DBI Facade inspection and maintenance program

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What to do

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1. Check whether your building is part of the Facade Program

Buildings included in the Facade Program are:

• 5 or more stories tall and
• Type I, II, III, or IV construction

Buildings in the Facade Program must submit an initial comprehensive facade inspection report by the deadline listed below, based on the date your building was constructed. Thereafter, a comprehensive facade inspection report must be submitted every ten years.

Buildings 15 or more stories tall are also required to submit a supplemental facade inspection report by the deadline listed below, based on the date your building was constructed. 

Buildings constructed after 1997 are required to submit a supplemental facade inspection report every five years until the submittal of their initial comprehensive facade report as required by the deadline listed below. After that, these buildings are required to alternate every five years between submitting a supplemental facade inspection report and a comprehensive facade inspection report.

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2. Determine the type of report required and the deadline

The Facade Program has inspection and reporting requirements for buildings that are 5 or more stories tall and additional requirements for buildings that are 15 or more stories tall.

• A comprehensive facade report is required for all buildings five or more stories tall. It is a general and detailed inspection of all building facades.
• A supplemental facade report is required for all buildings fifteen or more stories tall. It is a general inspection of all facades. 

Requirements for both types of inspections are detailed in San Francisco Existing Building Code Chapter 5F.

Facade inspections and maintenance on buildings that are a “historic resource” need to be performed according to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.

Report deadlines

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3. Hire a design professional

You must hire a California licensed architect or engineer to do your facade inspection.

If your building is a historic resource, you must hire someone with expertise in preserving, maintaining, restoring and rehabilitating historic buildings. Additional information is available in Administrative Bulletin 110.

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4. Follow the inspection and report requirements in the building code

Your licensed architect or engineer will write an inspection report and report conclusions.

They must follow all the rules for our inspection report and report conclusions in Administrative Bulletin 110. 

The inspection report must be attached to a report cover sheet and a compliance affidavit.

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5. Submit your report

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Resources

Information Sheet S-21 - See the procedure for processing facade program reports.

Administrative Bulletin AB-110 - See the administrative bulletin in the building code detailing the facade program inspection and reporting requirements. 

San Francisco Existing Building Code Chapter 5F  - See the full text of the building code detailing the facade program and associated City fees. 

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Need help?

For assistance, please contact DBI's Technical Services Division at:

Email

dbi.facade@sfgov.org

Phone        

(628) 652-3720

In-person

Get directions

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