Most owners opening a service in Simi Valley will go through a procedure called a “renter improvement.” A tenant improvement (TI) involves a modification to an existing structure, either interior or exterior, or both, in which case you will require to meet City requirements relating to architectural design, constructing occupancy, building, parking, company signs, landscaping, and possible public right-of-way and sewer enhancements.

Please refer to the informational pamphlet “How to Open a Small Business in the City of Simi Valley,” which also assists to direct and orientate you through the renter enhancement and the City’s procedure, including any local companies that may be involved with the opening of your service.

Primary steps

The first point of contact is to consult the City’s Planning Division to make sure that the kind of business is allowed the proposed place which the proposed business meets the City’s parking requirements. In addition, please note that your service might require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP), which is a permit to guarantee your company is compatible with the surrounding uses.

Refer to the City’s Zoning Maps and Zoning Code Section 9-26.030 (use matrix) to make sure the proposed business is zoned for the proposed usage and determine if the proposed usage requires Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Please describe Conditional Use Permit for additional information in applying and processing a CUP.

In addition, depending upon the extent of any outside enhancements, an adjustment license from the Planning Division may be required. Please describe Modification of Existing Commercial and Industrial Developments for information regarding the level of review needed.

Signs

If you are interested in placing a sign( s) at your shop or considering a monument 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 place, size, and design of the indication.

Your indication contractor would prepare the required elevation exhibits and image simulation( s) showing how the sign searches the structure. Please refer to the Planning Division’s Temporary and Permanent Signs page for additional information concerning the City’s sign regulation and requirements.

City and County Involvement

Depending on the kind of business and the level of your enhancements, the following City departments and County agencies might be involved.

Public Works Environmental Compliance Division

If your organization is a restaurant, food, production, or automobile center, or supplies 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 track of, checking, and examining business’s practices and operations, the Division safeguards the public health and the environment from poisonous, hazardous, and other contaminants.

New services are required to complete an Environmental Compliance Discharge Permit Application. The applicant might also be needed to send a flooring plan and pipes strategies. Depending upon the type of organization, you may be needed to set up a pretreatment gadget, such as a grease interceptor, prior to obtaining structure authorizations.

For more information, please contact the Environmental Compliance Technical Assistance at (805) 583-6420.

Ventura County Fire Protection District

The City’s Building and Safety Division will identify whether the Ventura County Fire Department will need to approve your tenant improvement building plans. Approval from this Agency is generally required for a lot of building jobs.

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

For jobs requiring the District’s approval, building and construction plans will need to be sent to the following address: Ventura County Fire Protection District, 165 Durley Avenue, Camarillo, CA 93010-8586.

To find out more, 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 determine whether the Ventura County Environmental Health Division will need to authorize your plans. Food-handling establishments, companies that produce dangerous products and waste, medical waste, and other contaminants will need approval from this Agency.

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

Building and Safety Division

Most enhancements require construction strategies and a structure permit from Building and Safety. Construction plans showing the proposed work are needed so City staff can issue applicable authorizations after ensuring the plans are safe, structurally sound, and in compliance with all applicable Building regulations.

Please describe Tenant Improvement Process for Business Owners for the Building and Safety Tenant Improvement Guide to help you through the process and a number of files to assist your style professional prepare plans rapidly and accurately. There are 4 components to the occupant improvement process:

1. Construction Plan Preparation

1. Construction Plan Submittal/Review
2. Permit Issuance and Construction
3. Occupancy
   
   Construction Plan Preparation
   
   The initial step to ensuring a successful construction task includes maintaining a licensed designer and/or engineer to draw your building and construction strategies. Typically, plans prepared by a licensed designer and/or engineer will lead to both time and expense savings during the building and construction phase and will assist in a smoother tenant improvement process.
   
   As a courtesy, a walkthrough of the suggested website can be set up with the City’s Building and Safety staff, service owner, and architect to deal with any concerns or concerns regarding basic code requirements prior to prepare submittal.
   
   Plans consisting of all proposed architectural, handicapped gain access to, energy, pipes, mechanical, and electrical modifications will require to be sent to the City for plan review and license processing. Although not required, it is recommended that all plans be submitted at the very same time.
   
   Plan Requirements
   
   To assist the style specialist in drawing prepare for the proposed scope of work, please refer to the following links for recommendation product detailing 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 the business owner with the tenant improvement procedure and gain a much better understanding of the City’s departments, external companies, and actions involved, please refer to the Flow Chart of the Tenant Improvement Process.
   
   If the tenant improvement includes a simple modification, an unlicensed designer or licensed contractor carrying out the work may be enabled to submit the proposed strategies. Building and Safety will make this determination once the Scope of Work has been specified.
   
   Construction Plan Submittal/Review
   
   Once your architect and/or engineer have completed the building and construction plans, City engineers will require to make sure that the drawings abide by California Building regulations. This is the second part of the occupant enhancement process and is frequently called “Plan Check.”
   
   It is not uncommon for strategies to be returned to the architect and or engineer with corrections. For this reason, plans normally reenter the “strategy check” process for a second review. Building and Safety personnel will figure out the suitable plan check costs at the time of strategy submittal. Plan check fees are based on the scope of work of the task, which is determined by the size and type of construction.
   
   Over-the-counter plan evaluation for non-structural improvements is readily available for existing buildings when the total location is less than 3,000 square feet.
   
   Service by appointment is 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 also offered by consultation with the respective plan checker.
   
   Standard strategy review for tenant enhancements on existing structures exceeding 3,000 square feet or “A” type tenancies such as restaurants will require a 10- to 15-business day reverse. Building authorizations are not issued till all City staff and applicable firms have approved the proposed strategies.
   
   Permit Issuance and Construction
   
   Once building plans have actually been authorized and prior to beginning construction, a building license is provided to the owner of the residential or commercial property or a licensed professional.
   
   When a license is issued to the residential or commercial property owner, the term of ‘Owner/Builder’ is referenced on the authorization. Building and Safety personnel will offer the ‘Owner/Builder’ with documents informing them of their obligations and possible risk of having the authorization issued in the Owner/Builder name.
   
   If the authorization is issued to a licensed specialist, the specialist will be required to offer proof of Worker’s Compensation insurance coverage. The professional needs to have a Service Tax Certificate in order to obtain the license. In addition, insurance must be preserved throughout the building period per guidelines of the California Labor Code.
   
   Larger jobs will need a pre-construction meeting. A pre-construction conference generally consists of Building and Safety examination and engineering staff in addition to the task’s superintendent. The meeting provides a chance to evaluate time frames, construction requirements, and the City inspection process.
   
   Please keep in mind that it is very important to arrange all of the needed building examinations in order to evaluate each phase of building. It is the City inspector’s job to ensure all work follows the authorized strategies and all relevant State codes. The City inspector will not perform assessments unless it is scheduled by the professional or job supervisor.
   
   Inspections can be arranged for the next organization day by calling (805) 583-6723 no later on than 3:00 PM on the day preceding the examination.
   
   Occupancy
   
   The final stage of the occupant enhancement process consists of acquiring final approvals from City departments and external firms involved with the job. Depending upon the type of organization and scope of the job, you may require to obtain 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 building and construction process, the structure inspector will supply correction notifications, notifying the specialist or superintendent of products that do not fulfill structure code requirements. All impressive code requirements must be resolved prior to requesting the last examination.
   
   Once building is complete, final assessments and sign-offs are gotten from both City departments and external firms, the City’s Building Official will provide a Certificate of Occupancy. This legal document allows you to occupy your new organization space.
   
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