DBI updates priority‑permit rules to align with HOME‑SF, adds ADUs and renewable energy projects

The Building Inspection Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 16 to approve proposed updates to Administrative Bulletin AB004, DBI’s priority permit processing guideline, aligning DBI’s prioritization with the Planning Department’s HOME‑SF ordinance and adding several project types to the prioritized list.

Janie Chan, manager of technical services at DBI, said the changes remove an outdated requirement that prioritized projects meet exceptionally high efficiency standards like LEED and instead bring DBI into alignment with current planning rules. "We'd like to come in line with the planning department's priority processing," Chan said, describing the change that replaces a 100% affordable threshold with a 30% affordable threshold to match HOME‑SF.

Deputy Director Neville Pereira emphasized the change is intended to streamline priority treatment across departments while preserving mayoral support for 100% affordable projects. "The Mayoral legislative priority for 100% projects is still in this administrative bulletin," Pereira said, adding the goal is to carry priority status consistently through the development‑review cycle.

Other updates approved by the commission add accessory dwelling units (ADUs and junior ADUs), telecommunication facilities such as cell antennas, and renewable energy projects (EV charging, solar and wind) to the priority list. DBI staff also said work that primarily consists of disabled‑access improvements, solar photovoltaic projects and certain historic building projects are on the prioritized list.

Commissioners asked how many applicants actually seek prioritization and whether expanding the list would make the program too broad; staff said they will provide the number of prioritized enrollments on request and pointed to recent code updates that make some earlier priority criteria redundant.

The commission’s approval was recorded by roll call; the motion carried unanimously.