The Building Codes Division (BCD) in Oregon has introduced a new strategy to improve support between building departments. The Building Evaluation Support Agreement (BESA) aims to streamline resource sharing for plan reviews and inspections across the state.
According to a release from Department of Consumer and Business Services, BESA is a voluntary agreement allowing participating jurisdictions to assist each other when needed, such as during staff absences, recruitment periods, or special projects. Without this system, delays in inspections and reviews can slow down construction projects.
Alana Cox, Building Codes Division Administrator, said in the same release, “We believe the BESA will be a valuable tool for local jurisdictions and the construction industry across Oregon." She added, “Because of the way the BESA is structured, participating jurisdictions can work directly with other participants, including our staff at BCD. We hope this will help jurisdictions be nimble in responding to local builders’ needs and allow those with expertise and extra capacity to help others that are in a crunch. This will be positive for everyone.”
Cities and counties with building inspection programs can opt into the agreement. The framework eliminates the need for separate support deals between jurisdictions, allowing for quicker responses and reduced paperwork. Jurisdictions under BESA can request and provide services to BCD and other members.
Cox highlighted BESA’s benefits for both building projects and departmental manpower, saying, “We are excited to offer this service to help builders keep projects moving while simultaneously helping building departments to efficiently address staff shortages or special projects. We invite all building departments that have not yet joined to consider being a part of the agreement, which will be more effective as more local governments sign on,” in the Department of Consumer and Business Services release.
