Department of Building Inspection

Permitting DBI should continue to work with other departments to implement its planned process for applicants to have a single contact to determine the status of permit requests. This "one-stop permit center" will allow the permit applicant to deal with one person until the permit is issued rather than the current process of dealing with four to five persons from various City reviewing agencies. Similarly, DBI should pursue and implement the planned new process to have departments review an application simultaneously rather than passing an application from one department to the next. Under the old system, approval could take at least four months. Under the new system, approval time should be cut in half.

Demolitions Where permits for building demolitions are made, DBI should require that approved reports from the State Air and Water Quality Board be filed with DBI before final approval of the demolition is given. This will insure that the state's requirements have been met. REQUESTED RESPONSES Mayor Board of Supervisors Department of Building Inspection Building Inspection Commission APPENDICES A. Departmental Responsibilities B. Information Reviewed C. Department Directory D. Complaint Process APPENDIX A Department of Building Inspection (DBI) DBI is responsible for safeguarding life, limb, health, property, public welfare and public safety through the implementation and enforcement of building, housing, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and disability access codes concerning the design and construction of buildings and structures within the City. DBI has approximately 200 employees. Its annual budget is about $20 million. About $17 million is covered by charges for services and $3 million for licenses and fines. Thus, it is a self-funding department. Department of City Planning (DCP) Through a plan review process, DCP is responsible for ensuring that all proposed construction, demolition, signs and uses are in conformance with the planning code and ensures that designs and environmental factors are in accordance with all applicable laws and policies. Fire Department (SFFD) SFFD is responsible for ensuring that all proposed construction and alteration projects relating to residential, assembly, hazardous, institutional occupancies and high rise buildings are in compliance with state laws and regulations. This includes the removal of petroleum underground storage tanks. Department of Public Health (DPH) DPH is responsible for ensuring that proposed food establishments, laundromats, and massage parlors are in compliance with the health code. Department of Public Works (DPW) DPW is responsible for ensuring that all proposed construction projects comply with the applicable street use and mapping regulations. Projects are reviewed for street and sidewalk use, curb cuts, infringement of sidewalks by signs and other items that may affect the appropriate use of streets and sidewalks. APPENDIX B BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT LIST OF INFORMATION REVIEWED 1. 1981 Review of Building Permit Process 2. October 1989 Budget Analyst Report to the Board of Supervisors 3. Organization Chart 4. 1995 Highlights -- 1996 Work Plan 5. 1996 Quarterly Newsletters 6. Planning Department Building Permit Application Packet 7. Meeting Agenda 8. Building Inspection Permit Brochures 9. Permit Processing Timetable 10. Monthly Internal Reports on Backlog 11. General Checklist for Contractors on Requirements 12. Management Information Systems APPENDIX C DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTION 1660 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 (415) 558-6088 BUILDING INSPECTION COMMISSION (BIC) 6TH FLOOR 558-6164 Office 558-6225 Fax Bobbie Sue Hood - President Eileen Hansen - Vice President Roy Guinnane Robert Davis Jaime Sanbonmatsu Sigmund Frieeman Armando Vasquez Maria Gracia Banico, Secretary - 558-6164 DEPARTMENT OF BUILDING INSPECTION (DBI) DIRECTOR'S OFFICE - 6TH FLOOR 558-6225 Fax Frank Y. Chiu, Director - 558-6131 James Hutchinson, Deputy Director, Permit Services - 558-6142 William Wong, Deputy Director, Inspection Services - 558-6139 Patty Perez, Secretary - 558-6131 ACCESS APPEALS COMMISSION (AAC) 6TH FLOOR 558-6014 Office 558-6225 Fax Walter Park, President Enid Lim - Vice President Rosilyn Baltimore Terry Nancy Hogan Linton Stables, III Laurence Kornfield, Secretary ABATEMENT APPEALS BOARD (AAB) - 558-6139 Office William Wong, Department Representative - 558-6225 Fax BOARD OF EXAMINERS (BOE) - 558-6135 Office Wing Lau, Department Representative - 558-6041 Fax BUILDING CODE ADVISORY COMMITTEE (BCAC) - 558-6004 Office Alan Tokugawa, Department Representative 558-6208 Fax UNREINFORCED MASONRY BUILDINGS APPEALS BOARD (UMB) - 558-6157 Office Hanson Tom, Department Representative - 558-6041 Fax ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (ADM) - 3RD FLOOR Paulette Hooey, Manager 558-6237 - Office 558-6207 - Fax Provides support to the Department in the areas of personnel, payroll, fiscal management, purchasing, employee services, and related data collection. BUILDING INSPECTION DIVISION (BID) - 3RD FLOOR Joan MacQuarrie, Chief Bldg Inspector 558-6096 - Office 558-6261 - Fax Inspects for compliance with Building Code requirements for building permits and responds to complaints on residential and commercial buildings. CENTRAL PERMIT BUREAU (CPB) - 1ST/2ND FLOOR Teresa Hansell, Manager 558-6070 - Office 558-6170 - Fax Issues building, plumbing and electrical permits; collects fees for processing applications for DBI and other City agencies. CODE ENFORCEMENT DIVISION (CED) - 3RD FLOOR Rafael Torres-Gil, Sr Bldg Inspector 558-6454 - Office 558-6474 - Fax Responsible for abatement of code violation cases referred from the Building, Plumbing, and Electrical divisions. Performs complete physical inspections of buildings and issues inspection reports of violations. Revised 07/25/96 COMMERCIAL PLAN CHECK (CPC) - 2ND FLOOR Wing Lau, Chief Building Inspector 558-6133 - Office 558-6041 - Fax Screens, reviews, and approves commercial tenant improvement applications for compliance with Building, Mechanical, Energy codes and Disabled Access regulations. CUSTOMER SERVICES DIVISION (CSD) - 1ST FLOOR Peter Burns, Manager 558-6088 - Office 558-6401 - Fax Answers general and code questions; gives permit status and information; processes Board of Permit Appeals requests. DISABLED ACCESS DIVISION (DAD) - 6TH FLOOR Carla Johnson, Acting Sr. Bldg. Insp. 558-6014 - Office 558-6225 - Fax Responsible for the intake and resolution of all complaints filed by the public regarding disabled access citywide. EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS SECTION - 3RD FLOOR Zan Turner, Coordinator 558-6104 - Office 558-6261 - Fax Provides planning, training, and coordination of earthquake preparedness and other disasters. ELECTRICAL INSPECTION DIVISION (EID) - 3RD FLOOR Steven Young, Chief Electrical Insp. 558-6030 - Office 558-6178 - Fax Provides public safety by enforcing municipal and State regulations and codes relative to construction, alteration, and installation of electrical equipment and systems. HOUSING INSPECTION DIVISION (HIS) - 6TH FLOOR Lesley Stansfield, Acting Manager 558-6220 - Office 558-6249 - Fax Inspects for code compliance in residential housing under building permits or as a result of complaints and frequently inspects apartments and hotels. MAJOR PROJECTS/UMB'S - 2ND FLOOR Hanson Tom, Building Plans Engineer 558-6133 - Office 558-6041 - Fax Reviews applications and plans for compliance with Building, Mechanical, Housing, Energy codes, and Disabled Access regulations. MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEMS (MIS) - 6TH FLOOR James Albert, Manager 558-6227 - Office 558-6249 - Fax Provides automated data capture, data management, and report dissemination throughout the Department. PLUMBING INSPECTION DIVISION (PID) - 3RD FLOOR Thomas Lehane, Chief Plumbing Insp. 558-6054 - Office 558-6178 - Fax br> Provides public safety by enforcing municipal and State regulations and codes relative to construction, alteration, and installation of plumbing equipment and systems. RECORDS MANAGEMENT (RMD) - 1ST/2ND FLOOR Michael Rodman, Manager 558-6080 - Office 558-6402 - Fax Management, processing, and updating of all microfilm services and residential records. RESIDENTIAL PLAN CHECK (RPC) - 2ND FLOOR Jeffrey Ma, Acting Manager 558-6133 - Office 558-6041 - Fax Screens, reviews, and approves residential applications and plans for compliance with Building, Mechanical, Housing, Energy codes, and Disabled Access regulations. SPECIAL PROGRAMS: Boiler Inspections, 3rd Floor - Thomas Lehane, Chief Plumbing Inspector 558-6054 Building Permit Status, 1st Floor - 1-800-4SF-BLDG Reroofing Inspection, 3rd Floor - Joan MacQuarrie, Chief Bldg Inspector 558-6096 OTHER CITY OFFICES: Bureau of Street Use & Mapping, 1st Floor 558-6060 City Planning Department 5th Floor 558-6378 APPENDIX D PROPOSED COMPLAINT PRIORITY FORMAT COMPLAINT HANDLING PROCEDURES Currently, the Department of Building Inspection handles all complaints in the same manner unless a hazardous condition exists, such as lack of heat. All complaints are received and documented whether complainants identify themselves or not. The validity of the complaint is determined by inspection. It is sometimes difficult to prioritize a complaint because of language problems. The following prioritized complaint chart is to be used as a guideline for inspectors. PRIORITY 1 INSPECTION MADE WITHIN 48 HOURS A Structural failure/collapse - fire damage. B Lack of heat. C Sewage leak/gas leak. D Exposed electrical wiring/hazardous wiring. E Major roof leaks. F Broken elevators. G Rodent/vermin/insect infestation. H Lack of sprinklers/smoke detector system/fire extinguisher. I No sanitary facilities in residential units. PRIORITY 2 INSPECTION WITHIN 5 DAYS A Inadequate sanitary facilities. B Work started without permit. C Lack of egress. D Room sizes smaller than code allows. E Lack of proper cooking facilities in R occupancy. F Lack of hot water. G Security i.e., door and locks not working properly. H Lack of disability access. PRIORITY 3 INSPECTION WITHIN 2 WEEKS A Hazardous wiring (not enough outlets) B Lack of sprinklers in garbage rooms and chutes. C Lack of required electrical illumination. D Faulty weather protection. E Dampness of habitable rooms. F Lack of adequate garbage and rubbish storage and removal facilities. G General lack of maintenance (painting, floor covering, etc.) PRIORITY 4 INSPECTION UP TO 4 WEEKS OR AS TIME PERMITS A Peepholes. B Storage in R3 occupancy. C Construction noise. D Lack of natural light. E Non-habitable units. F Cracks in plaster. G Minor odors. H Energy conservation. I Illegal use (Planning Code)(not life threatening) PROPOSED COMPLAINT PROCESS (See Attached Flow Chart) 1. Complaints are received by D.B.I. staff and are directed to appropriate division: Housing, Building, Electrical, Plumbing, and Disability Access.

Senior Inspector is informed of action and reviews N.O.V. Determines if emergency order is required.

If 1st notice is complied with, then case is abated.

When time has elapsed and corrections have not been made, then Inspector issues 2nd notice.

Chief Inspector of Division is notified and reviews case. If unable to reach a solution, then sends the case to the Director of D.B.I. for a Hearing.

If 2nd N.O.V. is complied with, then case is abated.

If B.I.D., P.I.D. and E.I.D. cases have not been resolved at Chief's level, then case is now referred to Code Enforcement Division. C.E.D. prepares case for Director's Hearing.

Director has hearing and issues order of abatement if required. Develops cost assessment statement and mails to owner with instructions of A.A.B. (Abatement Appeals Board) process.

If building is brought into compliance with Director's order, then case is abated. If not in compliance, then case is referred to full Commission for review or at request of property owner to A.A.B. Hearing.

A.A.B./Commission Hearing Appeal is heard and decision is rendered. If appeal is denied and owner still refuses to comply then case is sent to full Commission.

C.E.D. presents all facts and findings to full Commission for review.

Commission reviews all cases with orders of abatement and decides on next course of action, i.e., City Attorney referral, lien process, collection agency etc.