City offers money-back guarantee on plan review

In addition to streamlining the development process, well-laid plans can mean a refund for developers if the city fails to review the plans quickly enough.

According to a release from the city, the Building Development Services Department offers a money-back guarantee on fees for review of building plans.

Available since May 4, the guarantee is that the city will complete the review of a full and complete set of plans that has no more than five minor corrections within 10 working days of the receipt of the drawings and an application for plan review, according to the release.

Failure on the city's part to complete the review within this time period will result in a return of the fees paid for plan review. Normal fees for plan review range from $100 to more than $500, the release stated.

Plan review is required by the city to assure that building designs meet the national Building Officials' and Code Administrators' (BOCA) Building Codes, and to permit the inspection of the construction. The program is part of the city's effort to work with the developer community to improve service. It is based on the idea that a full set of plans is easier to review, which speeds the process, according to the release.

The guarantee applies only to plan review fees and not to building permit fees.

The plan review process involves personnel from the engineering, traffic and sanitary services divisions of the Public Works Department; the Building Development Services Department; the Health Department; the Planning and Development Department; and City Utilities.[[In-content Ad]]