Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Permitting Checklists topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City staff says new entitlement and building checklists are speeding permits; council receives report
Summary
Staff told the council that new entitlement and building permit checklists, aligned with the California Permit Streamlining Act and an updated fee schedule, have reduced turnaround times; the council received and filed the report 4–0.
City planning and building staff reported to the council that new entitlement and building permit checklists and procedural changes have improved application completeness and reduced turnaround times.
Planning Director Rafael Castillo said entitlement checklists began appearing on the city website in late 2023 to comply with the California Permit Streamlining Act. Building permit checklists were revamped with a consultant and now include minimum submittal requirements, such as title‑24 documentation, geotechnical reports when applicable, structural calculations and other items. Castillo said complete submittals allow staff to process major projects in roughly 20–25 working days, minor projects in about 16 calendar days and simple over‑the‑counter projects in 48 hours.
Council discussed user experience and online capabilities. Castillo said the city’s permitting portal is not yet open to the public but staff can provide permit estimates on request; a new master fee schedule adopted by the council will switch valuation‑based fees to a square‑footage basis on July 1, which should make online permit estimates and a calculator easier to implement.
Council received and filed the report by unanimous vote. Staff said checklists will be updated as codes change and when the city finalizes color palettes and other design‑handbook elements.
