DBI unveils five‑year strategic plan to boost safety, customer service and revenue

The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection on April 17 presented a five‑year strategic plan that lays out goals for building safety, permitting improvements, inspection enhancements, public trust, workforce development and sustainable revenue.

Communications Director Patrick Hannon said the plan, developed with a local consultant following stakeholder interviews and surveys, establishes the department’s mission and six goals and will be implemented through cross‑divisional work teams and Microsoft Project tracking. "We began with research, stakeholder interviews and a SWOT assessment," Hannon said, adding that the department expects initial work teams to convene in May and begin producing time‑bound deliverables.

The plan emphasizes seismic safety for concrete buildings, citing a DBI and Office of Resilience report and a mayoral directive to develop an evaluation program and implementation legislation for building owners to assess their structures. Patrick O'Rearton, DBI director, told the commission that the report and directive were transmitted and that staff will keep the commission informed as the program develops.

Hannon outlined the plan’s operational focus: standardize policies and procedures, expand disaster preparedness, improve permitting with consistent standards and transparent processes, and enhance inspection oversight and training. The plan also calls for an evaluation of staffing and technology needs, including a phased replacement of the permit tracking system (PTS) and a new approach to fee adjustments to support sustained operations.

Commissioners asked how the department incorporated its SWOT findings and how implementation timelines would be reported. Hannon said the SWOT analysis informed both targeted items and longer‑term initiatives and that the plan is meant to be a five‑year roadmap with progress updates and a likely refresh after two years. He said some items, such as PTS replacement, will require phased planning and larger funding strategies before full implementation.

During public comment, Jerry Drattler called the plan "very aspirational" and asked when DBI would publish a detailed task list with delivery dates, whether a PTS replacement timeline is locked to the controller's prior recommendations, and whether monthly BIC reporting on progress would occur. Hannon said work teams will produce measurable objectives and regular reporting protocols, and an all‑staff presentation is scheduled for May 1.

The commission will receive follow‑up materials including the SWOT analysis and additional timeline information as the action teams begin work. The strategic plan presentation concluded with commissioners expressing support for the department’s priorities and a request for later progress updates.