Most owners opening a business in Simi Valley will go through a procedure called a "tenant enhancement." A renter enhancement (TI) involves a change to an existing structure, either interior or exterior, or both, in which case you will need to fulfill City requirements concerning architectural design, developing tenancy, building and construction, parking, organization signs, landscaping, and possible public right of way and drain improvements.

Please refer to the educational pamphlet "How to Open a Small Business in the City of Simi Valley," which also assists to assist and orientate you through the tenant enhancement and the City's license procedure, consisting of any local firms that may be involved with the opening of your organization.

Initial steps

The very first point of contact is to consult the City's Planning Division to guarantee that the type of company is allowed the proposed location which the proposed company meets the City's parking requirements. In addition, please note that your organization may require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is a license to ensure your business is compatible with the surrounding uses.

Refer to the City's Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (use matrix) to guarantee the proposed business is zoned for the proposed usage and identify 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, depending upon the degree of any exterior improvements, an adjustment permit from the Planning Division might be required. Please refer to Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments for info relating to the level of evaluation required.

Signs

If you have an interest in putting a sign( s) at your storefront or thinking about a monument indication, you will need to acquire a Permanent Sign Permit. The Planning Division will provide a Permanent Sign Permit after ensuring compliance with the Zoning Code and Citywide Design Guidelines for area, size, and design of the indication.

Your indication contractor would prepare the required elevation displays and image simulation( s) showing how the sign searches the structure. Please describe the Planning Division's Temporary and Permanent Signs page for more info regarding the City's indication regulation and requirements.

City and County Involvement

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

Public Works Environmental Compliance Division

If your company is a restaurant, food, manufacturing, or car facility, or supplies medical, oral, veterinary, or photo-processing services, the Environmental Compliance Division of Public Works will also be included in business job.

The Environmental Compliance staff enforces the City's Sewer Use, Stormwater, and Water Conservation Ordinances. By keeping an eye on, checking, and assessing the company's practices and operations, the Division secures the general public health and the environment from hazardous, harmful, and other toxins.

New services are required to complete an Ecological Compliance Discharge Permit Application. The applicant may also be required to send a floor strategy and plumbing strategies. Depending on the kind of business, you might be needed to install a pretreatment device, such as a grease interceptor, prior to obtaining building authorizations.

For more details, 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 need to approve your occupant improvement building strategies. Approval from this Agency is generally required for most building and construction jobs.

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

For tasks needing the District's approval, construction strategies will require 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 also determine whether the Ventura County Environmental Health Division will require to approve your plans. Food-handling facilities, services that produce dangerous materials and waste, medical waste, and other pollutants will require approval from this Agency.

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

Building and Safety Division

Most enhancements need building and construction plans and a structure authorization from Building and Safety. Construction plans showing the proposed work are needed so City staff can release relevant authorizations after ensuring the strategies are safe, structurally sound, and in compliance with all suitable Building Codes.

Please refer to Tenant Improvement Process for Company Owner for the Building and Safety Tenant Improvement Guide to assist you through the process and numerous files to assist your style expert prepare strategies rapidly and precisely. There are 4 parts to the renter enhancement process:

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

Construction Plan Preparation

The very first step to ensuring a successful construction task involves keeping a certified designer and/or engineer to draw your construction strategies. Typically, plans prepared by a certified architect and/or engineer will result in both time and expense savings during the building and construction phase and will facilitate a smoother occupant enhancement process.

As a courtesy, a walkthrough of the proposed website can be set up with the City's Building and Safety personnel, company owner, and designer to attend to any questions or concerns regarding general code requirements prior to plan submittal.

Plans including all proposed architectural, handicapped access, energy, pipes, mechanical, and electrical changes will need to be submitted to the City for plan evaluation and authorization processing. Although not required, it is recommended that all plans be sent at the exact same time.

Plan Requirements

To assist the design specialist in drawing prepare for the proposed scope of work, please describe the following links for referral product laying out the different code and State requirements for the designer's review:

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 help familiarize business owner with the tenant improvement procedure and acquire a much better understanding of the City's departments, external agencies, and steps involved, please describe the Flow diagram of the Tenant Improvement Process.

If the renter enhancement involves a simple modification, an unlicensed designer or licensed contractor carrying out the work might be allowed to send the proposed strategies. Building and Safety will make this decision once the Scope of Work has been specified.

Construction Plan Submittal/Review

Once your designer and/or engineer have completed the construction plans, City engineers will need to guarantee that the drawings comply with California Building Code. This is the second part 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 factor, plans typically reenter the "plan check" procedure for a 2nd review. Building and Safety personnel will determine the proper strategy check fees at the time of plan submittal. Plan check fees are based on the scope of work of the job, which is figured out by the size and kind of construction.

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

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

Standard strategy evaluation for occupant enhancements on existing structures exceeding 3,000 square feet or "A" type occupancies such as dining establishments will require a 10- to 15-business day reverse. Building licenses are not released till all City staff and appropriate firms have actually approved the proposed strategies.

Permit Issuance and Construction

Once construction strategies have been approved and prior to beginning building and construction, a structure authorization is provided to the owner of the residential or commercial property or a licensed contractor.

When a license is provided to the residential or commercial property owner, the regard to 'Owner/Builder' is referenced on the permit. Building and Safety staff will supply the 'Owner/Builder' with paperwork informing them of their duties and possible danger of having the permit issued in the Owner/Builder name.

If the authorization is provided to a certified specialist, the professional will be required to provide evidence of Worker's Compensation insurance coverage. The contractor must have a Business Tax Certificate in order to acquire the permit. In addition, insurance must be preserved throughout the building duration per regulations of the California Labor Code.

Larger projects will require a pre-construction conference. A pre-construction conference normally includes Building and Safety assessment and engineering personnel in addition to the job's superintendent. The meeting provides an opportunity to examine time frames, building requirements, and the City inspection process.

Please note that it is very important to set up all of the necessary structure inspections in order to review each phase of building. It is the City inspector's task to guarantee all work is consistent with the authorized plans and all applicable State codes. The City inspector will not perform assessments unless it is set up by the specialist or job supervisor.

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

Occupancy

The last stage of the renter enhancement procedure consists of obtaining final approvals from City departments and external companies involved with the job. Depending upon the kind of service and scope of the job, you might need to get sign-off from the City's Planning Division and Public Works Department, along with the Ventura County Fire Department and Environmental Health Division.

During the construction procedure, the building inspector will provide correction notices, informing the specialist or superintendent of items that do not meet building regulations requirements. All impressive code requirements should be fixed prior to requesting the final evaluation.

Once building is complete, final inspections and sign-offs are acquired from both City departments and external companies, the City's Building Official will issue a Certificate of Occupancy. This legal document allows you to inhabit your new company area.

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