The Building and Safety Division is responsible for reviewing plans, issuing permits, and inspecting all stages of construction to ensure that projects are in compliance with the approved plans and specifications. The Building and Safety Division is also responsible for enforcing the 2007 California Building, Plumbing, Electrical and Mechanical codes, State Housing Act, the San Gabriel Municipal Code, and other pertinent provisions of the State and County health codes.

New Energy Codes took effect on January 1, 2010

The 2008 Energy Code Standards will require higher efficiency components within new projects to help reduce energy usage and heat loss within buildings. Staff has been informing the public of these new changes since the beginning of this year. Fact sheets for applicants inquiring how these changes may impact their projects are available on the CD counter.

The requirement for when the 2008 standards must be followed is dependent on when the application for the building permit is submitted. If the application for the building permit is submitted on or after January 1, 2010, the 2008 standards must be met. Please Click here to view a flyer.

The Energy Commission adopted the 2008 changes to the Building Energy Efficiency Standards for a number of compelling reasons:

• To provide California with an adequate, reasonably-priced, and environmentally-sound supply of energy.
• To respond to Assembly Bill 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 which mandates that California must reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
• To pursue California energy policy that energy efficiency is the resource of first choice for meeting California's energy needs.
• To act on the findings of California's Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) that Standards are the most cost effective means to achieve energy efficiency, expects the Building Energy Efficiency Standards to continue to be upgraded over time to reduce electricity and peak demand, and recognizes the role of the Standards in reducing energy related to meeting California's water needs and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• To meet the West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative commitment to include aggressive energy efficiency measures into updates of state building codes.
• To meet the Executive Order in the Green Building Initiative to improve the energy efficiency of nonresidential buildings through aggressive standards.

To learn more, contact Building Division Manager Evan Zeisel at x4627.   

Security Bar Retrofits Save Lives

Several years ago, the Council adopted a security bar ordinance that requires homeowners with unsafe, bolted window bars to replace them with bars that can be released in the event of a fire, allowing the inhabitants to escape. After providing a reasonable period for voluntary change-outs, Council authorized our staff to begin enforcement.

Working with colleagues in the Fire Department, Building staff has begun sending notices to more than 700 properties surveyed over the past year to verify proper operation. We have noticed 107 residents and achieved 45% compliance to date. On August 5, 47 additional letters were mailed out. We anticipate having half of the first noticing completed by the end of this year, and are pleased by the high initial rate of compliance. For information, call the Building Division at (626) 308-2800, ext. 4627.

Solar Permit Fees to Be Reduced

Last month we reported here on a Sierra Club survey that showed San Gabriel’s permit costs for solar panel retrofits were substantially higher than average. Building Division staff subsequently reviewed our fees, and proposed a new fee for these permits that places us well below the median of Southland cities. The City Attorney has approved implementation of the fee on the grounds that it is an interpretation of the existing fee program that does not increase a fee, and therefore special action by Council is not necessary for implementation to proceed. Learn more by contacting the Building Division at (626) 308-2806.

TO CONTACT THE BUILDING AND SAFETY DIVISION PLEASE CALL (626) 308-2806 (press # 4)