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DBI says permit processing is speeding up, cites electronic plan‑review pilot and staffing moves
Summary
DBI interim staff told the Building Inspection Commission that permit intake and processing have improved during the pandemic: a pilot electronic plan‑review for ADUs is live, appointment capacity increased to 36 per day, and staff have processed 5,356 permit applications received since April 8.
Assistant Director Christine Gasparek told the San Francisco City Building Inspection Commission that the department has made several operational changes to accelerate permit processing during the COVID‑19 emergency. She said the department has relaunched an electronic plan‑review (EPR) pilot with the Planning Department for accessory dwelling units that went live Nov. 2, expanded online ‘no‑plan’ permit options, and automated certain trade and reroofing permits.
"Since April 8, DBI received from the Permit Center 5,356 permit applications," Gasparek said, adding that staff completed initial processing on every one. She reported roughly 2,100 permits had been issued, about 400 were approved and awaiting payment, about 1,000 were under active plan review by DBI or partner departments, about 500 were waiting for applicant response, and roughly 1,300 applications were not valid (duplicates, incomplete, converted to paper or canceled).
To increase customer access, Gasparek said DBI raised over‑the‑counter with‑plans appointments from 24 per day to 36 per day and instituted a waitlist to prevent appointment 'banking.' Customers may bring two permit applications per appointment; the change has produced about 60 permit applications a day processed through appointments. She described hiring activity: an executive‑level permit services administrator has been selected and is completing onboarding checks, and DBI is hiring multiple Permit Tech positions and offering overtime to manage backlog.
Commissioners praised the report. Vice President Moss said some COVID‑era changes that improved throughput should be examined for permanent adoption, citing the 100% electronic ADU approvals as an example. Gasparek said the department has done webinars, stakeholder meetings and a public advisory forum to share updates and solicit feedback.
Gasparek emphasized continued work on technology and workflow improvements to scale EPR beyond the pilot. She said the department is working with partner permitting agencies, including the Fire Department and Planning, to coordinate intake and is focusing on making wait times and queue status more transparent to applicants.
Next steps noted in the presentation included completing onboarding of the chief administrative officer for permit services (the department hoped for December), continuing to expand automated permits and no‑review permit categories, and improving transparency for in‑house review wait times.
