| Purpose: |
 |
City Planning approval for project that does not conform with City Planning Code/ Guidelines. |
| Contract Phase: |
|
Partial Design Development. |
| Time: |
|
At least two months. Application and City response time (two or three weeks), 20 day notification, and then two to three weeks response time. |
| Process: |
|
Project is submitted to Planning Department, where the staff determines if a Variance is required. If required, the notice/ plans will be sent to neighbors within a 300 feet radius of the project address, as well as interested neighborhood associations. Those parties can express support/ concern at the Variance Hearing which is usually scheduled within two months of the Variance application submittal.
The Variance hearing is a public forum that is conducted by the Zoning Administrator, who determines if the Variance is supportable. The environment at these hearings is usually cordial and productive. Variance notification and 311/312 can be notified together or separately. Sometimes Variance decisions are linked to getting through the 311/312 process. |
| Fees: |
|
Variance fee to City Planning: Approximately $3,000.
Neighborhood notification address labels, cost of printing, stamps and envelopes for neighborhood mailings. Approximately $200. |
| Purpose: |
|
Approval for construction. |
| Contract Phase: |
|
Completion of Construction Documents. |
| Required: |
|
Engineering drawings and specifications (up to 5% of construction budget).
Title 24 Energy report- Usually $200-400 for envelope, $300 for electrical (commercial jobs only). |
| Time: |
|
Upon submittal, usually about two months, possibly longer depending on the scale and complexity of the project. Possibly over the counter if simple remodel job without structural work. |
| Fees: |
|
Building Permit, approximately 1-2% of construction budget. |
