Development Insight - December 2020

We are excited to share the last phase of BuildSA was launched on Nov. 30. With this release, customers can access the online portal, Citizen Access, to research and apply for permits and licenses as well as obtain other planning and building development information through a single website.

Integrated into the online system is an electronic plan review process that enables customers to upload building plans within the permitting workflow. To take advantage of our new electronic plan review system, customers will need to create a portal account and submit plans on-line. This is a requirement for all Residential, Commercial, Fire System, Solar, and Demolition Building Permits as these must be submitted on-line. This enhancement will save customers time by no longer having to print and submit paper plans; seeing the plan issues created by the reviewers in real time; and having clear and easily identifiable plan markups (issues) on the plan set.

All active contractor licenses will migrate to BuildSA. As such, registered license holders will need to ensure their registration is linked to their ACA account by signing up with the same first name, last name, and telephone number are the same as their Hansen account. Once they establish their ACA account, they will be able to apply for permits on-line as well as renew their license registration on-line and receive a new badge by mail.

As a reminder, and to ensure a smooth implementation, in-flight applications and permits will be kept in Hansen.

BuildSA Support

To assist with the transition, we have the following to help:

What's Changing and Portal Access online and recorded BuildSA Training
Additional Core BuildSA Staff for the call center
Dedicated staff for Plan Room questions and to re-create Hansen Records in BuildSA

For more information, please look at our What's New with BuildSA overview, and visit our website.

DSD & City Holiday Schedule

The One Stop office will be closed Dec. 24, 2020 through Jan. 1, 2021 in observance of the City Winter Holiday. The office will re-open on Jan. 4, 2021, with the regular schedule of 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Development Services Department and the Fire Marshal's Office are once again offering pre-scheduled inspections during the holiday break. Please note all inspections must be scheduled by Dec. 18, and paid for, to be eligible for this service. For more information, read the section below, or visit our holiday schedule website.

Pre-Schedule your Inspection Today!

Traffic Impact Analysis E-Submittal

DSD continues to look for ways to streamline, enhance and improve our development processes. As such, please note the following Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) changes went into effect on Oct. 1, 2020:

TIA Scoping meeting redlines are now digital
TIA study and Syncro files are only required in BuildSA
Digital copy will be sent to TxDOT by DSD staff
Bexar County review included in BuildSA
Review will begin when TIA study and related record (MDP, PLAT, AP#) is submitted

Additional benefits include a more efficient process, reduced review times and a paper reduction due to hard copies are no longer needed.

In line with the COVID protocol, we will continue TIA Scoping Meetings via Webex.

For more information, please visit our website.

Safety Measures Continue at One Stop

For your safety and ours, we continue to permit up to 30 customers at a time inside the Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center (DBSC). Upon entry, please be prepared to:

Maintain 6' social distance
Have your temperature checked
Wear a face mask

In line with safety protocol, we also added plexiglass barriers at the customer stations, floor and counter signage to assist with directional flow, and hand sanitizer throughout the lobby.

We ask if you or anyone in your household is experiencing COVID symptoms, to please stay home.

For your convenience, our online and curb side services will remain in place. Customers are encouraged to use these services when applicable. With the last BuildSA release, you can now submit your plans online, and apply for permits online; however, plans and applications can be dropped off at designated locations during business hours. Requests that are dropped off will be processed by the permit counter team within one business day.

Virtual boards and commissions meetings will continue as-is until further notice.

Like you, we will monitor the latest COVID-19 news and do our part to keep our customers, staff and visitors safe. For more information about the department's safety measures, online, curb side or lobby services, please visit our website.

See the image below for additional options to meeting with us: