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Overview
The Development Services Division of Public Works is responsible
for ensuring that new development projects comply with applicable regulations
and provide the necessary public infrastructure including, but not limited
to: streets, sidewalks, storm and sanitary sewers, streetlights, landscaping
in frontages and street islands, and traffic signals.
In addition to reviewing, approving and inspecting the
public infrastructure necessary for new development, our division is also
responsible for the following programs:
The City of San Jose is a member of the National
Flood Insurance Program. Membership in the program allows residents
of the City of San Jose to obtain federally backed mortgages and disaster
assistance in the event of floods. In exchange, the City requires new
land developments and remodels of existing buildings to conform to rules
that minimize flood damage. Public Works is responsible for administering
this program and providing Flood Zone information to the citizens of San
Jose.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District (SCVWD) is the public agency responsible
for flood protection in Santa Clara County. Please visit the SCVWD
website for more information about your watershed and historical flooding
information for your area.
These are areas of San Jose where potential geologic hazards
such as fault rupture or slope instability may impact a proposed development.
Geotechnical studies and geologic hazard mitigation measures may be required
to ensure that the proposed construction will not be potentially endangered
by geologic hazards and that the proposed project will not create an unsafe
condition. Construction proposed in a Geologic Hazard Zone requires
a Geologic Hazard Clearance
prior to approval of planning or building permits.
The purpose of the Grading program is to ensure that private
property is graded so that it will drain properly, not impact adjacent
properties and not create erosion problems. Improper grading can result
in localized flooding, landslides and differential settlement. These problems
not only affect the graded property, but can also impact adjacent properties.
To ensure that grading operations do not impact the local creeks and storm
drainage systems during the winter months, any grading occurring between
October 15 and April 15 requires an approved Erosion Control plan
Encroachment permits are used to allow construction work
in the public right-of-way. These permits typically require a plan showing
the work proposed, as well as fees and surety to insure the completion
of the work. We have permits for the following activities:
- Sanitary
Sewer Lateral – for construction of a new connection to the
sanitary sewer system.
- Revocable
Encroachment – for temporary encroachment into the public right-of-way,
used primarily for installation of groundwater monitoring wells, crane
construction, covered walkways and soil sampling.
- Private Utility
– for utility facilities constructed in the public right-of-way
by private companies instead of franchised utilities.
[Note: Franchised
utilility companies need to call the Utilities section of Public Works at (408) 998-6090 for permit information]
- Driveway
/ Sidewalk – for new driveways or sidewalk for single
family homes [Note: to repair existing sidewalk contact the Department
of Transportation at (408) 277-4373]
The purpose of the Mapping program is to ensure that private
property is subdivided in accordance with the State’s Subdivision
Map Act and all City of San Jose ordinances. All proposed subdivisions
of property in the City of San Jose start as a Tentative Map application
in the Planning
Division of the Planning, Building and Code Enforcement Department.
During the review of tentative maps, Public Works will comment on and
place conditions on the Tentative Map. Once the applicant has an approved
Tentative Map, a Parcel Map or Final (Tract) Map prepared by a licensed Civil Engineer
or Land Surveyor is submitted to Public Works for review and approval. The Director of
Public Works approves Parcel Maps and Final (Tract) Maps.
The City of San Jose supports the formation of special
districts to finance the construction and/or maintenance of public infrastructure
improvements serving specific areas within the City when that work will
contribute to the City's economic, social or aesthetic enhancement. There
are several types of districts in San Jose such as: Community Facilities
Districts, Local Improvement Districts, Integrated Finance Districts,
Benefit Districts and Maintenance Districts. The Special Districts Group
facilitates the formation and ongoing administration of these districts.
The costs of providing the special benefits are paid in proportion to
the benefit received through levies upon the benefiting properties.
The City provides a process for vacating City streets
and easements if it is deemed that they are no longer required. Our division
is responsible for administering this process. If you are interested in
having a City street or City easement vacated (abandoned), you should
visit our One-Stop counter and see if staff would support such vacation.
Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) reports are prepared to ensure
that new development projects comply with all applicable transportation
policies and regulations. As part of the environmental review process,
a TIA must be prepared in order to comply with the City of San Jose 's
Transportation Policy, any area development policy and the Congestion
Management Program. The TIA will identify the impact of the proposed
development on the surrounding transportation network, as well as the
specific development impacts and any required mitigation measures.
Typically, TIA's are prepared by a traffic consultant
hired by the applicant. Division staff, working closely with the
consultant, identify intersections to be studied and provide available
existing and background information. Upon submittal of the completed
traffic report and the traffic
review fee to the City, staff will review the consultant's analysis
to ensure compliance with the City's Level-Of-Service (LOS) policy, any
transportation policies unique to the area (i.e. Evergreen, North San
Jose, Edenvale), and the Congestion Management Program. After review,
the TIA becomes part of the environmental documentation necessary for
project approval.
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