Planning Official to Return to Pasadena – With much regret, John Poindexter is leaving his role as our City’s first Planning Official due to personal reasons that necessitate his return to his family in Pasadena. This was a very difficult decision for him and one that he did not make lightly. Read More...

‘Vision North San José’ Wins Statewide Planning Award – The California Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) selected the City’s Vision North San José planning effort as the 2007 winner for the Outstanding Comprehensive Planning Award: Large Jurisdiction. Read More...

2nd Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey In Progress – For the second year in a row, a consultant is asking 1,000 of our customers to assess their satisfaction with the permitting process. Read More...

Third and Final Phase of County Annexations Set to Begin – Nearly two years after the City Council launched the County Island Annexation Program, San José has now annexed 31 “islands” consisting of approximately 193 acres. Phase 3 will include larger areas and will begin with islands located in Council Districts 1 and 6. Read more...

Bonsai Nursery Blossoms Into New Retail Development – At the busy intersection of De Anza Boulevard and Bollinger Road, the Bonsai Nursery building sat vacant for years awaiting a transformation. The distinctive structure, built in 1960 and reflective of post-war modernism construction, qualified for San José’s Historic Resources Inventory. Read more...

High Rises on the Rise – Construction and planning continues for residential high rises in the City. Read more...

Sign Code Update Underway for Downtown, Commercial/Industrial Development – The Planning Division is embarking on a major update to the City’s Sign Code which will focus on signage in the Downtown area and the City’s commercial and industrial Zoning Districts. Read More...

450 Attended Free Building Code Seminars – The City’s Building Division had an overwhelming and very positive response to its two free seminars offered in the fall to review the new California Building Codes that went into effect January 1st. Read More...

New Codes Change Use of Portland Cement Plaster and Gypsum Wallboard – For many years, the Uniform Building Code permitted use of shear wall assemblies made with gypsum wallboard and Portland cement plaster. However, these materials have exhibited poor performance in tests and earthquakes. Read More...

Thank you so much for providing the neighborhood clean-up program. I am a single mom with two kids and until Saturday I had a huge pile of junk next to my house. I was very concerned that it would attract rodents or worse, catch fire. It was way too big a task for me, I don't have a truck and I didn't have the money to hire someone to haul it away.  On Saturday my neighbor let me throw some things in her truck, to take to the dumpster and when we went over to drop it off, we met Henry Machens. He was so very helpful. I told him about my problem and he dispatched a flatbed and a crew to load the junk and haul it away. This was an answer to my prayers. Thank you so very much for protecting the health and safety of my family. I can't tell you how much this program and your wonderful staff have meant to me.  [excerpt of letter from San Jose resident to Code Official and Council member Williams]

You were an awesome guide and we thank you for it.  Thank you for your patience with all our queries, for your easy to understand instructions and most of all for making my dream come true - the CUP in time for our 10th anniversary celebration!  [letter excerpt to Planner Martina Davis from owner of daycare, Beginning Steps to Independence]

Read more excerpts...

Field Coordinators Provide Guaranteed 2nd Opinion During Inspection – In most cases our building inspectors are able to resolve issues on site during your inspection. However, in case you or they need a second opinion, we have six Supervising Inspectors designated as Field Coordinators. Read More...

BusinessOwnerSpace.com Links Permitting, Business Resources – Being able to reach more businesses to convey permit information was one of the driving factors behind the Department of Planning, Building & Code Enforcement becoming a Charter Partner of BusinessOwnerSpace.com. Read More...

Tell Us What You Think – Any Time! – As you move through the development process, you now have a new, easier way to give us feedback at any point using our online “take one” customer satisfaction survey. Read More...

Five-Year Development Forecast Predicts Impacts of “Rise and Fall” Activity – Development activity levels are presently undergoing a sharp reversal of the trends that had held throughout this decade. Read More...

2007 Year End Summary of Building Permit Activity – Total construction valuation during calendar year 2007 rose to $977 million, a 15% increase from the prior year and a four-year high.  Read More...

Building Permit Activity for December 2007 and January 2008 – In December, residential building permit activity fell to low levels not seen since late-2001 (37 units); activity in January set a six-month high, but still remained low (144 units). Read More...

January Winners of the Director’s Customer Service Award – Congratulations to Amanda Lopez, Mike Enderby, and Sue Welsh. Thank you for jobs well done! Read more...

Year of the Rat Welcomed During 10th Annual Chinese New Year Celebration – About 130 staff and their friends ushered in the Chinese New Year with their 10th annual luncheon on February 7th. The group welcomed and celebrated the Year of the Rat, which signifies creativity, wealth, charm, and order, and is the first year of twelve Earthly Branches or Lunar Cycles. Read more...

Reena Racks Up Another LEED Accreditation – Congratulations on going for the GREEN, Reena Mathew! Reena just passed her LEED AP exam and joins two other LEED accredited employees in the Department – Michelle Stahlhut and Joyce Liu.

Three Building Inspection Managers Promoted in January – We’re pleased to announce that Steve Houlihan, Dan Leveque and Richard Betti are the Building Division’s new Building Inspection Managers reporting to the Chief Building Inspector, John Ruch. Steve, Dan, and Richard will manage the Building, Electrical, and Plumbing/Mechanical Inspection Sections, respectively. Read more...

Passion and Commitment Earns Juan Borrelli District 5 Award – Alofa Taliva’a is effusive with her praise. “Juan’s commitment and dedication continue to improve East San Jose and continue to make a difference in this great city that we live and work in.” Read more...

Mark your calendars with these and other upcoming meetings, events, seminars, and more...

February 27th, Construction Roundtable, City Hall Tower, Room T-332, 8:30 – 10:00 AM.

March 11th, Neighborhood Roundtable, City Hall Tower, Room T-332, 7:00 – 8:30 AM

March 28th, Developer’s Roundtable, City Hall Tower, Room T-332, 8:00 – 10:00 AM.