Most owners opening a company in Simi Valley will go through a procedure called a "occupant improvement." A renter improvement (TI) involves a change to an existing structure, either interior or outside, or both, in which case you will require to meet City requirements regarding architectural style, building occupancy, building and construction, parking, business signage, landscaping, and possible public right-of-way and sewage system improvements.

Please refer to the informative booklet "How to Open a Small Company in the City of Simi Valley," which also helps to assist and orientate you through the tenant enhancement and the procedure, including any regional agencies that might be involved with the opening of your business.

First Steps

The very first point of contact is to examine with the City's Planning Division to make sure that the kind of business is allowed the proposed location and that the proposed service satisfies the City's parking requirements. In addition, please note that your business may require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is an authorization to ensure your service works with the surrounding uses.

Describe the City's Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (use matrix) to make sure the proposed service is zoned for the proposed use and determine if the proposed use needs Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Please describe Conditional Use Permit for extra information in using and processing a CUP.

In addition, relying on the degree of any outside enhancements, a modification authorization from the Planning Division may be needed. Please refer to Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments for information relating to the level of review needed.

Signs

If you have an interest in putting an indication( s) at your storefront or considering a monolith sign, you will require to get a Permanent Sign Permit. The Planning Division will release a Long-term Sign Permit after ensuring compliance with the Zoning Code and Citywide Design Guidelines for location, size, and design of the indication.

Your sign professional would prepare the needed elevation exhibits and picture simulation( s) revealing how the indication looks on the structure. Please refer to the Planning Division's Temporary and Permanent Signs page for more details concerning the City's indication regulation and requirements.

City and County Involvement

Depending on the kind of organization and the level of your improvements, the following City departments and County agencies might be included.

Public Works Environmental Compliance Division

If your business is a dining establishment, food, production, or auto facility, or provides medical, oral, veterinary, or photo-processing services, the Environmental Compliance Division of Public Works will also be associated with business project.

The Environmental Compliance personnel implements the City's Sewer Use, Stormwater, and Water Conservation Ordinances. By keeping an eye on, examining, and assessing the organization's practices and operations, the Division protects the public health and the environment from poisonous, hazardous, and other toxins.

New organizations are required to finish an Ecological Compliance Discharge Permit Application. The applicant may likewise be required to send a layout and pipes plans. Depending upon the type of service, you may be required to install a pretreatment gadget, such as a grease interceptor, prior to acquiring building authorizations.

To find out more, please contact the Environmental Compliance Technical Assistance at (805) 583-6420.

Ventura County Fire Protection District

The City's Building and Safety Division will recognize whether the Ventura County Fire Department will require to authorize your occupant improvement building and construction plans. Approval from this Agency is usually needed for the majority of construction projects.

While based in Camarillo, the Ventura County Fire Protection District is at the Building and Safety Division in City Hall (Map) to answer concerns on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

For tasks needing the District's approval, building and construction strategies will need to be submitted to the following address: Ventura County Fire Protection District, 165 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010-8586.

For more details, please contact Ventura County Fire Protection District at (805) 389-9710.

Ventura County Environmental Health Division

The City's Building and Safety Division will likewise identify whether the Ventura County Environmental Health Division will need to approve your strategies. Food-handling establishments, organizations that produce dangerous products and waste, medical waste, and other pollutants will require approval from this Agency.

For additional info, please contact Ventura County Environmental Health at (805) 654-2813.

Building and Safety Division

Most enhancements need building and construction plans and a building permit from Building and Safety. Construction plans showing the proposed work are needed so City personnel can provide suitable authorizations after ensuring the strategies are safe, structurally sound, and in compliance with all appropriate Building regulations.

Please refer to Tenant Improvement Process for Entrepreneur for the Building and Safety Tenant Improvement Guide to help you through the procedure and several documents to assist your style professional prepare strategies quickly and properly. There are 4 components to the renter enhancement procedure:

1. Construction Plan Preparation 2. Construction Plan Submittal/Review 3. Permit Issuance and Construction 4. Occupancy

Construction Plan Preparation

The primary step to making sure an effective construction job involves keeping a licensed designer and/or engineer to draw your construction plans. Typically, plans prepared by a licensed architect and/or engineer will result in both time and cost savings during the construction stage and will help with a smoother renter enhancement procedure.

As a courtesy, a walkthrough of the proposed website can be arranged with the City's Building and Safety staff, company owner, and architect to deal with any questions or issues concerning basic code requirements prior to plan submittal.

Plans including all proposed architectural, handicapped access, energy, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical changes will need to be sent to the City for strategy review and permit processing. Although not required, it is advised that all strategies be submitted at the same time.

Plan Requirements

To help the style expert in drawing prepare for the proposed scope of work, please describe the following links for referral material laying out the different code and State requirements for the designer's evaluation:

Planning Division - Over-the-Counter (OTC) Plan Review Criteria Building and Safety Non-Residential Plan Check Correction List, Including Accessibility Requirements Building and Safety - Tenant Improvement Guide - OTC Projects Less 3,000 Square Feet Building and Safety - Tenant Improvement Guide - Projects Exceeding 3,000 Square Feet

To assist familiarize the organization owner with the renter enhancement process and get a much better understanding of the City's departments, external firms, and actions included, please describe the Flow Chart of the Tenant Improvement Process.

If the occupant enhancement involves a basic modification, an unlicensed designer or licensed professional carrying out the work might be enabled to submit the proposed strategies. Building and Safety will make this determination once the Scope of Work has been defined.

Construction Plan Submittal/Review

Once your architect and/or engineer have actually completed the construction plans, City engineers will require to guarantee that the illustrations abide by California Building Code. This is the 2nd element of the renter enhancement procedure and is typically called "Plan Check."

It is not uncommon for plans to be returned to the architect and or engineer with corrections. For this reason, plans normally reenter the "strategy check" process for a second evaluation. Building and Safety personnel will figure out the proper plan check charges at the time of plan submittal. Plan check fees are based upon the scope of work of the task, which is figured out by the size and kind of building and construction.

Over-the-counter plan evaluation for non-structural enhancements is readily available for existing buildings when the overall area is less than 3,000 square feet.

Service by appointment is readily available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in between 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM and can be arranged by calling (805) 583-6723. Plan check is likewise available by consultation with the respective strategy checker.

Standard plan review for tenant enhancements on existing buildings going beyond 3,000 square feet or "A" type occupancies such as restaurants will require a 10- to 15-business day turn around. Building authorizations are not provided until all City personnel and appropriate firms have approved the proposed plans.

Permit Issuance and Construction

Once construction plans have actually been authorized and prior to starting building, a structure license is issued to the owner of the residential or commercial property or a certified professional.

When an authorization is issued to the residential or commercial property owner, the regard to 'Owner/Builder' is referenced on the permit. Building and Safety personnel will offer the 'Owner/Builder' with documents notifying them of their duties and possible risk of having actually the license provided in the Owner/Builder name.

If the permit is issued to a certified professional, the contractor will be needed to supply evidence of Worker's Compensation insurance. The professional needs to have an Organization Tax Certificate in order to obtain the license. In addition, insurance coverage must be preserved throughout the construction duration per regulations of the California Labor Code.

Larger projects will require a pre-construction conference. A pre-construction meeting typically consists of Building and Safety assessment and engineering personnel in addition to the task's superintendent. The conference offers a chance to examine timespan, building requirements, and the City evaluation process.

Please keep in mind that it is necessary to arrange all of the necessary structure inspections in order to examine each stage of building and construction. It is the City inspector's job to guarantee all work is consistent with the approved plans and all relevant State codes. The City inspector will not perform evaluations unless it is scheduled by the specialist or job manager.

Inspections can be arranged for the next organization day by calling (805) 583-6723 no behind 3:00 PM on the day preceding the assessment.

Occupancy

The final phase of the renter enhancement process includes obtaining final approvals from City departments and external agencies involved with the project. Depending on the kind of service and scope of the job, you may require to obtain sign-off from the City's Planning Division and Public Works Department, in addition to the Ventura County Fire Department and Environmental Health Division.

During the building and construction procedure, the structure inspector will supply correction notices, informing the contractor or superintendent of items that do not satisfy building regulations requirements. All outstanding code requirements need to be solved prior to asking for the last inspection.

Once building is complete, last evaluations and sign-offs are acquired from both City departments and external companies, the City's Building Official will provide a Certificate of Occupancy. This legal file allows you to inhabit your brand-new company space.

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