San Francisco and the Uprecedented Building Permit Backlog

 If you have a new building project (or an existing building project needing modification in mind) that requires the involvement of the San Francisco Planning Department (http://sf-planning.org/), make sure that you take into consideration the following essential factors.

The City of San Francisco Planning Department has a current historic backlog of hundred of projects, which means that if you decide to apply for a new building permit and it requires a Planning review, chances are, you are in for a long wait. How long? If the project does not require Preservation (http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=1825) to determine the impact your project will have on the neighborhood, you probably are in a 6-9 month waiting period (or longer).

... And what if you have neighbors that do not approve of the proposed project you've submitted to the San Francisco Building Department (http://sfdbi.org/)? Chances are, when Planning finally posts your proposed project in front of the project property for 30 days and notify your neighbors, your neighbors will more than likely be requesting a Discretionary Review (DR).
Anyone can file a DR Application on any building permit, and have that project brought before the Planning Commission for a public hearing and review (http://www.sf-planning.org/index.aspx?page=1891). There is a backlog of historical proportions for the Planning review process and there is a backlog of historical proportions as well for the scheduling of Discretionary Review hearings.

The current conditions of the Planning review process are a reality in the present construction landscape of San Francisco.

In addition, there has been an increase in residential single-family building permits in San Francisco, reported in the Federal Reserve Beige Book of March, 4, 2015 (read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/federal-reserve-beige-book-march-4-2015-3#ixzz3TSmiF7aM)


My advice to you: Don't delay, file your new building permit as soon as you can.

Maryline Linares, Co-Owner (http://on-shoreinc.com)