An application for a building permit for any non-residential construction subject to the provisions of this chapter shall not be deemed complete unless the application contains: (1) a statement of the number of gross square feet of non-residential construction proposed to be constructed, added or remodeled and the number of gross square feet of non-residential buildings or structures to be or previously removed that are subject to the requirements of this chapter, together with documentation sufficient to support the application; and (2) the previous and intended use or uses for the non-residential buildings or structures by gross square feet.
(SCC 0801 § 1, 1990; SCC 0903 § 11, 1992; SCC 1686 § 8, 2022; SCC 1748, 1/7/2025)
A. 
The Chief Building Official shall: (i) determine the amount of the "U" and "ET" factors of the fee (except as provided in paragraph C of this section); (ii) inform the applicant of those per square foot amounts in writing; (iii) determine the "S" and "EF" factors, (iv) calculate the total fee; (v) collect the fee; and (vi) transmit it to the Fund.
B. 
In determining the amount of the "U" and "ET" factors the Chief Building Official or the Planning Director, as provided by this section, shall utilize Article 8 to: (i) relate the intended use of the non-residential construction to a land use category in Section 16.89.715, and identify the resulting fee per square foot; or (ii) identify the use as exempt.
C. 
Whenever the intended use category is uncertain, the Planning Director shall determine the appropriate amount of the "U" and "ET" factors, based on the potential employment density and impact on low income housing demand associated with the proposed use. In the case of large, mixed-use development projects (defined as the simultaneous construction of one or more structures with different uses), the Planning Director may utilize the land use categories in Section 16.89.715 and the use types in Article 8 to create a mixed fee to be collected for all building permits in the project. In that case, the mixed fee shall be designed to approximate the revenue which would have been collected had the fees been determined for each individual structure. The Planning Director shall inform the Chief Building Official of its determination of the "U" and "ET" factors.
(SCC 0801 § 1, 1990; SCC 0903 § 12, 1992; SCC 1686 § 8, 2022; SCC 1748, 1/7/2025)
A. 
The Housing Fee listed in this subdivision in effect at the time the building permit is to be issued shall be used to calculate the total housing fee payable prior to issuance of such building permit.
Housing fee
Land Use Category
Land Use Category Abbreviation
Fee per Gross Square Foot of Building or Structure
Office
O
$3.00
Hotel
H
$3.00
Research and Development
R
$2.00
Commercial
C
$2.00
Manufacturing
M
$1.00
Warehouse
W
$1.00
B. 
The fees set forth in this section, including the maximum amount of the fee, shall be adjusted annually based upon a weighted blend of the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index, McGraw Hill Consumer Index, local home prices, and rents. Following each adjustment, the County shall publish an updated fee schedule.
(SCC 0801 § 1, 1990; SCC 0903 § 13, 1992; SCC 1686 § 8, 2022; SCC 1695 § 1, 2022; SCC 1748, 1/7/2025)
The Building Permits and Inspection Division shall collect a processing fee from each applicant for a building permit for non-residential construction subject to this chapter to administer the Housing Trust Fund Ordinance. This fee or fees shall be established by a Board of Supervisors' resolution.
(SCC 0801 § 1, 1990; SCC 0807 § 1, 1990; SCC 1686 § 8, 2022; SCC 1748, 1/7/2025)
A. 
In the event a building permit for non-residential construction, issued without compliance with this chapter, expires pursuant to the County Buildings and Construction Code before such work may be commenced or recommenced, a new permit shall be obtained to do so, and such permit shall be issued only if the fees required by this chapter are paid.
B. 
In the event a building permit for non-residential construction, whether issued before or after the effective date of this chapter, is sought to be renewed pursuant to the County Building and Construction Code, such permit may be renewed only if any new or additional fees in effect on the date of issuance of the renewed permit is paid.
C. 
In the event a building permit for non-residential construction expires pursuant to the County Building and Construction Code, a claim for refund may be filed by the applicant who paid the fee with the Chief Building Official within one year of the date of expiration of the permit. Such a claim shall be granted, whereupon some or all of the amount previously paid, excluding the processing fee, shall be refunded to that applicant, or his or her written designee, on a prorated basis determined by the associated use types and the percentage of the gross square footage of buildings or structures which cannot be used or occupied without the issuance of a subsequent non-residential permit subject to this chapter. Such a refund shall not be granted until the Chief Building Official verifies that the building permit is void.
(SCC 0801 § 1, 1990; SCC 0903 § 14, 1992; SCC 1748, 1/7/2025)