Symbium and Accela® are Unlocking Instant Solar Permitting together in Lancaster, California

Background

Symbium has revolutionized the permitting process by launching an instant permitting experience for solar and other energy-saving projects. Initially implemented across 39 jurisdictions in California, this solution is now available to all local jurisdictions across the U.S. Homeowners and contractors utilize Symbium’s platform to instantly assess property-specific feasibility, submit applications, and manage permits and rebates.

At the core of this innovation is Symbium’s proprietary Complaw® technology, which enables the automation of legal analyses; think of TurboTax but for building codes. This technology was developed by Symbium’s founding team at Stanford AI Lab and enables instant permitting because the compliance checks are performed right in the browser as the permit applicant is scoping out their project. The result is permit applications that are always pre-checked, correct, and complete the first time around, eliminating unnecessary delays or friction at the permitting counter and accelerating the deployment of projects every time.

Permitting challenges in a growing City

Before adopting Symbium’s instant permitting solution, the City of Lancaster faced persistent challenges in managing the volume and complexity of solar permit applications. Manual compliance reviews led to bottlenecks, inconsistent processing times, and significant staff time spent on repetitive verification tasks. For contractors and homeowners, the lack of real-time feedback often meant delays of weeks — or longer — as applications bounced back for revisions. These inefficiencies not only slowed project timelines but also burdened building staff and frustrated applicants eager to move forward with installations. As a growing city with a strong sustainability mandate, Lancaster needed a modern solution to streamline its permitting operations without increasing internal workload.

Project Overview: Instant Solar Permitting in Lancaster, California

The City of Lancaster, California, partnered with Symbium to introduce an instant permitting system for solar projects. Deana Shelman, IT Coordinator II for the City of Lancaster, who assisted with the setup and deployment process, remarked on the speed and efficiency of the integration. “The integration with Accela Civic Platform moved very quickly. We went through a standard QA process and had the solar permitting system up and running for residents in significantly faster time than other systems we’ve used.”

Symbium’s instant solar permitting platform streamlines the entire submission and review process, enabling staff to process more permits with fewer errors and less manual oversight. By eliminating weeks of revision cycles, it reduces workloads, improves code compliance, and accelerates project approvals — all without sacrificing control or transparency. Shelman reported a significant increase in high volume installers utilizing Symbium for their permits in Lancaster. “What used to require weeks or more for the major PV installers to get projects through is now taking a day or less. These companies prefer to batch their applications in order to schedule both the sourcing and installation for the solar panels. It’s truly a game changer.”

With Symbium’s platform, permits are issued instantly because regulatory compliance checks are embedded directly into the web interface. This not only accelerates the permitting process but also reduces administrative burden and enhances accuracy in permit issuance.

Mark Parthum, Partner Technology Director at Accela, said, “We are thrilled to partner with Symbium in transforming the solar permitting process in Lancaster, California. This collaboration exemplifies how Accela and our partners are committed to innovation that empowers sustainable development and accelerates community growth. Together, we’re making it faster and easier for cities to meet their green initiatives.”

Turning a pain point into a strategic win

Since launching Symbium’s instant solar permitting system integrated with Accela, Lancaster has seen measurable improvements across the board. Major PV installers are now able to submit compliant, error-free applications and receive permits in less than a day — a process that previously took weeks. City staff report a sharp reduction in back-and-forth communications and revision cycles, freeing up time for higher-value tasks. The platform’s real-time compliance checks at the point of submission have led to increased accuracy, faster throughput, and greater satisfaction among applicants. As of Q2 2025, the City has processed dozens of permits through Symbium with near-zero staff intervention and continues to onboard high-volume installers eager to take advantage of the instant approval process. This success has prompted the City to expand instant permitting to additional project types and designate Symbium as its exclusive processor for high-volume permits.

Future expansion and impact

Given the success of the solar permitting implementation, Lancaster is now collaborating with Symbium to extend instant permitting to additional permit application types. Warren Bennett, Chief Building Official for the City, stated, “We’ve been very impressed at the smooth processing of the solar permits that we feel expanding this instant permitting method on more approvals will only further assist our staff while also reducing a lot of time and headaches for applicants.”

As a result, the City of Lancaster has decided to designate Symbium as its exclusive online processor for select, high-volume permit types. This move will further streamline regulatory compliance reviews and enhance the integration with Accela Civic Platform, ultimately improving the permitting experience for residents and contractors alike. The City’s decision to expand its use of Symbium underscores the platform’s value in modernizing local government permitting processes.

Proven partnership

Since 2021, Accela and Symbium have been working hand-in-hand to deliver streamlined building and permitting compliance reviews. This results in applicants quickly receiving a code compliance review powered by Symbium that then instantly generates the permit and inspections steps on Accela Civic Platform. Launching a permitting solution with Symbium and Accela means that jurisdictions will now be able to:

• Automate compliance checks at the very start of the application process, ensuring instant, consistent reviews before reaching permit staff.
• Go live quickly, with certain permit types enabled for automation in as little as two weeks.
• Minimize staff workload, requiring little to no manual review or extensive configuration.
• Accelerate project approvals, reducing delays and improving satisfaction for contractors, residents, and local businesses

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About Symbium®

Symbium is the leader in automated compliance checks for instant or accelerated permit issuance across a range of project types in the energy saving space. Given its fast-growing footprint, Symbium has been recognized as a national organization focussed on clean energy research. The company partners with local building departments to enable instant permitting, which is used by high volume and independent installers everywhere. Symbium is currently a resident at Autodesk and has achieved significant recognition and growth as a proud portfolio company of climate impact leaders such as Elemental Impact and RMI’s Third Derivative. The company continues to receive numerous awards for its breakthrough tech and success with instant permitting from the Association for Corporate Growth, GovTech 100, the ALP Alain Colmerauer Heritage Prize, the Ivory Prize, BuiltWorlds Maverick, and the Hive 50.

About Accela®

Accela® is one of the leading providers of cloud-based software solutions, empowering local and state governments to drive efficiency and modernization. Accela offers both a configurable platform and out-of-the-box civic applications for core processes including, but not limited to, permitting, licensing, and code enforcement. Accela assists agencies in streamlining workflows, reducing manual tasks, and improving service delivery.

About Lancaster, California

Lancaster, California, is a vibrant city located in the Antelope Valley region of northern Los Angeles County. Incorporated in 1977, Lancaster has grown from a modest community into a thriving urban center with a population exceeding 173,000 residents as of the 2020 census. Nestled between the San Gabriel and Tehachapi Mountains, Lancaster enjoys a unique high-desert climate characterized by clear skies and abundant sunshine. The city is renowned for its commitment to sustainable energy initiatives, having become the first U.S. city to mandate solar panels on all new homes in 2013, reflecting its dedication to environmental stewardship. The revitalization of The BLVD, Lancaster’s downtown area, has transformed it into a bustling hub of culture, commerce, and community events. This transformation has enhanced the city’s appeal, making it a destination for both residents and visitors seeking a blend of modern amenities and small-town charm. Lancaster’s strategic location, innovative spirit, and strong sense of community make it a dynamic place to live, work, and explore. To this end, the City has undertaken the Public Improvement Program to construct and update key City assets. With this, they have committed to modernizing and streamlining how they do business.