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The Boards and Commissions (Board of Adjustment, Historic Design and Review Commission, Planning Commission, and Zoning Commission) continue to review amendments and make recommendations. Next month, several community meetings will be held to update residents on the progress made thus far and next steps. You can view the schedule on our website.

All board recommendations will be reviewed by the Planning Commission in September, before going to City Council tentatively scheduled for October. Once approved by council, staff will offer training on new UDC amendments, which will become effective Jan. 1, 2023.

As a quick reminder, DSD received 234 proposed amendments for consideration in the 2021 cycle. The Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) made the following recommendations:

• 193 recommended for approval (83%)​
• 5 recommended for denial (3%)​
• 33 withdrawn by the applicant (13%)​

The Planning Commission Technical Advisory Committee (PCTAC) is seeking applicants for eight (8) expired positions. Applications may be submitted through the City Clerk’s website. Specifically, the PCTAC needs to fill seats for:

Historic Professional – 1 Primary

Planning Professional – 1 Primary & 1 Alternate

Registered Professional Engineer – 1 Primary

Development/Real Estate Professional – 1 Primary

Community – 2 Primaries & 1 Alternate

The deadline to submit applications is Friday, Aug. 12, 2022.

The PCTAC advises the Planning Commission on matters relating to the Unified Development Code (UDC), Major Thoroughfare Plan, Transportation Plan as well as other components of the City’s Master Plan.

The Building-Related and

Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board (BRFCAAB) formed committees Jan. 20, 2022 to review the 2021 International Code Council (ICC) family of codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code (NEC). Each committee performed detailed reviews to determine significant changes from the previously adopted version and to understand how they would impact development and construction.

Committees met February through June, and now that they are concluded, the full BRFCAAB board will meet to vote on the adoption of all codes and amendments recommended

through the committee process. 

City Council will consider the adoption of the 2021 I-Codes tentatively scheduled for September. The I-Codes include:

• 2020 National Electrical Code 
• 2021 International Building Code 
• 2021 International Residential Code 
• 2021 International Fire Code 
• 2021 International Mechanical Code 
• 2021 International Plumbing Code 
• 2021 International Fuel Gas Code 
• 2021 International Existing Building Code 
• 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code 
• ​2021 International Energy Conservation Code

Please note the San Antonio Property Maintenance Code and Sign Code are still under review and on track to also be submitted to City Council tentatively scheduled for a September adoption.

Once approved by council, we will offer training on the new codes, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023. 

The City's budget serves as a roadmap to provide our residents with services and programming for next year. To have a say, please take the FY 2023 Budget Survey. The budget affects every San Antonian. Tell us what services matter most to you. This survey should take no more than three minutes to complete.  

Budget schedule highlights include:

• May – June - Community input via Budget survey
• Aug. 11 – Budget Proposal
• August to September – Council and Community Input
• Sep. 15 – FY 2023 Budget Adoption

For the complete schedule, visit the Budget website. Once adopted, the FY 2023 City Budget will run Oct. 1, 2022, to Sept. 30, 2023.

We are pleased to announce the successful completion of the upgrade to a newer version of Accela. The updated version is performing well for all BuildSA users. For our online portal users, the upgrade delivers an optimized experience when using mobile devices. The new Oxygen design system includes an updated look and feel, which also meets Web Content Accessibility 2.1 Guidelines.

This newer version of Accela ensures we remain current with our BuildSA platform, while providing us access to the latest updates available. We appreciate your patience during this effort, and we remain committed to delivering the solutions and enhancements most important to our customers. 

Need BuildSA Support?

Did you know we have a dedicated BuildSA Webpage where we feature training guides and videos created to assist our customers with BuildSA? The User Guide, Frequently Used Building Guides, Quick Guides and videos contain step-by-step instructions for using the online portal. Feel free to visit our webpage for more information. 

You may also contact the BuildSA Team for online portal support. The dedicated BuildSA Support team assists with questions related to any of the following:

• General questions about BuildSA
• Help with navigating the customer online portal
• Technical difficulties or error messages
• Provide online portal training or support

Helpful BuildSA Guides:

• Checking the status of your record/application
• Video: How to Check the Status of you record/application
• Checking the status of your inspection(s)
• Paying Fees on a Record 
• Citizen Access Uploading Documents

Contractor Connect training continues. Here is the upcoming summer schedule for 2022:

• Jul. 14 - Plumbing
• Jul. 28 - Electrical
• Aug. 11 - New Residential (IN SPANISH)
• Aug. 25 - Existing Residential

DSD has scheduled several in-person training sessions. Each session runs from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sign up in advance during one of your visits at our counter or by calling us at 210.207.1111. For more information, visit our website.

DSD Academy is open and free for anyone to attend. It's a great way for residents to learn about what we do in DSD.

Scheduled for July 16, we will have an encore presentation of Code Enforcement's What Happens When I Get a Notice of Violation. Register ahead of time if you would like to join us. 

Upcoming sessions include:

8/20/22 - Tree Maintenance License (Spanish)

9/17/22 - Searching for Permits and Open Data Platform 

All DSD Academy sessions will take place at the Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center, located at 1901 S. Alamo St., 78204, in the Boardroom (1st floor). All classes start at 9 a.m. For more information, and past presentations, visit the DSD Academy website. 

For a complete list of additional online resources, visit the following sites:

• Forms & Applications
• Information Bulletins**
• Code Interpretations
• Rule Interpretations
• Annual Report

Currently looking for engineers, trade inspectors and code enforcement officers. To learn more about our job openings or to apply online, visit the city's career site.

The complete Performance Measures report is available online. 

DSD, and many city departments, will be closed on July 4, 2022 to observe the 4th of July holiday.