Development Insight - November 2021

With last month's decommission of Hansen, we now have one system for Development Services.

When to use the BuildSA vs Hansen Legacy - do you know the difference?

While we decommissioned Hansen, the system is still available as a Legacy system and offers historical data only.

The BuildSA platform is the sole system for platting, permitting and inspections. New or expired permits need to be submitted using our new BuildSA System.

BuildSA is where you will be able to request any of the following services:

Land Development

• Typical Land Development projects may include Master Development Plans, Plats, Re-zoning, Address Verification and Assignment, and Street Construction

License Registrations

• City & State issued licenses

Building Permits

• Typical Building permit activity includes Residential, Commercial, MEP Trade Permits, Tree Permits, Minor Repairs, Demolition Permits, Inspections, and Certificate of Occupancy

Fire Permits

• Typical Fire permits include Fire Systems (Alarm, Sprinkler, Gaseous Suppression, Underground and Standpipes), Storage Tanks Permits, Fire License Registration and Fire Inspections

As part of the complete transition to BuildSA, we’ve decommissioned Hansen, our old permitting system.

All active (not expired) Hansen projects are being migrated to BuildSA by our conversion team.

If you have any questions regarding a permit you didn’t complete in Hansen, please email the Plans Management Team.

Despite the decommissioning of Hansen, our customers continue to have access to review historical permitting activity.

If you need to review comments, statuses or permit activity for Hansen permits, you can access Hansen by clicking on the “Hansen Legacy Data" icon.

New or expired permits need to be submitted using our new BuildSA System.

Note both systems are available to select on the DSD website, on the home page in the Quick Links section for easy access. You can also find a new BuildSA training icon in the Quick Links section to get to the training page faster for videos, online resources and prior training sessions.

For help creating a new BuildSA login, watch this quick video.

Rest assured we will continue to work closely with staff and customers to help answer your questions. For more information about either system, visit the BuildSA website.

ICYMI - BuildSA Training

Development Services continues to host BuildSA training based on recent customer survey responses. Last month we hosted two virtual training sessions placing our focus on understanding the differences between the Residential Building and the Residential Improvement Building permit applications in Accela. To date, approximately 500 customers have attended the virtual training sessions.

All Accela Citizen Access portal users receive invitations for upcoming training sessions automatically. If you are not receiving the notifications and want to know more about upcoming training events, email us at buildsaocmteam@sanantonio.gov.

Please see the summaries below of each training session followed by a slide displaying the differences between the Residential Building permit and the Residential Improvement permit.

Residential Improvement Permit Application

A Residential Improvement Permit application is for accessory buildings and/or home additions (under 1,000 sq feet and/or 2 story designs), carports, covered patio/porch, decks as well as swimming pools. You may choose more than one type of an improvement in the application. Each improvement type will generate a separate permit.

If you did not attend the training, don’t worry. We have the Power Point presented at the training, along with the Q&A’s submitted during the session; just click the links to review what was covered.

Residential Building Permit Application

The Residential Building Permit Application is an application for any of the following:

New Residential Home: New Single Family, New Duplex, New Townhomes (by definition three or more). You may have multiple on one lot
Accessory Structure and Additions (over 1,000 sq feet or 2 story): Decks, Garages, Carports, etc. (detached) and Additions to an Existing Home
Accessory Dwelling Unit: Second detached home on a lot (bedroom, bath, kitchen must be included)
Prototype Plan: Intended for a Spec Builder with the same plan built multiple times
Foundation Only: Intended for a foundation when moving an existing house to the lot

To view the Power Point provided at the training, and to read the Q&A’s submitted during the session, please click on the links.

The Latest on the UDC Process

The 2021 Unified Development Code (UDC) amendment cycle has officially started. The application window to submit proposed amendments will remain open through Feb. 1, 2022.

As amendments are received, Development Services will update the list of proposed amendments, available for viewing on the UDC Amendment website.

Amendments may be submitted from City Departments, Boards and Commissions, and external parties including government agencies, businesses, neighborhood groups, and individuals. DSD will continue to meet with our stakeholders and community groups through a series of presentations to explain the amendment process.

Register today for the Nov. 20, 2021 DSD Academy session to learn more about the UDC amendment process. If you prefer, you can watch our UDC video for a complete overview.

DSD & City Holiday Schedule

The office will be closed on the following days:

November:

Veterans Day - Nov. 11

Thanksgiving Break - Nov. 25 & 26

December:

Winter break runs between Dec. 24 and 31. We will once again offer pre-scheduled inspections alongside the San Antonio Fire Department. See the next section of the newsletter for more info.

January 2021:

The office will be closed Jan. 17, 2022 in observance of MLK Day.

Winter Holiday Pre-Scheduled Inspections Now Available

Winter Holiday Inspections

DSD and the Fire Marshal’s Office will be closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 31, 2021 in observance of the City Winter Holiday. Both offices will re-open on Jan. 3. 2022, as regularly scheduled, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Inspections on Dec. 28 and 29 will be available if scheduled and paid for by 10 a.m., Friday, Dec. 17. The inspection fee over the holiday break is $100 per discipline (Building, Fire, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electrical), per inspection. Note: Online scheduling for inspections will not be available during the Winter Holiday Break.

Please call the following numbers to schedule an appointment.

Plat Construction Inspections - (210) 207-0281
Building Inspections - (210) 207-1111
Fire System Inspections - (210) 207-8410 (Fire Inspection fee is $82.40/hour with 2-hour minimum.)

Holiday Recordation Schedule

The revised recordation dates are as follows:

• Veterans Day - The recordation date for week of Nov. 8 was changed to Nov. 12 (deadline is Nov. 10, at noon)

• Thanksgiving Break - The recordation date for week of Nov. 22 was changed to Nov. 24 (deadline is Nov. 23, at noon)

• Winter Break - The recordation date for week of Dec. 20 was changed to Dec. 23 (deadline is Dec. 22, at noon)

• The last day for Plat recordation for this year is Dec. 23, 2021

• Out-of-sequence recordation options are available

The first recordation date of the New Year will be Jan. 7, 2022

Planning Commission Expired Seats

The Planning Commission had four seats that expired last month. The Development Services Department coordinated with the City Clerk’s Office to open an application window for these seats; that window closed Oct. 27, at midnight. The four seats that expired were held by: Chair Connie Gonzalez, Commissioner Christopher Garcia, Commissioner Michael Garcia, and Commissioner John Jackson.

The Planning Commission is comprised of nine (9) members who have overlapping two-year terms of office. There is no limit on the number of terms that may be served by members, but the Chair is limited to serving two terms. The mission of the Planning Commission is to act as an advisory body to City Council regarding both amendments to the Master Plan of the City and the Unified Development Code. The Commission also serves as a final authority pertaining to subdivision plats within the City of San Antonio city limits and within the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. We will announce the new members once they are identified.

Building-Related and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board

Expired Seats

Prior to the start of the 2021 ICC Building Related Codes and 2020 National Electric Code (NEC) adoption process, Development Services Department is coordinating with the City Clerk's Office to reappoint members and fill vacancies on the Building-Related and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board (BRFCAAB). The goal of this process will be to reappoint twenty current members, replace four members that are stepping down from the board, and filling ten vacancies.

The BRFCAAB is comprised of seventeen primary and seventeen alternate positions that hold 2-year terms for a maximum of four terms. The BRFCAAB serves as a advisory board to the Building Official and Fire Marshal, meeting when requested by either official to provide recommendations to items pertaining to the development codes and procedures. Additionally, the board also hears appeals to decisions made by the Building Official and/or Fire Marshal that relate to the interpretation and enforcement of the adopted development codes. The board is technical and nature is comprised of industry experts to include design professionals, contractors, and property owners and managers. Each board member is recommended to the board by industry associations that are affiliated with nationally recognized organizations.

For those interested in filling the open positions, please email Jeremy McDonald, DSD Engineer. DSD is looking to fill these positions by the end of the year.

Contractor Connect Training is Here

If you are registered already with the City, why not upgrade your status to Plus or Premier?

Classes are in-person, from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. at 1901 S. Alamo (Training Room B). Sign up for the class that best meets your needs by calling 210.207.1111 or signing up at the counter during one of your visits.

For a full schedule, visit our webpage.