Accela Civic Platform Integration
Accela Civic Platform Integration
Velaro integrates with Accela, the civic platform used by government agencies for permitting, licensing, code enforcement, and inspections. When configured, Velaro's AI bot and human agents can look up permit applications, check inspection schedules, answer status questions, and submit service requests directly from the conversation — reducing call volume for municipal agencies and improving resident self-service.
What This Integration Does
| Capability | Description |
|---|---|
| Permit Lookup | Look up a permit by permit number, address, or applicant name. |
| Application Status | Show the current status of a building, business, or land use application. |
| Inspection Scheduling | List available inspection slots and schedule an inspection for a permit. |
| Inspection Results | Retrieve the outcome of a past inspection including pass/fail and inspector notes. |
| Fee Lookup | Calculate fees for a permit type and project valuation. |
| Service Request Submission | Submit a code enforcement complaint or general service request on behalf of the resident. |
| Document Status | Check if required documents have been submitted and approved for a record. |
Connecting Accela
- Go to Settings → Integrations → Accela.
- Enter your Accela Agency Name (the subdomain portion of your Accela URL — e.g.,
cityofexample). - Enter your Client ID and Client Secret from the Accela Construct developer portal.
- Select the Environment: Production or Sandbox.
- Click Connect. Velaro verifies the credentials and lists the record types accessible from your agency configuration.
Enabling AI Bot Skills
Once connected, the following bot skills become available in your AI bot configuration:
- Search Permits
- Get Permit Status
- Schedule Inspection
- Get Inspection Results
- Calculate Permit Fees
- Submit Service Request
- Check Document Requirements
Enable skills in Settings → Bots → [Bot Name] → Skills → Accela. Each skill can be individually enabled or disabled. Test each skill in the bot preview before publishing.
Identity Verification
Some Accela operations (e.g., submitting a service request on behalf of a resident) require resident identity verification. The bot will prompt for a verification code or guide the resident through a verification flow before completing the action. Configure verification requirements under Settings → Integrations → Accela → Identity Verification.
Use Case: 311 Self-Service Bot
A typical deployment for a municipal 311 line:
- Resident visits the city website or texts the 311 number.
- Bot greets the resident and asks how it can help.
- Resident asks: "What's the status of my building permit at 123 Main St?"
- Bot calls the Accela Permit Lookup skill, retrieves the record, and responds with the current status, last activity date, and next required step.
- If the resident needs to schedule an inspection, the bot lists available slots and books directly in Accela.
- Anything the bot cannot resolve is escalated to a 311 agent with full context pre-filled.
Requirements
- Accela Construct API access (contact your Accela account manager to enable API access).
- Available on the Velaro Enterprise plan.
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