How do conditional fields work on a form?

Conditional field requirements let a form field become required based on the answer in another field. They work the same way for residents filling out a public application and for staff editing a record. Our team sets up this logic for you. This article explains how it behaves and what to send us when you want a rule added, changed, or removed.

How a conditional requirement works

A rule has three parts:

A trigger field, such as "Work on Public Property?"
A trigger value, such as "Yes"
A target field that becomes required when the trigger value is selected, such as "Right-of-Way Permit Number"

When the trigger value is entered, the target field becomes required and the form cannot be submitted or saved until it is filled in. When the trigger value changes back, for example from "Yes" to "No," a matching counter-rule removes the requirement from the target field.

Things to know

Rules apply to public form submissions and to staff editing the record inside GovPilot.
Rules are specific to one module. A rule on your Street Opening Permit module does not affect any other module.
If an applicant or staff member says a field will not let them continue, check whether an earlier answer on the form is making that field required.

Request a new or changed rule

Conditional requirements cannot be set up from inside GovPilot. To add, change, or remove one, reach out to our support team and include:

The module and form the rule applies to
The trigger field name and the trigger value
The target field that should become required
Whether the target field should become optional again when the trigger value changes back
For a change to an existing rule, what it does now and what it should do instead

✅ Pro Tip: Include the counter-rule in your request. Without it, the target field stays required even after the trigger answer changes.

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