Eliminating a Step in Over-the-Counter Permitting

Dear Customers,

Great news!

Starting today, we’re removing a step from the Over-the-Counter permit process by eliminating DBI’s Information Counter and making it easier to resolve outstanding violations that can delay building permit issuance.

Previously, applicants would check in at the Help Desk for application forms and assistance in filling them out. The applicant would then be directed to the Information Counter where staff would confirm the permit applications included all the required information, validate state licenses and search for outstanding violations at the property.

No longer.

While the Help Desk will continue to check in applicants, provide forms and confirm they are complete, the Help Desk staff will now send the applicant straight to DBI Intake instead of the Info Counter.

Intake will review the building permit application and validate the information, assign a building permit application number to the project and list the required routing stations in the Permit Tracking System.

Intake staff will also provide a building permit application number so you can track your project review, documentation showing exactly who needs to review your project, what violations remain unresolved and what you need to do to abate them. This is a major improvement in our process.

In the past, applicants didn’t receive a clear listing of the outstanding violations and, at times, would have to make multiple trips to the 4th Floor Inspections Counter to address the issues.

Taken together, these changes will save you time, increase transparency and provide a better, more seamless OTC process overall.

We want to thank our partners in the Permit Center and at PermitSF for collaborating with us on these important changes.

Thank you for your support and understanding. Stay safe.