PURPOSE , MISSION STATEMENT AND CORE SERVICES
PURPOSE
To serve the City and County of San Francisco and the general public by ensuring that life and property within the City and County are safeguarded and to provide a public forum for community involvement in that process .
MISSION STATEMENT
Under the direction and management of the seven-member citizen Building Inspection Commission , the Department of Building Inspection ( DBI ) oversees the building and life safety of San Francisco ’ s 200,000 commercial and residential buildings in the City ’ s 49 square miles . We enforce the effective , efficient , fair , and safe code enforcement of the City and County ’ s Building , Housing , Plumbing , Electrical , and Mechanical Codes , along with Disability Access Regulations for all who live , work , and visit San Francisco ; and ensure owners maintain code-required habitability conditions of the City ’ s more than 20,000 apartments and 500 residential hotels .
OUR CORE SERVICES
REVIEW PLANS AND ISSUE PERMITS
INSPECT AND VERIFY CONSTRUCTION SAFETY
RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS & ENFORCE CODES
Responsible for permit approval coordination , final approval and permit issuance to assure that the proposed construction work meets all safety requirements of the codes ; and ensures that the process is performed in a timely manner that is always professional and courteous to all DBI customers .
Inspect buildings for compliance with code requirements , scope of work in accordance with issued building , plumbing and electrical permits , and respond to complaints on residential and commercial buildings .
Enforce code compliance using a stipulated legal process including an issued Notice of Violation , Directors Hearing , Order of Abatement , property lien , and referral to the City Attorney for litigation of noncompliant properties .
Department of Building Inspection | Fiscal Year 2018 - 19 Annual Report 5