DBI director outlines 'Premise SF' permitting initiative and reports staffing, project, inspection and finance updates

Department of Building Inspection Director Patrick O’Riordan told the Building Inspection Commission on Feb. 19 that Mayor Lurie has launched Premise SF, a cross-departmental initiative intended to prioritize and implement systemic changes to the city’s permitting process.

“We will keep you informed as this effort moves forward,” O’Riordan said, describing Premise SF as a collaboration among DBI, the Department of Planning, the Office of Small Business, and the Permit Center to improve cross-departmental permitting and customer service.

O’Riordan announced an internal personnel change: Neville Pereira has left DBI and Mary Wilkinson Church, an architect who previously ran Milwaukee’s building department operations and who has been DBI’s permit services manager, will serve as acting deputy director for permit services while the department recruits a permanent replacement. He said a job posting has been published on the city’s hiring site and DBI channels.

In a monthly “major projects” summary, DBI staff reported several recent high-value permit filings and issuances. Items identified…