PROJECT
HOMESAFE
PROJECT
HOMESAFE DEFINED
·
It
is an inexpensive method to legalize rooms built prior
to January 1, 1992, without permits.
·
It
is a means to identify basic health and safety hazards
and help correct them.
·
It
is an excellent way to assure all rooms are legal
and recorded to avoid any problems at time of sale.
·
It is a community-oriented program by the City of
Daly City to provide residents assistance in establishing
safe and legal housing.
WHAT
PROJECT HOMESAFE IS NOT
·
It
is not a vehicle to legalize rooms built without
permits after January 1, 1992.
·
It
is not permission to do any new construction.
·
It is not a method to gain entrance to your home
for any other purpose than helping homeowners legalize rooms.
·
It is not designed to cause great expense in corrections.
Most rooms are legalized with less than $2,000 in repairs.
THE
INSPECTION FEE
The
basic fee is $100. This covers the initial inspection, building
permits (up to $2,000 in construction valuation), development
fees, and sewer connection fees up to 33-fixture units,
the final inspection, and the safety certificate. In most
cases, this will be the only fee you pay. This program is
available only to homeowners who voluntarily participate
in Project Homesafe.
AREAS
OF INSPECTION
The
inspector uses a standardized checklist. The focus is on
basic life safety issues such as: hazardous wiring, low
ceilings, emergency egress from bedrooms, structurally unsound
foundations, hazardous water heaters, etc.
The
list was carefully prepared to identify the most common
sources of fire hazard and basic safety in the home. Other
items are noted only if an obvious safety hazard is present.
The City uses the Uniform Housing Code to identify and establish
standards for the correction of life safety hazards.
Typically,
the inspector only goes into the downstairs portion of your
home. But you may have other areas inspected, if you wish.
PROJECT
HOMESAFE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR SECONDARY UNITS!
BONUS
ROOMS/ROOMS DOWN - LEGALIZATION OF ROOMS DOWN
The
City knows that many homes were built with family rooms
or with space for a family room that was added later. When
a homeowner requests a Project Homesafe inspection, the
City assumes that all family rooms and downstairs bedrooms
are legal additions. Full baths downstairs with doors
between the family room and the upstairs will be allowed,
along with cold-water only wet bars. The improvements will
be permanently recorded as legal in the City's building
records.
RESULTS
OF FAILING TO SIGN UP FOR THIS VOLUNTARY PROGRAM
If
unpermitted rooms are discovered, they may need to be removed
and enforcement fees may be incurred. Plan check and permit
fees to legalize rooms can exceed $2,500.
HOW
TO TELL IF ROOMS WERE BUILT WITH PERMIT
Unpermitted
rooms will most likely have one or more of the following:
·
Hollow core doors opening to the garage.
·
1/2
inch sheetrock or no sheetrock on the garage side of the
wall between the garage and living areas.
·
Windows or other openings between the living areas and the
garage.
·
Bedrooms
with doors opening directly into the garage.
·
Rooms
with no windows.
NOTE:
Project Homesafe does not allow legalization of rooms
built in the parking area of side-by-side garages.
MAKING
APPLICATION
Applying
is easy. The one-page form is available by mail. Call (650)
991-8061 and we will send you one. Or, you may come to the
Planning/Building counter in City Hall at 333-90th Street.
Our hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., weekdays. After an
application and fees are submitted, an inspection will be
arranged as soon as scheduling allows. A report outlining
the results of the inspection and the steps to legalize
the rooms will be mailed within two weeks. The work can
then be completed and a final inspection scheduled. A
final inspection is required within 180 days of
the initial inspection. It's that simple!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
If
you want to know more about second units and parking requirements,
call the Planning Division at (650) 991-8033 and ask for
a Planner.
For
information on Project Homesafe's special code requirements,
call the Building Inspection Division at (650) 991-8061.
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