A FEW FACTS ABOUT THE
BUILDING DIVISION
Fiscal Year 2004/2005

• The Permit Center serves 28,000 walk-in customers annually
  (one customer every 4 minutes)
• The Building Division issues 33,000 permits annually
  (one permit every 3 1/2 minutes)
• The Plan Review section approves over 6,000 plan check projects annually (25 projects every workday)
• Our clerical staff answers over 182,000 phone calls annually
  (one phone customer every 38 1/2 seconds)
• Building Division staff performs over 190,000 inspections annually
  (one inspection every 37 seconds)
  

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE BUILDING DIVISION

Reassigned staff positions in the Permit Center to create a “project facilitator” concept, which has helped customers obtain permits more expeditiously by keeping them informed of plan check status and by identifying specific issues that need attention throughout the permitting process.

Fees were readjusted to align more closely with actual Building Division costs and the revised fee structure was endorsed by industry and community groups and approved by the Council on July 1st.

On Line Permitting - We now process approximately 10% of all permits over the Internet.
Received two awards for this effort, the Best of the Web and the Civic 50 Award.

The Integrated Development Tracking System (AMANDA) has been enhanced this past year to include improved efficiency in the scheduling of inspections. Development is underway to make the AMANDA system web-enabled.

Developed and Implemented the Plumbing, Mechanical & Electrical Express Plan Check process for certain residential, commercial, and industrial projects, for over-the counter project approval.

Continued consolidation of the Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, and Fire plan check functions to allow concurrent review of all trades.

Streamlined plan checking processes by coordinating the Building Division and Fire Department plan check sections.

Expanded the Express Plan Check process for certain residential, commercial, and industrial projects, substantially increasing same-day, over-the-counter project approval.

Initiated the "Intermediate Plan Check Process" of building plan checks for qualified residential projects, for a maximum turn-around-time of three (3) days.

 Expanded the inspector of record assignments to improve quality and consistency in field inspections.

 Maintained support for customers utilizing the self-help lobby computer for on-line permit searches.

Expanded the Record Imaging System, which allows documents to be scanned into a digital product for electronic storage and retrieval. The imaging system now includes document storage for the Building and Planning Divisions as well as the Fire Department and the Public Works Department.

Continued to lead and facilitate the Tri-chapter Uniform Codes Amendment and Interpretation Program to create uniformity of codes and regulations in the Bay Region.

Provided leadership in various Code development and seismic safety committees.

Maintained over 70 informational handouts that were utilized by customers accessing the Permit Center, the INFOLINE system and the new CALL CENTER.

Provided on-going training of staff on relevant code changes and hosted several seminars, which were made available to staff and the public for the education and advancement of those interested in construction processes and code development.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE BUILDING CODE ?

The purpose of the Building Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life or limb, health, property and the public welfare by regulating and controlling the design, construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures.

WHO HAS PERMIT AUTHORITY?

The Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement issues permits for private land use development in the City of San Jose.

The Building Division issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits for all private development in the City.  In addition, the Building Division reviews single family residential development for zoning compliance in conventional (non Planned Development (PD) ) residential zoning districts.

The Planning Division issues land use permits for all private development (Conditional Use Permits, Site Development Permits, Special Use Permits, Historic Preservation Permits, Tree Removal Permits, Administrative Permits, Planned Development Permits, Permit Adjustments and Tentative Maps).  In addition to the land use permits, which include site and architectural review, the Planning Division processes rezoning applications. Environmental review, as prescribed by CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act), is also conducted by the Planning Division.

The Planning Division Web site can be found at
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/planning/

The Department of Public Works has regulatory authority over publicly owned property in the City. It also issues grading permits, Geologic Hazard Clearances and Flood Elevation Certificates for private development.

The Public Works Web site can be found at
http://www.sanjoseca.gov/publicWorks/tds/

RELATED INTERNET SITES

Contractors State License Board
http://www.cslb.ca.gov/

Structural Engineers Association of California SEAOC
http://www.seaoc.org/

SAC Steel Project SAC
http://quiver.eerc.berkeley.edu:8080/

American Institute of Architecture AIA
http://www.aiaonline.com/

International Code Council
http://www.iccsafe.org/

Bob Adler Chabot Student Chapter of ICBO
http://www.jps.net/chaboticbo/