Most owners opening a service in Simi Valley will go through a procedure called a "occupant enhancement." An occupant improvement (TI) includes an alteration to an existing structure, either interior or outside, or both, in which case you will need to satisfy City requirements relating to architectural style, building tenancy, construction, parking, business signage, landscaping, and possible public right of way and sewer enhancements.
Please describe the informative pamphlet "How to Open a Small Company in the City of Simi Valley," which likewise helps to direct and orientate you through the tenant improvement and the City's permit procedure, consisting of any regional agencies that might be involved with the opening of your business.
First Steps
The first point of contact is to consult the City's Planning Division to ensure that the kind of service is permitted in the proposed location and that the proposed company fulfills the City's parking requirements. In addition, please note that your organization may need a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is an authorization to ensure your business is compatible with the surrounding uses.
Describe the City's Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (usage matrix) to guarantee the proposed business is zoned for the proposed usage and determine if the proposed use needs Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Please describe Conditional Use Permit for extra information in applying and processing a CUP.
In addition, depending upon the degree of any exterior enhancements, an adjustment license from the Planning Division might be required. Please describe Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments for details concerning the level of evaluation required.
Signs
If you are interested in placing an indication( s) at your storefront or considering a monument indication, you will require to acquire a Permanent Sign Permit. The Planning Division will release a Long-term Sign Permit after ensuring compliance with the Zoning Code and Citywide Design Guidelines for place, size, and style of the indication.
Your sign specialist would prepare the needed elevation shows and image simulation( s) showing how the sign looks on the building. Please refer to the Planning Division's Temporary and Permanent Signs page to find out more concerning the City's indication ordinance and requirements.
City and County Involvement
Depending on the kind of service and the degree of your improvements, the following City departments and County firms might be included.
Public Works Environmental Compliance Division
If your service is a restaurant, food, production, or automobile center, or offers medical, dental, veterinary, or photo-processing services, the Environmental Compliance Division of Public Works will likewise be associated with business task.
The Environmental Compliance personnel implements the City's Sewer Use, Stormwater, and Water Conservation Ordinances. By keeping track of, inspecting, and assessing business's practices and operations, the Division protects the public health and the environment from toxic, harmful, and other toxins.
New services are needed to complete an Ecological Compliance Discharge Permit Application. The candidate may also be required to submit a flooring plan and plumbing plans. Depending upon the kind of service, you might be required to install a pretreatment gadget, such as a grease interceptor, prior to getting structure authorizations.
For more details, please contact the Environmental Compliance Technical Assistance at (805) 583-6420.
Ventura County Fire Protection District
The City's Building and Safety Division will identify whether the Ventura County Fire Department will need to approve your renter improvement building plans. Approval from this Agency is typically required for most construction tasks.
While based in Camarillo, the Ventura County Fire Protection District is at the Building and Safety Division in Municipal Government (Map) to answer questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
For projects needing the District's approval, building and construction strategies will require to be sent to the following address: Ventura County Fire Protection District, 165 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010-8586.
For more details, please contact Ventura County Fire Protection District at (805) 389-9710.
Ventura County Environmental Health Division
The City's Building and Safety Division will also determine whether the Ventura County Environmental Health Division will need to approve your plans. Food-handling facilities, services that produce harmful materials and waste, medical waste, and other pollutants will need approval from this Agency.
For extra info, please contact Ventura County Environmental Health at (805) 654-2813.
Building and Safety Division
Most enhancements require building and construction plans and a building authorization from Building and Safety. Construction plans showing the proposed work are needed so City personnel can release relevant permits after guaranteeing the plans are safe, structurally sound, and in compliance with all applicable Building regulations.
Please refer to Tenant Improvement Process for Entrepreneur for the Building and Safety Tenant Improvement Guide to assist you through the procedure and numerous documents to help your style professional prepare plans rapidly and properly. There are 4 parts to the renter improvement procedure:
1. Construction Plan Preparation
2. Construction Plan Submittal/Review
3. Permit Issuance and Construction
4. Occupancy
Construction Plan Preparation
The first step to making sure an effective building job includes maintaining a certified architect and/or engineer to draw your construction plans. Typically, strategies prepared by a certified architect and/or engineer will result in both time and cost savings throughout the construction phase and will help with a smoother occupant enhancement process.
As a courtesy, a walkthrough of the proposed site can be arranged with the City's Building and Safety personnel, company owner, and architect to attend to any concerns or concerns concerning general code requirements prior to plan submittal.
Plans including all proposed architectural, handicapped gain access to, energy, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical changes will require to be submitted to the City for plan evaluation and license processing. Although not required, it is advised that all strategies be sent at the very same time.
Plan Requirements
To assist the design professional in drawing prepare for the proposed scope of work, please describe the following links for recommendation material outlining the different code and State requirements for the designer's evaluation:
Planning Division - Over-the-Counter (OTC) Plan Review Criteria
Building and Safety Non-Residential Plan Check Correction List, Including Accessibility Requirements
Building and Safety - Tenant Improvement Guide - OTC Projects Less 3,000 Square Feet
Building and Safety - Tenant Improvement Guide - Projects Exceeding 3,000 Square Feet
To assist familiarize the company owner with the renter improvement procedure and acquire a much better understanding of the City's departments, external companies, and actions included, please describe the Flow Chart of the Tenant Improvement Process.
If the renter enhancement involves a basic modification, an unlicensed designer or licensed specialist carrying out the work may be allowed to send the proposed plans. Building and Safety will make this determination once the Scope of Work has actually been defined.
Construction Plan Submittal/Review
Once your architect and/or engineer have actually finished the construction strategies, City engineers will need to ensure that the illustrations comply with California Building Code. This is the 2nd part of the occupant enhancement process and is typically called "Plan Check."
It is not unusual for plans to be returned to the designer and or engineer with corrections. For this factor, plans generally reenter the "plan check" process for a second review. Building and Safety staff will identify the proper plan check costs at the time of strategy submittal. Plan check costs are based on the scope of work of the project, which is identified by the size and type of construction.
Over-the-counter plan review for non-structural improvements is readily available for existing structures when the total area is less than 3,000 square feet.
Service by consultation is readily available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM and can be arranged by calling (805) 583-6723. Plan check is also available by appointment with the respective strategy checker.
Standard plan evaluation for tenant improvements on existing buildings exceeding 3,000 square feet or "A" type tenancies such as dining establishments will need a 10- to 15-business day turn around. Building authorizations are not provided up until all City staff and suitable firms have actually approved the proposed strategies.
Permit Issuance and Construction
Once building and construction strategies have actually been approved and prior to starting building and construction, a structure license is issued to the owner of the residential or commercial property or a licensed professional.
When an authorization is provided to the residential or commercial property owner, the regard to 'Owner/Builder' is referenced on the permit. Building and Safety staff will provide the 'Owner/Builder' with documents notifying them of their responsibilities and possible threat of having the license provided in the Owner/Builder name.
If the permit is released to a licensed professional, the specialist will be needed to supply evidence of Worker's Compensation insurance. The contractor needs to have a Company Tax Certificate in order to obtain the permit. In addition, insurance coverage must be preserved throughout the building period per guidelines of the California Labor Code.
Larger jobs will require a pre-construction meeting. A pre-construction conference normally consists of Building and Safety inspection and engineering personnel along with the task's superintendent. The conference provides a chance to examine amount of time, building and construction requirements, and the City inspection procedure.
Please note that it is necessary to arrange all of the necessary structure assessments in order to review each stage of construction. It is the City inspector's job to make sure all work is consistent with the authorized plans and all applicable State codes. The City inspector will not conduct inspections unless it is scheduled by the contractor or project manager.
Inspections can be arranged for the next company day by calling (805) 583-6723 no later than 3:00 PM on the day preceding the evaluation.
Occupancy
The final phase of the occupant enhancement process consists of acquiring last approvals from City departments and external agencies included with the task. Depending on the type of company and scope of the job, you might require to obtain sign-off from the City's Planning Division and Public Works Department, along with the Ventura County Fire Department and Environmental Health Division.
During the construction procedure, the structure inspector will offer correction notifications, informing the professional or superintendent of products that do not satisfy building code requirements. All outstanding code requirements need to be fixed prior to asking for the final inspection.
Once construction is complete, last examinations and sign-offs are gotten from both City departments and external firms, the City's Building Official will release a Certificate of Occupancy. This legal file allows you to inhabit your new company space.
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