Every city has its building restrictions, but San Francisco has certain strict building restrictions as the city is mostly built on an incline. However, here the architect is allowed to act as the owner's agent. If you are representing the owner, you have to obtain construction permits on your client's behalf and comply with certain other regulations.
Here are some of the points you have to keep in mind while making an architectural plan for residential buildings in San Francisco.
What must you include in a residential plan?
You have to first submit the application to the Planning Department, which will review it. After the first stage, if the permit is reviewed and accepted, you will get a ‘Site Permit.' It is approved based on preliminary drawings, and the plans must show the dimensions of the proposed residential property and whether there are any openings or recesses.
It should show fire separations. After the Site Permit is issued, you are required to submit a complete set of detailed drawings to the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection of SFDBI for the final approval of the architectural design for residential houses in San Francisco.
What are some of the pre-application documents you must submit?
You need to submit some pre-application documents. This must include documents like reports of meetings that might have been held in the neighborhood if there is an increase in the height of over 7 feet vertically or over 10 feet horizontally. If there are deck addictions 10 feet above the grade, they must be submitted for Formula Retail Uses.
You will need Conditional Use Authorization copy of the neighborhood notification letter. You must also include a copy of the meeting summary and a description of comments made by neighbors.
What should you include in the plan drawings?
The architectural plan of residential buildings in San Francisco must include the project address, the drawing scale, and the sheet number. It should have the name and designation of the person who made the drawing.
It should mention whether there would be any retail spaces later, car or bike parking, and useable open space. It should also mention the front setup of the adjacent building, among others.
The report should also include details of the landscaping around the project, the streets in and around, and the vicinity plans. You should also mention the materials you would use for the project, like doors, windows, and other exterior parts.
With these plans for architectural design for residential houses in San Francisco, you will get a permit for building a house for your client, should all of them be prepared according to specifications and once they are approved. It will be the beginning of another beautiful project in the city.
