Commercial Industrial Tenant Improvements
Most owners opening a company in Simi Valley will go through a process called a "renter improvement." A renter enhancement (TI) includes a change to an existing building, either interior or outside, or both, in which case you will need to fulfill City requirements concerning architectural design, developing occupancy, building, parking, company signage, landscaping, and possible public right of way and sewage system enhancements.
Please refer to the informational booklet "How to Open a Small Business in the City of Simi Valley," which likewise assists to direct and orientate you through the tenant enhancement and the City's authorization procedure, consisting of any local agencies that may be involved with the opening of your business.
First Steps
The first point of contact is to talk to the City's Planning Division to ensure that the kind of business is enabled in the proposed location which the proposed service fulfills the City's parking requirements. In addition, please note that your business might need a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is a license to ensure your business is compatible with the surrounding usages.
Describe the City's Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (use matrix) to ensure the proposed business is zoned for the proposed use and figure out if the proposed use needs Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Please refer to Conditional Use Permit for extra info in using and processing a CUP.
In addition, depending upon the extent of any outside enhancements, a modification permit from the Planning Division may be required. Please refer to Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments for details relating to the level of review needed.
Signs
If you are interested in putting a sign( s) at your store or considering a monolith indication, you will need to obtain a Long-term Sign Permit. The Planning Division will issue a Long-term Sign Permit after making sure compliance with the Zoning Code and Citywide Design Guidelines for place, size, and style of the sign.
Your indication contractor would prepare the required elevation shows and image simulation( s) demonstrating how the sign looks on the building. Please describe the Planning Division's Temporary and Permanent Signs page to learn more regarding the City's sign ordinance and requirements.
City and County Involvement
Depending upon the kind of service and the extent of your enhancements, the following City departments and County companies might be included.
Public Works Environmental Compliance Division
If your business is a dining establishment, food, manufacturing, or automobile center, or provides medical, oral, veterinary, or photo-processing services, the Environmental Compliance Division of Public Works will likewise be included in the organization task.
The Environmental Compliance staff enforces the City's Sewer Use, Stormwater, and Water Conservation Ordinances. By keeping an eye on, checking, and assessing the organization's practices and operations, the Division safeguards the general public health and the environment from poisonous, hazardous, and other toxins.
New organizations are required to finish an Ecological Compliance Discharge Permit Application. The candidate might also be needed to send a flooring strategy and plumbing plans. Depending on the type of service, you may be needed to set up a pretreatment gadget, such as a grease interceptor, prior to acquiring building authorizations.
For more info, please contact the Environmental Compliance Technical Assistance at (805) 583-6420.
Ventura County Fire Protection District
The City's Building and Safety Division will determine whether the Ventura County Fire Department will need to authorize your renter enhancement building strategies. Approval from this Agency is generally needed for most building and .
While based in Camarillo, the Ventura County Fire Protection District is at the Building and Safety Division in City Hall (Map) to address questions on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
For jobs requiring the District's approval, building plans will require to be sent to the following address: Ventura County Fire Protection District, 165 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010-8586.
For additional information, 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, companies that produce hazardous materials and waste, medical waste, and other contaminants will require approval from this Agency.
For additional details, please contact Ventura County Environmental Health at (805) 654-2813.
Building and Safety Division
Most enhancements require building strategies and a building authorization from Building and Safety. Construction strategies showing the proposed work are required so City staff can issue suitable licenses after making sure the strategies are safe, structurally sound, and in compliance with all suitable Building Codes.
Please refer to Tenant Improvement Process for Company Owner for the Building and Safety Tenant Improvement Guide to help you through the process and several documents to help your style professional prepare plans quickly and properly. There are 4 components to the tenant improvement procedure:
1. Construction Plan Preparation
2. Construction Plan Submittal/Review
3. Permit Issuance and Construction
4. Occupancy
Construction Plan Preparation
The primary step to making sure an effective building and construction job includes keeping a licensed designer and/or engineer to draw your building and construction plans. Typically, strategies prepared by a certified architect and/or engineer will result in both time and expense savings throughout the building stage and will help with a smoother renter improvement procedure.
As a courtesy, a walkthrough of the proposed site can be organized with the City's Building and Safety staff, company owner, and designer to attend to any questions or issues relating to general code requirements prior to plan submittal.
Plans consisting of all proposed architectural, handicapped access, energy, pipes, mechanical, and electrical modifications will require to be submitted to the City for plan evaluation and permit processing. Although not required, it is advised that all strategies be sent at the very same time.
Plan Requirements
To assist the design expert in drawing prepare for the proposed scope of work, please refer to the following links for recommendation product describing the different code and State requirements for the designer's review:
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 business owner with the renter improvement procedure and acquire a better understanding of the City's departments, external companies, and steps included, please refer to the Flow Chart of the Tenant Improvement Process.
If the occupant enhancement includes a simple adjustment, an unlicensed designer or certified contractor performing the work might be allowed to send the proposed strategies. Building and Safety will make this determination once the Scope of Work has actually been specified.
Construction Plan Submittal/Review
Once your designer and/or engineer have finished the construction strategies, City engineers will need to guarantee that the illustrations comply with California Building regulations. This is the 2nd component of the renter improvement process and is typically called "Plan Check."
It is not uncommon for plans to be gone back to the designer and or engineer with corrections. For this reason, plans typically reenter the "strategy check" procedure for a second review. Building and Safety staff will identify the appropriate strategy check charges at the time of strategy submittal. Plan check costs are based upon the scope of work of the project, which is identified by the size and kind of construction.
Over-the-counter strategy evaluation for non-structural improvements is offered for existing structures when the overall location is less than 3,000 square feet.
Service by consultation is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM and can be set up by calling (805) 583-6723. Plan check is also available by appointment with the particular plan checker.
Standard strategy evaluation for renter enhancements on existing buildings going beyond 3,000 square feet or "A" type occupancies such as dining establishments will require a 10- to 15-business day reverse. Building authorizations are not provided till all City staff and applicable firms have authorized the proposed strategies.
Permit Issuance and Construction
Once building strategies have actually been approved and prior to starting construction, a building authorization is released to the owner of the residential or commercial property or a certified contractor.
When an authorization is released to the residential or commercial property owner, the term of 'Owner/Builder' is referenced on the license. Building and Safety personnel will supply the 'Owner/Builder' with documentation notifying them of their obligations and possible risk of having the license issued in the Owner/Builder name.
If the license is issued to a certified specialist, the professional will be needed to offer proof of Worker's Compensation insurance. The specialist must have a Service Tax Certificate in order to acquire the authorization. In addition, insurance coverage should be preserved throughout the construction duration per guidelines of the California Labor Code.
Larger tasks will need a pre-construction conference. A pre-construction conference normally consists of Building and Safety examination and engineering personnel together with the project's superintendent. The conference provides an opportunity to review amount of time, building requirements, and the City evaluation procedure.
Please keep in mind that it is essential to arrange all of the needed structure inspections in order to review each phase of building and construction. It is the City inspector's task to ensure all work is consistent with the approved plans and all suitable State codes. The City inspector will not conduct examinations unless it is arranged by the specialist or task supervisor.
Inspections can be arranged for the next business day by calling (805) 583-6723 no later than 3:00 PM on the day preceding the examination.
Occupancy
The final phase of the tenant enhancement procedure consists of getting last approvals from City departments and external companies included with the project. Depending on the kind of business and scope of the project, you might require to obtain sign-off from the City's Planning Division and Public Works Department, together with the Ventura County Fire Department and Environmental Health Division.
During the building procedure, the structure inspector will provide correction notifications, notifying the specialist or superintendent of items that do not satisfy structure code requirements. All outstanding code requirements need to be dealt with prior to asking for the final inspection.
Once building and construction is complete, last inspections and sign-offs are gotten from both City departments and external firms, the City's Building Official will issue a Certificate of Occupancy. This legal file permits you to inhabit your brand-new business space.
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