FEBRUARY 4, 2024

Greetings,

First of all, I am including a resource page on my website, which I am still populating. Stay tuned.

Here’s the latest news from DBI and the Permit Center:

DBI UPDATES

Working with partners in the Permit Center, SF Planning, Public Works, SF Fire and the other permitting departments, there have been a series of changes to streamline work, speed up review times, and provide a better customer experience.

In 2023, a new online portal for many solar permits utilizing SolarAPP+ was created also online tools to submit records requests online and receive copies of plans electronically. Also more than 29,000 building plans from 1920 to 1960 have been uploaded to make them easier to access.

The Information Counter has been relocated from the first floor lobby to the Permit Center on the second floor, adjacent to the Help Desk and Over-the-Counter (OTC) permit application review counters. Bringing all frontline operations into the same area and creating a more cohesive and sensible layout for OTC permit applicants and our staff.

2023 was the year which saw some of the earlier efforts to improve the permitting process – such as Pre-Plan Check and Dynamic Staffing Assignments – begin to really produce results. Compared to last January, October project assignment times were 33% faster, and first plan review at at the building station were 43% faster. That’s a full three weeks faster in October versus January.

In May, a comprehensive proposal to support the Mayor’s Housing for All directive, including teaming up with City partners at the end of the year implementing a new 100% digital In-House Review process using concurrent electronic plan review to provide better, faster service. Work is continuing to improve this new process and most recently a new page was added for In-House Review forms and applications portal to make it easier to find documents and submission pages needed to apply for a building permit using In-House Review.

And the Results Review function in the Permit Tracking System (PTS) that was introduced in July substantially improves the transparency of reviews and applicant revision time and activity, including documenting the number and nature of project rechecks.

In 2023, DBI also played a critical role in helping get the City back on track. From leading the way on code changes and clear guidelines to support commercial to residential conversions (to be published soon!) to conducting joint inspections to help fill vacant downtown buildings with pop-up businesses to streamlining the process to legalize commercial awnings, we leaned in to help address some of the most pressing challenges facing San Francisco.

Send comments and feedback to dbi.communications@sfgov.org.

TAKE NOTE THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY IS NOT FROM THE PERMIT CENTER, NOR DBI:

BRIEF NOTES FROM JANUARY 24 PAC

(Public Advisory Committee) MEETING

Converting Form 3 to Form 8

Projects may be considered for conversion on a tier basis with a Tier 1 possibly being permitted to convert to a Form 8.

For some projects filing of DR’s has been eliminated.

State legislation AB 2234 has imposed Mandatory Timeframes for Issuance of Post- Entitlement Permits. For more info go to https://www.allenmatkins.com/real-ideas/ab2234--mandatory-timeframes-for-issuance-of-post-entitlement-permits.html

State legislation AB 1114 - In sum, the City must implement these four main changes for qualified housing development projects beginning January 1, 2024: (1) update its website resources; (2) determine whether applications are complete within 15 business days after receiving them; (3) complete permit review within 30-60 business days after determining an application is complete, depending on the size of the project; and (4) allow a permit applicant to appeal any City finding that the application is not complete or does not comply with the applicable permit standards, and not hold any appeal for postentitlement phase permits for any project that does comply, all as further described below. A post-entitlement phase permit includes “non-discretionary permits and reviews … after the entitlement process … to begin construction of a development project” and “all building permits and other permits issued under the California Building Standards Code…, or any applicable local building code for the construction, demolition, or alteration of buildings, whether discretionary or nondiscretionary.”

For more info go to https://www.sfcityattorney.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023.11.08-AB-1114-Public-Memo.pdf

Responding to intake plan check comments. All intake applications are now required to be filed online and when plan checkers send out comments to project sponsors thereafter an appointment can be made with the plan checker to respond to plan check comments remotely or possibly in person. 

Special Inspections Conflict of Interest Attestation: Starting February 5, 2024, special inspection report submissions will be required to include the following language beneath the signature of the person signing the document.

• "By signing this document, I am confirming that the information provided is objective, competent, and independent from the contractor responsible for the work being inspected."

PLANNING

• PDF’s from planning after completion of planning review. Projects that need to go through 311, variance etc. can be submitted as a Form 8 and after planning has completed their process a PDF release letter will be issued and then it will be able to continue plan check review as a Form 8 OTC subject to DBI determination that the application meets the criteria for an OTC review.

• Interior wall removal demo calculations. Planning is no longer requiring demolition calculations for removal of interior walls. 

• Here’s the link to the Board File:

• https://sfgov.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=12535545&GUID=B7717844-99A2-4958-A744-E01CE035721B.

It’s removal is nestled on page 72-73 of the PDF document.

VACANT STOREFRONT REGISTRATION

The ordinance requiring registration of vacant storefronts is suspended for 2024.

LEGISLATION

Following is legislation which has passed impacting CEQA and priority housing development:

APPROVED: SB-91: This bill extends CEQA exemptions to include projects converting

motels/hotels/residential hotels, or hostels into supportive or transitional housing.

APPROVED: AB-1449: This bill allows the lead agency (like Planning?) to determine CEQA compliance, rather than another public agency.

APPROVED: AB-1633: This bill prohibits disapproval of housing projects in urban areas based on CEQA unless a "preponderance" of evidence is written into the record.

APPROVED: AB-1307: This bill modifies CEQA requirements for noise studies. Noise generated by unamplified residents would not be considered as having a "significant effect" on the environment for residential projects. 

APPROVED: SB-439: This bill allows the court to strike any part or whole of a pleading related to the approval or permitting of a priority housing development project.