Commissioners press staff on unpermitted work, weekend inspections and owner‑builder permits

Commissioners used the Permit Center presentation to press staff about unpermitted construction and enforcement options, raising concerns about safety, fairness to licensed contractors and lost revenue.

Commissioner Gutierrez, who said he works often with the permit center, praised virtual inspections and the city's relatively low simple‑permit fees, but described widespread unpermitted work—particularly roofing—and urged the city to consider targeted enforcement such as periodic weekend inspections to catch off‑hour activity. Gutierrez said owner‑builder permits are sometimes misused by contractors who ask homeowners to pull permits and then do the work themselves, undercutting licensed businesses.

Staff responded that owner‑builder permits require the owner to perform the work unless a licensed subcontractor is used; if subcontractors are involved those subcontractors must be appropriately licensed. Staff acknowledged the enforcement challenge and said the permit center will evaluate tracking mechanisms (for example, measuring how many customers 'walk in' without appointments) and consider cross‑department approaches.

Commissioner Rocamora warned that increasing weekend enforcement or staffing could become politically sensitive and compete with other budget priorities, while others suggested alternative schedules or creative coverage that would not necessarily require large new headcount. Commissioner Mora asked staff to update the planning commission website and improve public‑facing material so residents can find up‑to‑date permit checklists and reduce confusion.

The discussion ended without a formal enforcement motion; staff said they would investigate options and return with recommendations or data showing the scale of unpermitted work and possible remedies.