist is only as current as your sheet. Put a 'last checked' date on every row.
- Never let the draft decide that a permit isn't needed without a person confirming it.
Questions owners ask
Can it apply for the permit?
No. City portals differ and most need a licensed person to submit.
Will it look up codes?
It can summarize what your sheet and the city's pages say. It isn't a code reference and shouldn't be used as one.