A legalization architect can help you get a certificate of occupancy for work that is already completed.
What Is Legalization?
Under normal circumstances, the best-case scenario is to obtain all building permits that are necessary before you begin building or expanding any structures. However, there are certain situations that will cause a need for a certificate of occupancy to be issued after the fact.
Most commonly, in residential cases, a home that was built as a single-family dwelling or perhaps has a grandmother (or in-law) suite is needing to be used as a rental property or an additional but separate dwelling.
Legalization in San Francisco
In May of 2014, San Francisco launched a program that allows these units that were not legal to be rented out, to be made legal. This legalization process came into play because this was such a common situation and many hoped that it would help to alleviate the affordable housing crisis that San Francisco has been facing for years.
Aside from creating an additional source of passive income for homeowners, many families find that they need the additional room as living space for family members or so that they can downsize without moving as the family becomes smaller when children move away from home.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)
An Accessory Dwelling Unit usually called an ADU is a building added to an existing building to create an additional dwelling. These are commonly small metal buildings, garages, tiny homes, and sometimes even converted storage container box homes.
Whether or not these buildings are new additions that already meet requirements or need to be brought up to standards and based on whether or not they existed prior to 2013, will determine the process that you will need to go through in order to get the building to be legal to be rented and lived in.
The city of San Francisco has developed a handbook for homeowners and others who need more information about going through this legalization process. You can find the handbook here.
Legalization Architect
It is important to note that to even apply for San Francisco’s legalization program, you must first hire a legalization architect, engineer, or otherwise suitable contractor who will be responsible for providing you with an accurate assessment of what it will take to legalize your proposed dwelling unit.
If you require the services of a legalization architect, please contact Architects-SF at info@architects-sf.com or call (415) 519-4954.
Architect for Commercial Projects Design San Francisco
If you are looking to build, legalize or repurpose structures or property in the San Francisco Bay area, you may be aware that the building codes and permits can become very complicated and expensive. Making mistakes in the areas can cost you big in fines and penalties and could even render your building or property useless. That is why it is really important to choose an architect for commercial project design in San Francisco.
You will also want to make sure that you choose an architect that sees your vision and you are secure with, but if they are unfamiliar with the codes and permits needed in the Bay area, it could spell trouble for you down the road!
Choose an architect for commercial project design in San Francisco like Architects-SF who can deliver it all! Give them a call today for all of your legalization and commercial project design needs in San Francisco!
