In an innovative move, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors recently approved a policy enabling developers to self-certify projects in open space between existing structures, aiming to speed up much-needed housing construction in an area facing an ongoing housing crisis. According to the Times of San Diego, Vice Chair Terra Lawson-Remer directed county staff to review self-certification programs in Chicago and Phoenix as potential models, as part of the consent agenda, which passed unanimously.
The bold move intends to clear one of the major bottlenecks in housing construction – obtaining permits. The current permit process can lead to months of plan review, comments, and revisions, causing significant delays and increased costs according to The Coronado News. Given that the median house price in San Diego County reached $1 million as of June 2023, it's more important than ever to find solutions and build more homes immediately. Under this new policy, county building permits could be issued in just one to five business days, a drastic improvement over the existing process.
This streamlined approach is particularly important for affordable housing projects, which often operate on strict timelines mandated by state funding. Delays in securing building permits can not only jeopardize the viability of such projects but also potentially trigger clawbacks of state affordable housing funds, further amplifying the housing crisis in the region.
San Diego County's self-certification program, initially launched in 2019, has seen some success in speeding up development timeframes by eliminating plan review for smaller projects. The Plan Self-Certification Program includes tenant improvements, residential minor grading, private roads serving 4 or fewer homes, and other smaller projects. However, new construction of single-family and multi-family homes was not covered.
The Board of Supervisors' recent decision expands the self-certification program by directing county staff to explore successful programs used in cities like Chicago and Phoenix, which cover a broader range of eligible projects, including new housing construction as reported by The Coronado News. These cities' pioneering self-certification programs, dating back to 2008 and 2010, have proven both effective and efficient, with Phoenix processing more than 4,500 building permits of varying types.
In taking this significant step, San Diego County is tackling the housing crisis head-on and embracing a more streamlined approach to housing construction. As other cities like Chicago and Phoenix have demonstrated, self-certification can be a powerful tool in expediting the construction process, ultimately benefiting both builders and homeowners.
