Feature
by Amy Lee
There’s a great deal that’s “new and improved” these days at the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection. From newly hired engineers, architects and other technicians essential to staying abreast of San Francisco’s dynamic economy, to more online access to “instant permits” from our electrical and plumbing divisions, DBI is expanding its customer services to meet market demands.
We’re implementing new code modifications that provide fast-track priorities for building projects meeting rigorous energy-efficiency and environmental protection criteria established by the U.S. Green Building Council or an equivalent. We’ve also created a new Seismic Safety and Emergency Management Division within DBI to improve the management of our critical seismic-safety programs—including a new risk-reduction program focused on soft-story and open-front wood frame buildings often found in neighborhoods like the Marina. SSEM also represents the city on the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center’s Tall Buildings’ Initiative, which is aimed at helping understand what’s required when building high-rises in one of the world’s most at-risk seismic zones.
DBI is also a leader in providing expedited processing of solar energy permits, a step that has resulted in a dramatic increase in the numbers of permits issued from just over 100 in 2004 to more than 400 through 2006.
The department hosted its first “Meet the DBI Pros Summit” a few months ago, and provided a daylong series of free public workshops on a wide range of in-demand topics—from seismic safety and condo conversions to disability access and landlord-tenant responsibilities. More than 300 people participated, including representatives from the San Francisco Apartment Association and other community organizations. The department plans to make the summit an annual learning opportunity for San Franciscans who interact with DBI’s important building safety, inspection and code enforcement services.
In addition, DBI is expanding technical trainings to ensure the smooth transition to International Building Code requirements from the California Building Code as we’re legally mandated to do, effective January 2008. We’re also participating in new Joint Public Hearings with the San Francisco Planning Department twice a year to improve code review and compliance coordination for those involved in the permit process. The building department is also investigating the issues involved in whether or not to support required automatic shut-off gas valves to minimize fire hazards following a major earthquake.
Readers of SF Apartment Magazine should be aware of the vital and critical role DBI plays in the ongoing safety and well-being of all San Franciscans. Just as the police and fire departments are essential to public safety, our permit process, inspections and enforcement of complex and ever-changing building codes are vital “safety net” public responsibilities we fulfill as professionally and efficiently as possible.
We currently have a staff of 300 employees, who constitute our most important resource. They provide the knowledge, skills, expertise and experience that enable DBI to issue roughly 60,000 permits a year, and to conduct more than 130,000 annual inspections, which we do in conjunction with many other city departments, including Planning, Public Works, the Fire Department and the Department of Public Health. All of these departments also have permit review responsibilities.
We’ve focused major efforts over the past two years on strengthening our team environment at DBI—especially our interpersonal, customer relations skills. Our staff frequently assists customers who may be under severe deadline and/or financial pressures. We take pride in listening to and investigating public complaints, and we work very hard to find workable solutions for our customers.
The overwhelming majority of our staff communicates a positive, “can-do” attitude—no matter what the challenge—an attitude DBI’s senior management team strives to reinforce at every opportunity.
Statistics Show Great Improvements
Our statistical report card is improving weekly and monthly. Over the past year we’ve turned around 82% of all residential permits requested over the counter in 24 hours; 85% are turned around within two to seven days. It’s still below our target of 90%; clearly, we still have work to do.
We’ve exceeded our management target of a 70% turnaround in commercial permits—and are currently at nearly 74%. We’ve also exceeded our 60% objective in mechanical permits and have reached more than 68%.
We’ve also made excellent progress in addressing our backlog of permit applications. Residential Plan Check’s backlog is down 50% this year compared to last year. Commercial Plan Check is down nearly 30% in the same time period, and the Major Projects’ backlog is down 44% —proof that our new employees and technologies are making important advances.
New Technologies Help You Get Better Service
We’ve refreshed and upgraded our department’s technologies with faster computers, including new desktops for all employees, and improved our online Permit Tracking System. DBI’s website and online services (found at www.sfgov.org/dbi) are improving daily, enabling us to make the department’s services more accessible and available to more and more people via computer clicking rather than driving and waiting in long queues. For example, we now offer a Geographical Information System online tool that lets you enter an address and immediately see its physical location and access that location’s permit history details.
Another significant online improvement is access to “instant” permits from DBI’s electrical and plumbing divisions. To have access to these online services, visit the DBI website and click on “Permit Services—Online Services.” Once those eligible complete the “Contractor’s Agreement & Terms of Service” form, SFGov Online Services will issue usernames and passwords. You can then begin printing permits, and pay for them, with just a few clicks on your computer. Both electrical and plumbing divisions provide an easy-to-follow process; there is a sample on the website. Nearly 40% of all electrical permits are now filed online.
DBI is in the process of developing and implementing a fully integrated permit-tracking system over the next three years that will enable us to create a seamless “core” capable of showing the status of virtually every permit under review, from those still with the Department of Planning, to those with the Fire Department, Department of Public Works, the Public Health Department and within DBI’s multiple review stations. When you consider that DBI issues more than 60,000 permits annually, it quickly becomes clear that this new integrated tracking system will generate significant public benefits, from cost savings through increased processing efficiencies, to dramatically improving public transparency and accountability.
Also, DBI is now using a new diagnostic infrared camera in its Housing Inspection Services. This camera could enable building owners and contractors to isolate potentially expensive maintenance problems. The new diagnostic device, a thermosensitive camera capable of pinpointing roof or bathroom leaks, as well as mold, is an example of how the department applies new and appropriate technology on behalf of safer, code-compliant habitability requirements.
DBI’s customers include the designers and builders of virtually everything in the city, from residential apartments and homes, to high-rise commercial office towers—a citywide asset inventory valued in the multiple billions of dollar, and one of the most visible indicators of San Francisco’s economic health and prosperity.
It’s a new day at DBI, and our vision is to make the department’s inspections, permits and code-enforcement processes more professional, customer responsive, efficient and effective than ever before. We’ve made a great deal of progress this past fiscal year, and we have plans to make DBI even more effective this coming year with more proactive public outreach and education, and by continuing to strengthen the invaluable partnerships and collaborations we cultivate with the private sector.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of SFAA or SF Apartment Magazine. Amy Lee is the acting director of DBI. Copyright © 2007 by SF Apartment Magazine. All rights reserved.