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DBI reports shrinking residential plan-check times, rising backlog for major projects
Summary
DBI reported improved residential plan-check times but a growing backlog for major projects (about 25 days); staff noted November plan submissions increased and the department will reclassify projects to prevent smaller jobs from becoming stuck behind large developments.
The Department of Building Inspection told the Building Inspection Commission that residential plan-check times have improved but the backlog for major projects has increased.
At the Jan. 8 meeting the director said the department saw a decline in residential plan-review turnaround from 10.7 days to 8.7 days, while major-project backlog rose to about 25 days. The director said the department received roughly 2,934 plan applications in November and approved about 2,809, which will add to the backlog.
The director explained that some medium-sized or two-unit new buildings were automatically routed to the "major" project queue and pushed behind very large mixed-use projects. DBI said it will redefine major-project thresholds so that mid-sized projects are evaluated in residential plan check, a change the director expects to implement by the end of the month.
On inspections, DBI reported division success rates of 100% for plumbing inspections, 98% for building inspections and 94% for electrical inspections; DBI flagged the electrical inspection division as short-staffed and said it will request additional electrical inspectors in the next budget cycle.
Next steps: DBI will return with an update on the reclassification of projects and a report on the effect of those changes on backlog days.
