News from the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department | |
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IN THIS ISSUE
* Best Prepared Designer Program is launched!
* More speed coming in October with self-start building permits for most projects
* Learn the top five tips for a successful ADU project
* New, easier rules for a home-based business (including cottage food businesses)
* Lisa Joiner is San José's new Chief Building Official
* Projects involving demolitions have new PCB screening requirements
* Join us on Sept. 21 for Community Workshop #3 - Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Update
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The Best Prepared Designer Program is Launched!
Qualifying professional building designers can get building permits in as few as five days for eligible projects!
This new program enables fast permit issuance on eligible projects by allowing building designers who enroll in the program to take full responsibility for building code compliance and thus bypass the Building Division’s standard plan review process. Depending on the scope of the project, building permits can be issued in as few as three to five business days. Eligible participants include:
- Licensed architects, civil and structural engineers, and Certified Access Specialists (CASp) - If you meet the minimum qualifications, you are eligible to enroll.
- Unlicensed design professionals - If you meet the minimum qualifications and complete training offered by the Building Division, you are eligible to enroll.
Another benefit of the program? It helps to free up City staff to focus on all of our permit customers! Learn more:
https://bit.ly/SJ-BPDProgram
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More Speed Coming This October!
Customers to self-start their building permits & submit plans using SJePlans
We hear you: San José's process for building permits needs to be faster. You can already download more than 50 types of simple building permits at any time of day. But what about the more complex projects that involve our staff's review of building plans? These are the projects that can get backlogged because of the staffing shortages that affect many cities. To speed things along, starting in mid-October, customers with projects that entail plan review can self-start the building permit process online and directly upload the plans to SJePlans. SJePlans is a portal that facilitates the review of plans by City staff. You will be able to:
- Submit your plans and respond to your plan reviewer's comments;
- Easily track the status of your review; and
- Find your plans in the future because SJePlans retains them permanently.
Most customers who already use SJePlans appreciate its speed and features! The steps for the new approach are simple but we'll also provide short guides and videos to help. A few project types (including those using our Express or STI/ITI programs) will not use this system. Customers who have appointments booked between now and mid-October do not need to make any changes. Learn more:
Most Building Permit Applications To Begin Online Starting October 2023
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Learn the
Top 5 Tips for a Successful ADU Project
Maria Arteaga-Carrasco is San José's "ADU Ally." Her job is to help people through the process of applying for a building permit for an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in San José. At the Building Safety Open House held in July at City Hall, Maria — shown in the photo — presented her top five tips for a successful ADU project:
Tip 1: Confirm your property jurisdiction.
Tip 2: Consider preapproved ADU plans to save time and costs.
Tip 3: Read the ADU Universal Checklist (important for owners and contractors alike!)
Tip 4: Only hire licensed professionals with ADU experience.
Tip 5: Track your project's progress at SJPermits.org.
Maria's presentation includes the requirements for setbacks and height limits and examines the various types of ADUs. Here are the links to the presentation:
Presentation in English, Español, Tiếng Việt or visit www.sanjoseca.gov/ADUs
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New, easier rules for launching a home-based business
Another popular presentation at our Open House this summer covered new rules that make it easier to launch a cottage food business as well as any type of home-based business. Juan Borrelli, our Small Business Ally, helps small businesses — including those that qualify for operating from a home — through the permitting process. Juan's presentation highlights the State of California's new, easier rules for launching a cottage food business, and it includes information to help any type of home-based business. If you're wondering what types of businesses can operate from a home, check it out — here are the links:
How to Start a Home-Based Business Presentation: English, Español, Tiếng Việt
Learn more: www.sanjoseca.gov/BusinessCoach
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In August, the San José Planning, Building and Code Enforcement (PBCE) Department named Lisa Joiner as the City’s Chief Building Official.
“We are fortunate to have Lisa — a leader in our City and a highly experienced Building professional — take on the full duties of the chief building official,” said PBCE Director Chris Burton. “Whether it’s providing guidance on a complex project, inspiring a new building program, or representing the City on proposed state building regulations, she is a true professional and a valued member of our team.”
Joiner oversees the 163-member Building Division that includes teams for building inspection, plan review, and Permit Center services. She is also active in professional groups that advocate for the continued updating of building codes. She holds a B.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, and a M.S. in Civil and Structural Engineering from Stanford University. She is registered in California as a professional civil engineer, structural engineer, and certified access specialist (CASp) and holds certifications from the International Code Council as a building plans examiner, building official, and master code professional.
Through these certifications and ongoing training, Lisa brings best-in-class building strategies and practices to the City of San José. Congratulations to Lisa Joiner!
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Demolition Projects Have New
PCB Screening Requirements
To protect our beautiful San Francisco Bay, newer stringent requirements have been enacted to keep polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a pollutant found in demolition debris, from reaching the Bay.
Effective July 1, 2023, building permit applicants who demolish applicable structures that contain any building material with a PCB concentration of 50 parts per million (ppm) or greater must adhere to additional requirements related to notifications, site management, inspection, and disposal documentation. This builds on the PCB screening process that became effective in July 2019. No demolition permit will be issued until the screening process is complete. This process does not address or replace other federal, state, or local PCB regulations. Learn more and find resources:
www.SJEnvironment.org/ManagingPCBs
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Join us - September 21, 2023
for Workshop #3
Five Wounds Urban Village Plan Update
The goal of this project is to address future development in the vicinity of the future 28th Street/Little Portugal BART Station and consolidate the Council-approved four small urban village plans in that area. At Workshop #3, project staff will present the conceptual plans for land use, building heights, urban design, and open space, and will also present the Design Development Framework (DDF) for the future BART site. We want to hear your ideas, concerns, and questions!
Date/Time: Thursday, September 21, 2023 - 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Location: Mexican Heritage Plaza, Pavilion Room, 1700 Alum Rock Ave., San José
Registration (encouraged but not required): www.bit.ly/FiveWoundsWorkshop3
Spanish and Vietnamese interpreters will be provided.
Thông dịch viên tiếng việt sẽ được cung cấp.
Se proporcionará un intérprete de español.
Learn more: www.sanjoseca.gov/FiveWoundsUVP
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