Commissioners question DBI permit cancellation timelines and notice period

Department of Building Inspection staff told the commission Dec. 31 that DBI currently sends a 21‑day notice before cancelling permit applications and has set timelines that give projects up to $1 million a 360‑day review window measured from when a project is deemed accessible for building plan review.

Director (speaker 9) said the department considers the clock to start at the beginning of plan check rather than after the last plan reviewer, and that DBI has been lenient — routinely granting automatic extensions and rarely cancelling permits unless the project sponsor requests cancellation. Commissioners urged examining whether the code should be changed so the clock starts when DBI first receives an application or at another earlier trigger point, and suggested addressing the issue first at the PAC meeting.

Commissioner Walker and others discussed whether renewals after a 36‑month entitlement should require full planning re‑review or a cursory check; the director said planning entitlements are three years under the planning code and that DBI typically sends a cursory approval to planning for projects older than 36 months. Commissioners also raised the fee structure for extensions and ways to use leniency to incentivize project completion.

Public commenter Nancy Werfel asked how a permit holder formally cancels a permit and what documentation is required for refunds. DBI staff said the department’s policy is to require a signed, written letter from the project owner requesting cancellation; email notices should be followed up with written confirmation because the controller’s office requires a signature to process refunds.

No formal code changes or votes were taken at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to bring the matter to the PAC for further consideration and to provide follow‑up detail on renewal and refund procedures.