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Building Inspection Commission hears emergency-demolition briefing; staff pledges review after delays
Summary
Acting Deputy Director Carla Johnson outlined DBI—s emergency-demolition process and acknowledged cases where review was delayed; commissioners, engineers and public commenters pressed for clearer standards that prioritize structural safety while minimizing politicized delays.
Acting Deputy Director Carla Johnson told the San Francisco Building Inspection Commission on April 16 that the Department of Building Inspection (DBI) issues emergency demolition permits only when a structure presents an imminent hazard and DBI engineers and senior inspectors concur with that assessment. She said fire-department referrals are processed rapidly, owner-submitted engineering reports are reviewed by DBI staff, and the city may demolish dangerously unstable buildings and place a lien on the property for recovery of costs.
Commissioners pressed staff on who has final authority to make an emergency call and whether those determinations should be appealable. "We…
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