“One of the most time-consuming tasks we do is getting permits. Each city in California has its own forms, and we use Instafill.ai to complete those forms. Some of the forms are flat. Before Instafill.ai we manually had to create fillable forms by adding editable fields to each one. It took us 10–20 minutes every time. With Instafill.ai this is done in seconds. Filling out forms is another time-consuming task we now automate with Instafill.ai. The form filler always completes permit forms in seconds, predictably and without errors. Instafill.ai helps us keep our team small and agile without hiring new people, since all paperwork is automated and our services stay affordable for the most people.”
— Andrew, CEO and Founder, Ataman Studio
Company at a glance:
| Company | Ataman Studio |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
| Website | https://www.atamanstudio.com/ |
| Services | Home and commercial design, drafting, CAD planning, permitting, floor plans |
| Specialties | ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units), remodels, new construction |
| Use case | City permit applications across California (flat and fillable PDFs) |
| Instafill.ai features used | Convert flat PDFs into fillable forms; AI form filling |
| Impact | From 10-20 minutes per form to seconds; predictable results; fewer corrections; lean team |
Summary
Ataman Studio is a Los Angeles design practice focused on ADUs, remodels, and new construction across California. Permit paperwork varies by city and often arrives as flat PDFs without fields. Ataman Studio uses Instafill.ai to convert flat PDFs into fillable forms and to complete each application in seconds. The result is faster submissions, fewer corrections, and more time for design and delivery instead of repetitive form work.
The challenge
California cities use their own permit forms. Layouts, field names, and required attachments differ, and many PDFs are not fillable out of the box. Before Instafill.ai, the team added fields manually and re-typed data into each form. This took 10–20 minutes per form and increased the risk of small errors that could delay approvals.
The solution
Instafill.ai detects flat PDFs and creates fillable fields automatically. Once fields are set, the platform fills out each form in seconds, keeping terminology and formatting consistent across different forms. This reduces manual work, lowers error rates, and lets the team move permit packages forward more quickly.
Forms they automate
Building Permit Application; Electrical Permit; Plumbing Permit; Mechanical Permit; Plan Review/Correction forms; Owner-Builder Verification; Demolition and Grading applications; Zoning/Planning forms.
Workflow
- Upload the city permit PDF.
- If the PDF is flat, Instafill.ai generates the fields automatically.
- Run AI form filling to complete the application.
- Download, review, and submit to the authority.
Before and after
Before: staff created text fields and checkboxes by hand, then re-entered information line by line.
After: Instafill.ai creates fields automatically and fills the forms in seconds, improving consistency and reducing rework.
Results
Time per form dropped from 10–20 minutes to seconds. Fewer corrections are needed, and the permit stage becomes a predictable step rather than a bottleneck. Automating this paperwork helps Ataman Studio stay lean while keeping services accessible for homeowners.
Meet Ataman Studio
A quick look at the people behind the work.
About Ataman Studio
Ataman Studio is a Los Angeles–based firm that designs ADUs, homes, and remodels with full-service planning, drafting, and permitting across California. Learn more at https://www.atamanstudio.com/ or go directly to the ADU page at https://www.atamanstudio.com/adu/.
Get started:
Try Instafill.ai: https://instafill.ai
Book a demo: https://cal.com/instafill.ai/demo