Digging Deeper - Board of Supervisors Oversight of Planning & Building

Recommendations 7

• R1
  The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors give direction to the Chief Executive Officer to have, by December 1, 2026, a working draft of Policies and Procedures for all divisions within Planning and Building Services. The guidelines should be comprehensive, standardized, and easily accessible to all staff members to ensure that the processes are consistently followed and comply with regulatory requirements. [F2, F3, F4, F5, F8, F9, F10, F11]
• R2
  The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors give directions to the Chief Executive Officer to instruct Planning and Building Services to have a final version of Policy and Procedures for all divisions by March 1, 2027. [F2, F3, F4, F5, F8, F9, F10, F11] of 18
• R3
  The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors give direction to the Chief Executive Officer to have a working draft by October 15, 2026, of Policies and Procedures in all aspects of the implementation of PRC section 4290/Title 14. [F10, F12, F13, F14]
• R4
  The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors give direction to the Chief Executive Officer to instruct Planning and Building Services to have a final version of Policy and Procedures for the application of PRC section 4290/Title 14 for all divisions by January 1, 2027. [F10, F12, F13, F14]
• R5
  The Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors give direction to the Chief Executive Officer to have a working draft of Policies and Procedures for all divisions within Planning and Building Services. The guidelines should be comprehensive, standardized, and easily accessible to all staff members to ensure that the processes are consistently followed and comply with regulatory requirements,
• R6
  The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Supervisors give direction to the Chief Executive Officer to instruct Planning and Building Services to have a final version of Policy and Procedures for all divisions, by April 1, 2026. A spreadsheet (See Exhibit 1) was developed by the Grand Jury that lists all Building Divisions’ policies, procedures, memorandums, and bulletins, showing the document number, title, revision date, description, Class K, PRC section 4290/Title 14, and any duplications. The Grand Jury found the following as of January 1, 2026. of 18 Policies: • No document revision log • Thirty-eight numbered policies (Numbered 1-46) • Based on the numeric system used, there are eight missing/non-existent policies • The last comprehensive revision was in 2015 • Only one policy referenced Class K • Only one policy referenced PRC section 4290/Title 14 • Four duplicate policies • Most of the titled policies are written as procedures (see Glossary) • No style guidelines (see Glossary) Procedures: • No document revision log • Four numbered procedures • Two unnumbered procedures • The last comprehensive revision was in 2023 • No Class K procedures • No PRC section 4290/Title 14 procedures • No style guidelines (see Glossary) Bulletins: • No document revision log • Fourteen numbered bulletins (Numbered 1-17) • Based on the numeric system used, there are three missing/non-existent bulletins • The last comprehensive revision was in 1993 (most recent individual bulletin revision was in 2011) • No Class K bulletins • Only one bulletin referenced PRC section 4290/Title 14 • One bulletin that contradicts two different policies • No style guidelines (see Glossary) Memorandums: • No document revision log • Fourteen numbered memorandums (numbered 1-15) • Based on the numeric system used, there is one missing/non-existent memorandum • The last comprehensive revision was in 2020 (most recent individual memorandum was in 2025) • No Class K memorandum • No PRC section 4290/Title 14 memorandum of 18 • One memorandum that
• R7
  Even with approval letters noted elsewhere in this Policy, it may be necessary to remove finishes to expose items for verification. The building inspector conducting the inspection will make determinations in the field as to items that will need to be exposed. This policy is effective as of the date of the signatures below. Policy Approved:__ ______________ Date: __2/6/2026______ Richard Angley, Chief Building Official Policy Approved: _________________________________________ Date: __2/5/2026______ Julia Krog, Director Planning and Building Services COUNTY OF MENDOCINO JULIA KROG, DIRECTOR PHONE: 707-234-6650 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND BUILDING SERVICES FAX: 707-463-5709 FB PHONE: 707-964-5379 860 NORTH BUSH STREET  UKIAH  CALIFORNIA  95482 FB FAX: 707-961-2427 752 SOUTH FRANKLIN STREET  FT. BRAGG  CALIFORNIA  95437 pbs@mendocinocounty.gov www.mendocinocounty.gov/pbs BUILDING DIVISION POLICY #19 PROCEDURE FOR Permitting a Non-Residential Structure Built Without a Permit PREVIOUS POLICY Administrative Bulletin #1 PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to outline a procedure for the legalization of an existing non-residential structure built without a building permit. APPLICABILITY Non-Residential Structures, remodels and additions. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this policy are to: • Standardize the procedure to allow the permitting and legalization of non-residential structures built without a permit and provide a list of the required documentation to be submitted with the permit application. AUTHORITY The authority for this procedure is contained in the Mendocino County Code (“MCC”) Title 18 – Building Regulations Chapter 18.04.025 – California Codes Adopted, and the California Building Code (“CBC”) Section [A] 104. PROCEDURE