SimCity, but with Permits

Towers on both banks of a river in late afternoon light, with factories on the far shore

Build the city of your dreams.

Subject to approval

You are the mayor. You know exactly what this city needs. Now get it past the zoning board, the neighbors, the appeals court and the next election.

New game Free, because you are loved

Permit Pending is a city simulation in the spirit of the classics, with one difference: you are not a god. You are an elected mayor. Every apartment block, bus lane and factory goes through hearings, reviews, objections, lawsuits and appeals. The economy underneath is real. The neighbors are not always rational. Win the argument, or win the election. Ideally both.

How a good idea dies

A typical case from your inbox. The economic answer was obvious. The political path was not.

Month 1A tech boom pushes rents up. Young residents start to complain.
Month 3You rezone an empty lot for a 12-story apartment building.
Month 4Filed. Nearby homeowners organize over parking and "neighborhood character."
Month 7Hearing. You trade height for parking. The building is now 6 stories.
Month 8The smaller project no longer pays. The developer asks for a tax break.
Month 9Housing advocates criticize the lower count of affordable units.
Month 11Appeal. The board delays construction. A lawsuit is filed.
Month 42Rents are still rising. Young voters blame you for the shortage. Homeowners blame you for the proposal.
Month 48Election day.

Build absolutely nothing

An upzoning of a few suburban lots at its hearing, the lots tinted for the zoning asked, with an opposition sign over them

Every improvement creates opposition

New housing lowers rents and angers homeowners. New industry brings jobs and smog. Better transit attracts development, and development attracts opponents. Fix one problem and you create a new group of voters who are angry about it.

The Case window of an upzoning at its planning hearing: 88% opposition, open objections and concessions the mayor can offer

Hearings, appeals and lawsuits

Your inbox fills with applications, controversies and recurring characters. Negotiate concessions at public hearings, win votes on a seven-seat council, and spend your political clout wisely. Some cases last longer than your term.

Workshops, tank farms and warehouses on the same streets as small houses

An economy that keeps score

Residents have ages, incomes and homes. Businesses hire, grow and leave. Land values, rents, jobs, taxes and services all connect. The city keeps changing while you are stuck in committee.

Reelection every four years

High-turnout groups have more power than their numbers suggest. Know who votes.
Understand every failure

Heatmaps, graphs and plain explanations show why voters are angry and which decision did it.
The local paper

The Gazette reports your successes, your scandals and your parking minimums.
Sandbox forever

No campaign and no win screen. The city goes on as long as the voters let you.

Pick your city

Start from empty land, or inherit somebody else's problems.

What residents are saying

"I support new housing. Just not here."
Concerned Neighbor, Northgate

"The rent is too damn high!"
Renter, Riverside

"We have filed an appeal on procedural grounds. The procedure is the point."
Neighborhood Preservation League

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an account or a download?

No. The game runs in your browser. Saves stay on your computer, and after the first visit the game also works offline.

What do I need to play?

A desktop or laptop with a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari). A mouse helps.

Can I win?

Not exactly. It's a sandbox. Your goal is the city you want, and your challenge is to stay in office long enough to build it.

Your application is complete.

The hearing is scheduled. The neighbors are already here.

New game