BUILDING
SAFETY
DIVISION
A Division of the Engineering
and Building Department
Presented By:
Jason Huckleberry, Director
DIVISION OVERVIEW
Permit Counter - Intake
Plan Check
The division is responsible for:
• Reviewing permit applications for compliance with all applicable state and local building codes and regulations. • Performing field inspections on all permits issued to verify compliance with codes, ensuring new construction in Visalia is constructed in accordance with standards of safety.
Building Inspections
Building Safety
DIVISION STAFFING
• 1 - Half-Time Office Assistant
Front
Counter
Plan
Review
Building
Inspection
Admin
4 Staff
5 Staff
10 Staff Staff
2 • 17 - Full-Time Staff Members • 2 - Consultant Inspectors Building Safety
Perform Plan Review for Minor Permits
PERMIT INTAKE
& INFORMATION
FRONT COUNTER
Key Responsibilities:
Permit Initialization and Triage
Permit Information & Guidance
Assist in Inspection Questions
7:30am to 5pm Monday thru Thursday
Issues Over the Counter Permits
Building Safety
Online Permit Submittals Are Always Available
BUILDING
PLAN REVIEW
Key Responsibilities:
Meet/Manage Established Plan Review Timelines
Plan Review – Residential and Commercial
Assist Architects/Engineers/Property Owners in
Code Interpretations
5,132 Permits Issued in 2024
Building Safety
Perform Plan Review When Necessary
INSPECTIONS
BUILDING
Key Responsibilities:
Inspection of Residential, Commercial,
and Industrial Buildings
Assist Contractors and Owners
Inspections Within 24-Hours
Average 65 to 95 Stops per Day
Building Safety
Residential Plan Reviews
Commercial Plan Reviews
TIMEFRAMES
PLAN REVIEW
• Permits are tracked with specific deadlines
• Managers use reports to identify issues and
make staffing adjustments as needed prior to
the deadline
• Permits are being reviewed by Building Safety,
Planning, and Engineering
20 Days - First Review
10 Days - Subsequent Reviews
30 Days - First Review
15 Days - Subsequent Reviews
Residential Plot Plans
10 5 Days
Miscellaneous Permits
10 Days – Minor Alterations
10 5 Days – Electrical,
Including EV Chargers & Pools
Immediate Over the Counter
Staff Has Successfully Met and Exceeded Plan Review Timeframes for over 2.5 Years Building Safety
STATISTICS
PERMIT
Projecting 5,937 Issued
15% Increase Over 2024
2025 Total Permits Issued
2025 Commercial Permits
2025 Building Inspections
575
483 504
638
601 636
560
335
270
400
0 100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
SFD PERMITS ISSUED
CALENDAR YEAR
SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING - ISSUED PERMITS
Projecting 802,000 SF
More than 2X Over 2024
Projecting 11,200 Stops
Correlates to
Approximately 23,000
Inspections
20% Increase Over 2024
Building Safety
*
* Through Aug 2025
(Estimated 560 at Year End)
IMPROVEMENTS
UPCOMING DIVISION
Permit System Moving to Accela Cloud in 2026
• New Electronic Plan Check Program – E-Permit Hub Digital Plan Review
• Expand Online Permit Services
Comprehensive Fee Update
2025 CA Building Code Update
Monitoring CA AB 130 for Code Update Guidance
Building Safety
THANK YOU!
visalia.gov [email protected]
559-713-4444 315 E Acequia Ave
Visalia, CA 93291
Building Safety