Tenant Improvements

Renovation, and Home Improvement Projects

The City asks all residents, businesses, developers, and landowners to help protect our water quality by implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs). Without proper prevention, runoff carrying sediment from trenching, debris from demolition work, and hazardous materials could enter our storm drains untreated and end up in our waterways.

All tenant improvement and home improvement projects are required to address the water quality regulations by completing the following:

1. Best Management Practices (BMP) Plan Sheet

Minimum construction related BMPs, such as waste/material storage, sediment and erosion control, and inlet protection, must be shown on a BMP plan sheet or site plan sheet as part of the Building Division submittal package.

At a minimum, the BMP Plan Sheet must include:

The proposed staging areas where materials and waste will be stored and all applicable BMPs demonstrated graphically.
The tenant improvement Storm Water Notes section within the BMP Plan Sheet, describing the minimum Best Management Practices (BMPs), and all additional BMPs applicable to your specific project.
BMP Legend using applicable BMP graphic symbols. This document contains the BMP Legend and Specification Sheets which describe proper BMP implementation.
Phases of work (if applicable).

Review the City’s Guidelines for Surface Water Pollution Prevention to ensure BMPs are properly selected and implemented

2. Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Survey

As a project owner or contractor, you are responsible for protecting occupants, workers, and the environment from exposure to hazardous materials. All projects, excluding single family residences, that include the demolition of 100+ square feet of building materials must submit an asbestos survey report (see below). Most commonly found in flooring, roofing materials, ceiling tiles, insulation, and dry wall asbestos can pose extensive health risks to residents, workers, and the environment, once airborne. If proposed work includes the demolition AND the structure was built prior to 1978, a lead-based paint survey is also required.

Single Family Residences;

Conducting an asbestos survey is not required for improvement projects at an existing single-family residence. However, having a survey conducted is the only way to confirm if there are hazardous materials present and to avoid any potential health risks and impacts the environment. Therefore, a survey is highly recommended.
If an asbestos survey is not conducted, the potential presence of hazardous materials remains. Please be aware of potential short and long term exposures to residents and workers.

Please be advised, testing and abatement can take time, therefore the project proponent is advised to conduct the survey before applying for the permit.

Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Survey Requirements for all other projects:

If a survey has not been previously performed, the project proponent must hire a licensed contractor to analyze all building materials that will be disturbed during renovation.
The project proponent must provide documentation that either; a) asbestos or lead containing materials are not present in the building materials, or b) the materials have been properly removed and disposed prior to permit issuance.
You can find certified inspectors online by searching for "asbestos" and/or "lead paint inspectors."
A copy of all reports must be provided to the City prior to permit issuance.

For more information on testing and disposal of hazardous materials, visit the City’s Hazardous Waste page under services, trash services. The County of San Diego's Asbestos Information Page for Builders, Developers and Subcontractors also has good information and resources.

For definitions and applicability, see Subpart M – National Emission Standards for Asbestos.

3. Trash Enclosures

Trash Enclosure improvements are required for certain tenant improvement and renovation projects. To see if your project is required to modify or build a new trash enclosure, refer to the Trash Enclosures page.

4. Outdoor Storage (Post-Construction) is Not Allowed in Many Areas

If outdoor storage is permitted per zoning code (i.e. industrial), then the following is required:

Hazardous materials may not be stored outdoors.
Submit an inventory and description of all materials to be stored outside.
Describe how the outdoor storage area will be covered and contained with permanent controls.
Structures must be permitted by the City, and designed to prevent all rain water run-on and run-off.

For more information on Tenant Improvements: