The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) held a meeting this week to discuss significant updates regarding the city's permitting system and personnel changes. The meeting focused on two main agenda items: the cleanup of the permit tracking system and an introduction of a new deputy director.

The first item addressed was the initiation of a project aimed at cleaning up the permit tracking system data. DBI announced plans to cancel over 11,000 abandoned over-the-counter permits that have exceeded their time and extension limits. This effort, described as long overdue, will begin with the oldest permit applications and will be conducted in batches over the coming months. Property owners will receive courtesy notices informing them of the cancellations. This initiative is part of DBI's broader goal to modernize and enhance service delivery.

Following this update, the meeting introduced David Cain as the new deputy director for permit services at DBI. Cain, a seasoned structural engineer with extensive experience in seismic retrofitting, will oversee plan checks, permit services, compliance, and code updates. His background includes consulting with the California State Board of Engineers and chairing the professional practice committee for the Structural Engineers Association of Northern California. DBI expressed confidence that Cain's expertise will significantly contribute to improving the department's processes.

The meeting concluded with a transition to the next agenda item, which included an update on major projects within the city, specifically those costing $5 million or more that have been filed, issued, or completed in the past month.

Overall, the meeting highlighted DBI's commitment to improving its operations and service quality while welcoming new leadership to guide these efforts.