Developer Services FAQ's

The following is a list of questions frequently asked by our customers. Audience participants at DOB sponsored workshops also raised many of these questions.

How many Project Administrators are currently on staff? DOB currently has five Project Administrators on staff.

Will a project being reviewed under the Developer Services program receive an application number to be used for status and corrections tracking throughout the review process? Yes, an application number will be assigned to all new projects reviewed in the Developer Services program.

When changes to drawings are picked up pursuant to reviewer comments, are the bubbled drawings resubmitted on paper or electronically? If the drawings were originally submitted on paper, then the resubmittal must be on paper. If the drawings were originally submitted electronically, then the resubmittals should be done electronically.

What parties are involved in the Developer Services agreements? For those projects being reviewed under the Developer Services program, there will be two separate contracts: one between the Consultant Reviewer and the City; the other between the customer and the City.

How were the architectural and engineering firms selected to review projects for the City as Consultant Reviewer? The firms were selected from responses to a Request for Qualifications, which was extended earlier this year.

Why are two sets of signed and sealed drawings required for projects reviewed under Developer Services, while the Standard Plan Review process requires only four sets of plans? The total number of signed and sealed sets required for the Developer Services program is negotiated during preliminary meetings. Two sets are required as a minimum for the final product. One final set, stamped and sealed, is given to the customer; the other is archived at the City. An additional six sets are required for the use of the Consultant Examiner to be distributed to the various examiners to allow for concurrent reviews.

We are beginning a 66-unit town home community, 11 buildings with 6 units each. This community will also have a single-family area of 20 single-family homes. Is this project required to go through Developer Services? Yes.

Is the code matrix available as a word document? Can is be “sticky backed on the drawing? The code matrix will be available on line as an Excel 2002 File. The Matrix can be sticky backed on the drawings or electronically transferred to any CAD document.

Site plan req. - 2 copies- can they be the same plans that are already on the plans? Will existing survey not suffice as existing conditions? If your existing site plan meets all the requirements set forth in the site plan checklist then you can use the existing site plan. Unfortunately, surveys do not include as much information as the site plans.

Can we request a preliminary review with specific Project Manager? Project Managers and Project Administrators are assigned on a rotating basis. Customer may not choose who they see.

How or who determines if a structural examiners needs to review the plans? There are no set criteria. If there are structural drawings, calculations are required and a structural review will be performed.

Should a MOPD worksheet be submitted with permit application? Yes, the worksheets are available via the Permit Wizard.

Are surveys required for interior remodeling? What projects are surveys required for? Surveys will be required for new construction and additions only.

Will partial permits (e.g. ‘foundation’ or ‘structural’) be available for large projects? If so, please describe the process. At the first meeting with the Projects Administrator, and Consultant Reviewer you will have the opportunity to discuss how you will be submitting your project for code compliance. At that time you can review how and if you will be breaking up your project.

Is there a standard code Matrix format for small projects like single family remodeling work? We have found that all projects are different and therefore very hard for us to predict what is required on the code matrix. Therefore we have set up a spreadsheet as the format but the content of that spread sheet will be determined by your code search.

If building an elevator inside an existing school building with micropiles foundation will plans be reviewed by the board of underground? Yes, a tunnel check and foundation review will be done concurrently with the DOB review. The Project Manager or Project Administrator will coordinate.

Assuming an owner submits all documentation in a complete and timely manner, and diligently pursues the process, what time frame can the owner expect for inssuance of the permit (for large residential, multi building development)? At present for Developer Services contract negotiations is taking approximately 2 weeks, first review is taking between two and four weeks depending on the size of the project response and resolution of all comments is taking 2 to 4 weeks. Plan Development Part II approval is at 30 days minimum. OUC is taking 45 to 90 days. Since all of these tasks can be done concurrently. A permit can take as little as 90 days.

With this new streamlined process will reviews of for instance a 1,500 SF tenant buildout take less than 10 weeks as it has in the past? That is the goal of this new department.

At what point in the process does the Architect meet with the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities? Does the Project Manager coordinate this? It is always good policy to have an initial meeting with MOPD prior to the permit submittal, especially if the project is large or if there is public money that is funding the project. A Project Manager or Project Administrator can coordinate these meetings for you.

Are the 2 site plans to be bound inside drawing set are site plans "Loose"? Site plans are bound within each set of drawings.

Are Consultant Examiner fees paid as part of permit fees or separately? Consultant Examiner fees are paid as part of the permit fee. An estimated fee will be determined at the start of the process. You will be required to pay 50% of the total fee at the start of the process. At permit issuance you will pay the remainder of the fee. The Consultant Reviewer fee is a not to exceed fee. You will be given copies of the payment request and backup, all unused funds will be returned.

How do you submit electrical application with initial application if contractor has not yet been assigned/selected? You may submit the unsigned electrical application without the contractor being assigned however a signed application must be part of the package before the permit is issued.

Do all sheets need to be signed & sealed, or signed and sealed just on the cover sheet next to the drawing index? (As allowed thru state statute) Signature policy has not changed. The cover must have an original signature and a wet stamp of the Architect/Engineer of record. The remainder of the drawings is to have a wet seal. All discipline sheets must be signed and sealed on the respective discipline cover sheet, with a wet stamp on all the respective discipline sheets.