May is Building Safety Month

For the past 37 years cities around the world have used the Month of May to help raise awareness about building safety. We invite you to join us as we highlight several important topics during this year’s Building Safety Month. Our Building & Safety Division is planning many events to highlight this year’s theme: Code Officials - Partners in Community Safety & Economic Growth. 

-  Week 1: Mentoring the Next Generation of Building Professional
-  Week 2: Building Design Solutions for All Ages
-  Week 3: Manage the Damage – Preparing for Natural Disasters
-  Week 4: Investing in Technology for Safety, Energy & Water Efficiency

Having a strong and effective building & safety program ensures that the buildings in our community are constructed to resist catastrophic failure in the event of earthquakes, fires, wind storms and floods. Our team also work to conserve natural resources by making sure structures are energy & water efficient and also built to last. We strive to make certain that the places that you go to for dining, entertainment & shopping, are accessible to everyone; and finally, we work tirelessly to assure you that the buildings you use to shelter your families are safe and secure. 

The Next Generation

Join us during Building Safety Month as we seek to inspire the future generations of Building and Safety professional. Nationwide, individuals who currently work to process permits, review plans and inspect work are nearing retirement age. It is estimated that 50% of the technical experts in the building profession, including inspectors and plans examiners, are within 5 years of retirement. This is a tremendous opportunity for individuals who are inspired by well-constructed buildings and are seeking careers in the building trades.

If you love working with people, want to contribute to the community and are fascinated with buildings, we invite you to join us at our Building & Safety Career Fair on Wednesday May 24th in the City Hall Plaza. Representatives from public agencies, private firms and the International Code Council (ICC), which publishes the building code adopted throughout California, will be present. Please take this opportunity to network and to talk to dozens of individuals about potential career opportunities in the Building & Safety field and related industries. Learn about the rising need for people that can utilize technology, can read plans, and understand building systems (i.e. framing, electrical wiring, mechanical & plumbing systems). 

Please visit our Building Safety Month website to learn more about what we are doing during the month of May. 

Why Building Codes Matter

Building Codes have been around for centuries and are constantly evolving due to the knowledge gained from significant events, changes in technology and daily experiences. Today, they amount to over 2,000 pages of California codes and several thousand pages of handbooks and commentary.

To address changes in an orderly way, the International Code Council (ICC) and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), review updates on an annual basis but only publish these revisions as new editions of codes every three years. The Sate of California and the City of Glendale each review these changes and make their own amendments every three years. The current edition is the 2014 Glendale Building Code with the next one scheduled for adoption in 2017.

Before Starting a Residential Window Project in Glendale

Did you know that a permit is always required when changing, installing and/or updating your windows in Glendale?

Over two thousand permit applications are processed through the City’s Permit Services Center each year.  A large portion of these permits involve the installation of new windows. Too often we find out about  changes to windows after they've been purchased and installed. Property owners may be surprised to find out that the windows they spent time and money installing don't meet the City's requirements and must be removed. If you’re thinking about changing the windows in your residential property, there are some basic guidelines and requirements you should be aware of before purchasing your windows and moving forward with your plans.

We’ve outlined these important requirements that must be met before, during and after your window installation project takes place. We hope this helps you successfully navigate the City’s permitting process while avoiding unnecessary delays.

Pass Your Inspection: 25 Pitfalls to Avoid

Whether you're putting in a new water heater, replacing your windows or building a new office tower, a Building Inspector must ensure the work is completed properly. In order to make sure your inspection goes as smoothly as possible, we've put together a list of things to have completed prior to calling for inspection. These are common pitfalls that can hold up your project.

1. Building location or height does not match approved plans. A licensed surveyor may be required to verify proper setbacks, building location and height.

VIDEO: How to Get a Permit for Your Home Improvement Project

CDD Profiles: Mark Newman

Mark Newman is a "jack of all trades," 20 different trades to be exact. As a Building Inspector with the City's Building & Safety Division, Mark applies his extensive knowledge and expertise on a daily basis. Although he has been employed by the City for only 3 years, Glendale has gained a substantial number of new building assets as a result of his contributions.   

The Nuts & Bolts

One might ask, “What exactly does a building inspector do?” When a developer, property owner or builder wants to do some building construction, they get a set of construction plans (drawings and specifications) approved by a plan checker at the Permit Services Center.  who makes sure the plans conform to state building codes that ensure the safety of future occupants. 

Inspections
With a building permit now in hand, a builder may begin construction on a project. At certain milestones throughout the project, the builder must get their work inspected to ensure all construction is being done in compliance with the approved plans. This is when they make an appointment to have the building inspector visit the construction site.

Meet the Permit Services Center

May is around the corner and the Permit Services Center is busy preparing for Building Safety Month. As a prelude to Building Safety Month, we'd like to introduce you to the Permit Services Center and tell you a little bit about what we do. 

Meet the PSC

City’s Permit Services Center or as we call it, the PSC is a one-stop center for the community to receive a variety of services.  It is the central point of contact for citizens looking to make changes to their homes or start businesses in Glendale.  The City has brought together the key sections that review plans and applications needed in obtaining building permits that alter buildings or authorize new buildings. We work with a variety of people from homeowners to contractors and developers; and we oversee a wide range of projects from simple remodels to high rise developments.

Who We Are
The Permit Services Center is a part of the Community Development Department (CDD).  Representatives from CDD’s Building & Safety, Design Review, Zoning and Code Enforcement staff are available at the PSC.  Staff from the Glendale Fire Department and the Public Works’ Engineering and Traffic & Transportation Sections are also represented. Everyone works together to review plans and proposals for their specific area of expertise.  Our goal is to make your interaction with the City as efficient as possible while ensuring that your project meets the minimum levels of safety, accessibility and energy conservation.

Request a Permit Inspection Online

Making permit inspection requests with the Building & Safety Division is easier than ever. We are now accepting online requests for inspections.  

Here is how to do it:

1. Go to the City of Glendale web page at glendaleca.gov
1. Select: “How do I”
2. Select: “Request Permit Inspection”
3. Complete the form and enter “Submit”
   
   
   If you are making a request for a next day inspection, please submit the online request form before 3:00 pm.  Inspections are conducted Monday through Friday (except on Holidays).

If you have any questions please contact the Permit Services Center at (818) 548-3200. 

Also, for your convenience, you can go online to schedule your next appointment to the Permit Services Center using your smart phone, tablet or personal computer. Learn more about our online appointment scheduling service in our previous article: 

Don't Stand in Line at the Permit Services Center

6 Tips to Getting a Permit

Thousands of people visit the Permit Services Center each month. Many, arrive unprepared and are unable to successfully submit their permit applications. 

If you're working on a residential home improvement project, we've prepared a few tips to help you save time when applying for a permit and avoid some commonly made mistakes.

1. Have All the Facts. Know the who, what & where of your project.

• Know what you are trying to get a permit for and the address of the building that you are going to perform the work on. 
• Each Contractor should know the name of the building owner. 
• The building owner should know the name of their design professional. All this information is needed to complete each permit application. 

VIDEO: Don't Stand in Line at the Permit Services Center

Providing excellent customer service is a top priority for the staff at the City's Permit Services Center (PSC). That is why we've taken steps to improve your customer experience when visiting our office. We are happy to announce that we are now offering online appointment scheduling. This will minimize your wait time the next time you visit the PSC. Appointments can be scheduled from the comfort of your home computer and from any smart phone or tablet. The PSC offers a variety services including business registrations, dog licensing, contractor licensing, planning & zoning and more.

Improvements for Permit Services Center Customers

The electronic customer flow systems gets you in and out faster. 

The Community Development Department (CDD) has taken steps recently to streamline some of its services to better serve the public. In an effort to make your next visit to the City’s Permit Services Center more pleasant and efficient, CDD has completed a mini face-lift with the following improvements: 

• All forms are now available and accessible to the public on site.
• A special area has been designated to allow you to complete forms comfortably.
• Additional counter space has been created to assist you.
• New signage that is easier to read and understand has been hung throughout.
• An Electronic customer flow management system has been installed to reduce your wait time at the information desk, directing you more efficiently from one counter to the next.
• A Customer Satisfaction box has been installed for your feedback and ideas. We want to hear from you about the services provided.

All application forms are readily available.

New signs are easier to read and understand.

Coming Soon!

Be on the lookout for the following changes and improvements that are currently in the works at the Permit Services Center:

• Online Appointment Scheduling - You will have the ability to make online appointments for services at the Permit Services Center using your home computer or smartphone.
• Easy Access to Property Permits - A new and faster computer will be available for you to review property permits in an instant.