The staff at the City of Carlsbad is continually looking for new ways to streamline practices and reduce government “red tape.” By talking to our customers, we know that one of the areas that is often the cause of frustration for businesses both large and small is the permitting process. We are constantly trying to find ways to accelerate these processes and procedures to help our customers, while ensuring that the projects are in compliance with Carlsbad's high standards.
One of these new initiatives is the Annual Facility Permit (AFP), a new program that aims to save large businesses time, and, of course, hopefully money.
This new business-friendly permit allows owners and tenants of a commercial or industrial property, or campus of properties, to use one permit to make multiple minor tenant improvements to the facility. The AFP is valid for 12 months after it is issued and must be renewed if projects are still underway when it expires. Prior to the implementation of the AFP, businesses were required to apply for a Tenant Improvement permit for each project. The city's Building Inspection Department estimates that this program will benefit about 40 of Carlsbad's largest businesses that are constantly making tenant improvements to accommodate their changing working environment.
Before launching this new permit program, the city studied similar programs in Seattle and Phoenix.
“We are always looking for innovative ways of helping people do business more efficiently with the city,” said Community Development Director Sandra Holder. “We are one of a few cities to launch this type of permitting program. For us, it makes sense to offer the AFP for Carlsbad's larger businesses that are expanding and want to be able to take advantage of business opportunities that might require additional space and/or reorganizing their current facilities.”
The AFP will serve as an “umbrella” permit that covers multiple minor tenant improvement projects, such as reorganizing cubicles, making interior changes, re-allocating floor space, and other items. Major construction such as adding square footage, changes in use or occupancy, or changes that trigger impact or school fees will still require a separate permit.
Under the new AFP program, businesses must continue to follow the city's building protocol which requires building inspection and fire department sign-offs for each tenant improvement project. The benefit of using an AFP is that project managers no longer need a separate permit for each project and they can skip individual plan checks, therefore eliminating multiple trips to City Hall. With an AFP, project managers can have all of their tenant improvement projects approved at one time, at the end of the permit's 12 month period.
“Businesses are still required to meet all of the city's requirements and existing checks and balances for tenant improvements,” Holder said. “This permit allows these bigger companies to consolidate their trips to City Hall and handle most of their tenant improvement related business in one trip.”
Only the timing of the checks and balances will change. Because the plan checks and inspections occur after work is complete – at the end of the twelve month permit cycle – the architects, project managers
and building owners are responsible for keeping accurate records, and businesses are still required to meet the city's criteria for improvements. The accountability rests with the businesses, not the city, to have paperwork in order, projects approved and to make any necessary changes to the project, which would likely be after the project is complete.
For more information about the new AFP, contact the city's Building Department at (760) 602-2721.
One of these new initiatives is the Annual Facility Permit (AFP), a new program that aims to save large businesses time, and, of course, hopefully money.
This new business-friendly permit allows owners and tenants of a commercial or industrial property, or campus of properties, to use one permit to make multiple minor tenant improvements to the facility. The AFP is valid for 12 months after it is issued and must be renewed if projects are still underway when it expires. Prior to the implementation of the AFP, businesses were required to apply for a Tenant Improvement permit for each project. The city's Building Inspection Department estimates that this program will benefit about 40 of Carlsbad's largest businesses that are constantly making tenant improvements to accommodate their changing working environment.
Before launching this new permit program, the city studied similar programs in Seattle and Phoenix.
“We are always looking for innovative ways of helping people do business more efficiently with the city,” said Community Development Director Sandra Holder. “We are one of a few cities to launch this type of permitting program. For us, it makes sense to offer the AFP for Carlsbad's larger businesses that are expanding and want to be able to take advantage of business opportunities that might require additional space and/or reorganizing their current facilities.”
The AFP will serve as an “umbrella” permit that covers multiple minor tenant improvement projects, such as reorganizing cubicles, making interior changes, re-allocating floor space, and other items. Major construction such as adding square footage, changes in use or occupancy, or changes that trigger impact or school fees will still require a separate permit.
Under the new AFP program, businesses must continue to follow the city's building protocol which requires building inspection and fire department sign-offs for each tenant improvement project. The benefit of using an AFP is that project managers no longer need a separate permit for each project and they can skip individual plan checks, therefore eliminating multiple trips to City Hall. With an AFP, project managers can have all of their tenant improvement projects approved at one time, at the end of the permit's 12 month period.
“Businesses are still required to meet all of the city's requirements and existing checks and balances for tenant improvements,” Holder said. “This permit allows these bigger companies to consolidate their trips to City Hall and handle most of their tenant improvement related business in one trip.”
Only the timing of the checks and balances will change. Because the plan checks and inspections occur after work is complete – at the end of the twelve month permit cycle – the architects, project managers
and building owners are responsible for keeping accurate records, and businesses are still required to meet the city's criteria for improvements. The accountability rests with the businesses, not the city, to have paperwork in order, projects approved and to make any necessary changes to the project, which would likely be after the project is complete.
For more information about the new AFP, contact the city's Building Department at (760) 602-2721.