Bermuda Taps US Firm to Clear Permit Backlog with Human Expertise

LOVELAND, CO – March 18, 2026 – The Government of Bermuda has launched a strategic international partnership with U.S.-based community development firm SAFEbuilt to tackle a persistent backlog of building permits that has hampered residents and the local economy. The collaboration introduces supplemental electronic plan review services designed to expand the capacity of Bermuda's Department of Planning, aiming to significantly reduce processing times while deliberately sidestepping the trend of artificial intelligence in favor of seasoned human expertise.

The partnership provides the island nation with on-demand access to a deep bench of certified professionals, offering a targeted solution to a problem that has caused public frustration for years. Officials emphasize that the move is designed to supplement, not replace, the existing local team, ensuring that oversight and final decision-making authority remain firmly within the Department of Planning.

A System Under Pressure

For years, Bermuda's development and construction sectors have been constrained by delays in the permitting process. The Department of Planning, responsible for processing over 1,200 applications annually, has faced significant operational challenges. As recently as May 2025, the department was grappling with 372 open building permit applications, with a small, overwhelmed team of just one full-time processor and a supervisor. This staffing shortage, coupled with inconsistent or incomplete application submissions from agents, created a bottleneck where some applications languished for over 165 days.

The consequences have been far-reaching, affecting homeowners, contractors, and the broader economy. Public sentiment has reflected this strain, with government officials acknowledging the "public frustration" and promising action. This new initiative is a direct response to those long-standing concerns.

"Bermuda has a strong team and a clear commitment to serving the public well," said Victoria L. Cordeiro, MCIP, Director of the Department of Planning, in a statement. "This partnership gives the Department added support at an important time. It allows us to expand review capacity, respond more effectively to resident needs, and maintain the quality and consistency that our planning process requires."

The goal is to create "elastic capacity," allowing the department to manage fluctuating demand without compromising the rigorous standards that underpin public safety and responsible development.

The Human Touch in a Digital Age

In an era where GovTech and the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industries are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to automate workflows, the Bermuda-SAFEbuilt partnership stands out for its explicit commitment to human-led reviews. The press release and government statements have been clear: SAFEbuilt is "not introducing artificial intelligence into the review process."

This decision is a strategic one, rooted in the complexity of Bermuda's regulatory framework. The island's building codes adhere to the strict guidelines of the International Code Council (ICC), a standard that demands nuanced interpretation and deep technical knowledge. SAFEbuilt brings a formidable concentration of this expertise, employing 37 Master Code Professionals (MCP)—the highest level of ICC certification—and holding over 3,414 combined ICC credentials.

"This partnership is all about providing additional support to supplement the great team already in place," noted Steve Nero, Vice President of Business Development at SAFEbuilt. "The Department of Planning remains fully in charge, and our role is to help expand review capacity, reduce delays, and support timely service for the people of Bermuda through experienced electronic plan review professionals."

By prioritizing human judgment, the partnership aims to mitigate risks associated with AI, such as poor data quality, which is cited as a cause for a high percentage of AI project failures, and regulatory uncertainty. Furthermore, engaging an overseas firm was a deliberate choice to ensure impartiality, avoiding potential conflicts of interest that can arise when local firms are tasked with reviewing the work of their competitors. This focus on verified, expert-led reviews is intended to bolster public trust in the integrity of the planning process.

A Global Step and Promising Early Returns

For SAFEbuilt, a company with an extensive footprint across 41 U.S. states and over 2,000 municipal customers, the partnership with Bermuda marks a significant entry into the international market. It serves as a proving ground for exporting its specialized service model, which combines a sophisticated technology stack with a deep bench of professional talent.

The initial engagement is structured as a short-term, targeted contract valued at up to $60,000, with an option to extend the services on an ad-hoc basis as needed. This flexible arrangement allows Bermuda to address its immediate backlog without a long-term, high-cost commitment, while providing SAFEbuilt an opportunity to demonstrate its value.

Early results are already promising. Since beginning work on February 17, 2026, SAFEbuilt's team has processed 41 applications in just three weeks. The average processing time for these reviews has steadily decreased, starting at 6.4 days and recently falling to approximately five days per application. This rapid turnaround is a stark contrast to the months-long waits that had become common, signaling immediate relief for a system under pressure.

The seamless integration is aided by a shared technological foundation. Both the Bermuda Department of Planning and SAFEbuilt utilize the 'EnerGov' file management system, allowing the external team to work directly within Bermuda's existing platform. This compatibility eliminates the need for cumbersome data transfers and ensures that the local department maintains a complete, unified record of all review activities. This practical approach is helping move applications more efficiently without compromising quality or rigor, strengthening service levels where they are needed most. The successful implementation could pave the way for a new model of international public-private partnerships, where governments can tap into global talent pools to address specific operational challenges while retaining full sovereign control.