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HOUSING ENFORCEMENT Division #65-1150 LICENSES & PERMITS Division #65-1151 DEPARTMENT OF PERMITS & INSPECTION SERVICES 321 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES Housing Enforcement Division #65-1150 Licenses & Permits Division #65-1151 Mission Statement The Department of Permit and Inspection Services (DPIS) strives to provide high-quality services to the residents of Buffalo, upholding and enforcing the New York State Building Code and the City Charter & Code to protect the health, safety and welfare of property owners, residents, tenants, businesses, and visitors. Goals 1. Ensure public safety as it relates to NYS Building Code compliance on all buildings in the City of Buffalo through the department’s permitting and enforcement activities. 2. Ensure a high quality of life for our residents by enforcing the NYS Property Maintenance Code which requires property owners to maintain their buildings and land. 3. Ensure that projects comply with the Buffalo City Code including “The Green Code”. 4. Foster a culture of customer service within our department that serves all our residents, businesses, and visitors. 5. Engage with and educate the public about the codes we enforce and why they are essential to a safe and healthy city. 6. Continually evaluate and improve our processes and policies to better serve the City. Activities Activities 1. Perform expertise specific activities in each of the following divisions: a. Plan review b. Permitting c. New construction & multiple dwelling inspections d. Mechanical code plan review & inspections e. Electrical code plan review & inspections f. Plumbing code plan review & inspections g. Blighted & “at risk” properties. h. District inspections i. Interior inspections of 1 & 2 family rental units 322 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES Housing Enforcement Division #65-1150 Licenses & Permits Division #65-1151 j. Rental registration k. Licensing of businesses 2. Review building plans for NYS and City code compliance. 3. Inspect buildings with building permits for code compliance. 4. Actively patrol neighborhoods to identify non-permitted work and active code violations. 5. Issue business licenses and inspect structures where businesses are housed for code compliance. 6. Send Orders to Remedy and summonses to non-compliant properties. 7. Refer buildings, where owners are not correcting code violations, to Housing Court and continue enforcement though the court process. 8. Inspect interiors of 1 & 2 family rental dwellings and issue Certificates of Rental Compliance for code compliant units. 9. Inspect multiple dwellings (buildings with 3 or more dwelling units) on a continuous cycle and issue Certificates of Occupancy. 10. Issue Certificates of Occupancy and Certificates of Compliance upon completion of code compliant projects or full building inspections. 11. Maintain a registry of all rental units in 1 & 2 Family rental units. 12. Inspect all parking garages and require periodic engineers’ reports for those structures. 13. Identify, inspect, and license short term rental units. 14. Support the 2022 Ordinance to inspect local landmarked properties every three years by using drones as a tool for more comprehensive inspections, especially in difficult-to- access areas of buildings. 15. Engage with community stakeholders and government agencies to address the causes of lead poisoning. 16. Continually train inspectors with bi-weekly in-house training. 17. Support inspectors in maintaining the required NYS Code Enforcement Officer certification and earning 24 hours of annual in-service training. 323 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES Housing Enforcement Division #65-1150 Licenses & Permits Division #65-1151 18. Attending community meetings and all clean sweeps. In the summer months, plan block walks to engage with residents and distribute educational materials. 19. Respond to and resolve referrals from the Mayor’s Resolution Line. 20. Maintain ongoing connections with members of the Common Council to improve our services to residents in every district. 21. Use numerous software systems to archive data on buildings, permits, building plans, owners, contractors, code violations, court cases, and businesses. Continually evaluate and improve our software systems to improve efficiency and the client experience where the public interacts with our software. 22. Increase DPIS's communication with media outlets and social media platforms to inform the public about ongoing departmental matters of interest, acknowledging the importance of a digital presence. 23. Evaluate the duties of clerks and continually cross-train staff to improve departmental flexibility. 24. Use Language Line to communicate with New Americans and other English Language Learners. Support employees who speak multiple languages to regularly work within the department to better serve the public. 25. Continue to improve communications and code compliance by arranging or quarterly meetings with developers and property managers. 26. Continual evaluation and reconstruction of the electrical division, leading to improved efficiency and effectiveness. Improvements include increased communications with National Grid, a new inspection request phone line, and a dedicated clerk to aid inspectors with administrative work. 27. Continuing ongoing effort intended to achieve 100% compliance on licensing in the City. The licensing team is reviewing licensed businesses and cross-referencing them with neighborhood patrols and internet searches to find businesses that have failed to obtain a license. 324 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES Housing Enforcement Division #65-1150 Licenses & Permits Division #65-1151 28. Improve the use of permitting software to collect more data and higher quality data. This effort is supported by bi-weekly meetings with MIS. 29. Implement new software to simplify the permitting and plan review process by adopting a user-friendly solution that seamlessly integrates into our operations, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery, and fostering better communication between clients and City staff. 325 ---PAGE BREAK--- DEPARTMENT OF PERMIT AND INSPECTION SERVICES Housing Enforcement Division #65-1150 Licenses & Permits Division #65-1151 Work Program Statistics Actual 2022-2023 Projection 2023-2024 Estimate 2024-2025 Regular Inspections Conducted 27,314 28,669 30,000 New court cases 892 909 920 Adjourned court cases processed 1,700 1,200 1,200 Demolitions completed 153 180 175 Demolitions Completed – Privately Owned (by owner, no cost to City) 64 80 70 Certificates of registrations for multiple dwellings 2,902 3,104 3,000 New construction certificates of occupancy 280 295 275 Certificates of Occupancy & Compliance 1,329 1,305 1,400 Number new liens placed against fire insurance 12 11 15 Licenses applied for 2,666 2,714 3,000 Plans filed 1,027 957 1,000 Plans approved 972 860 975 Permits issued (In Hansen) 20,190 20,649 21,000 Electrical permits issued 2,877 3,149 3,200 Elevator permits issued 116 95 110 Plumbing permits issued 2,938 3,053 3,000 Heating permits issued 3,057 3,139 3,000 326 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2022-2023 Actual Amount 2023-2024 Adopted Budget 2023-2024 Revised Budget 2023-2024 Year To Date 4/29/2024 2024-2025 Recommended Budget 1150 HOUSING AND ENFORCEMENT TOTAL 5,248,307 5,488,401 5,542,767 4,743,637 6,412,118 16550001 INSPECTIONS PS 4,340,766 4,976,671 4,923,804 4,223,260 5,878,122 411001 ANNUAL SALARY 3,997,554 4,612,391 4,555,981 3,849,720 5,193,332 412002 HOURLY SALARY 4,900 0 0 2,406 0 413001 OVERTIME 6,202 30,000 33,543 9,847 15,000 413003 ACTING TIME 5,995 4,000 4,000 12,878 8,000 414001 LONGEVITY 51,036 55,880 55,880 42,386 54,100 414007 PERFECT ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE 3,973 36,000 36,000 5,973 26,000 414008 LEADERSHIP STIPEND 0 0 0 0 540 414028 VACATION BUYOUT 7,683 8,000 8,000 6,304 8,000 415001 AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE 263,273 230,000 230,000 293,596 573,000 415002 CLOTHING ALLOWANCE 150 400 400 150 150 16550004 INSPECTIONS TR 14,850 12,000 15,950 15,950 19,500 458003 REGISTRATION & MEMBERSHIP FEES 14,850 12,000 15,950 15,950 19,500 16550005 INSPECTIONS SP 6,226 11,850 10,794 1,287 33,500 461003 PRINTING DUPLICATING SUPPLIES 778 600 600 470 500 461005 PHOTO & DRAFTING SUPPLIES 0 500 100 0 0 461007 COMP & SOFTWARE (NON CAPITAL) 200 2,000 2,000 156 2,500 461201 CLOTHING & UNIFORMS 355 6,000 6,155 455 18,600 464000 PERIODICALS 2,389 750 200 -651 6,500 467000 MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLIES 2,504 2,000 1,739 858 5,400 16550006 INSPECTIONS SV 109,644 137,880 242,180 165,740 130,996 432003 LEGAL SERVICES 38,878 40,000 40,000 26,645 40,000 434000 OTHER CONTRACTUAL SERVICES 0 13,000 120,000 86,019 0 444101 RENTAL LAND & BUILDINGS 62,964 71,280 69,080 52,470 79,596 454000 ADVERTISING 0 400 400 0 0 455000 PRINTING & BINDING 6,815 12,000 12,000 0 10,000 455100 INTERNAL PRINT SHOP 987 1,200 700 606 1,400 16550007 INSPECTIONS CO 776,820 350,000 350,040 337,400 350,000 471010 LAND IMPROVEMENTS 776,820 350,000 350,040 337,400 350,000 City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 General Fund 327 ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 Housing and Enforcement Budgeted Salaries ORG OBJ DESCRIPTION QTY SALARY TOTAL 16550001 411001 ACCOUNT CLERK TYPIST GRADE-A005 STEP 17 of 17 1 46,336.00 46,336.00 ACCOUNT CLERK TYPIST GRADE A005 STEP 5 OF 5 1 46,336.00 46,336.00 ASSOCIATE ACCOUNT CLERK A022 STEP 11 of 17 1 46,203.00 46,203.00 ASST DIR HOUSE PROP INSPECTION GRADE-A086 STEP 5 OF 5 1 88,212.00 88,212.00 ATTRITION (74,300.00) BOILER INSPECTOR GRADE-E006 STEP 5 OF 5 1 66,282.00 66,282.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR F001 Step 13 of 17 1 52,010.00 52,010.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR F001 Step 14 of 17 3 55,725.00 167,175.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 12 of 17 5 48,295.00 241,475.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 13 of 17 1 52,010.00 52,010.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 16 of 17 1 66,870.00 66,870.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 17 of 17 10 74,300.00 743,000.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 17 OF 17 8 74,300.00 594,400.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 5 OF 5 9 74,300.00 668,700.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE F001 Step 11 of 17 2 48,295.00 96,590.00 BUILDING INSPECTOR RENTAL REG F001 Step 12 of 17 1 48,295.00 48,295.00 Building Inspector Rental Reg F001 Step 16 of 17 1 66,870.00 66,870.00 328 ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 Housing and Enforcement Budgeted Salaries ORG OBJ DESCRIPTION QTY SALARY TOTAL 16550001 411001 BUILDING INSPECTOR RENTAL REG STEP 11 F001 3141 6 48,295.00 289,770.00 CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F003 STEP 11 1 71,558.00 71,558.00 CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F003 STEP 5 OF 5 3 82,221.00 246,663.00 CHIEF COMBUSTION INSPECTOR GRADE-E007 STEP 5 OF 5 1 73,318.00 73,318.00 CHIEF ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR GRADE-F003 STEP 5 OF 5 1 82,221.00 82,221.00 CHIEF PLUMBING INSPECTOR GRADE-F003 STEP 5 OF 5 1 82,221.00 82,221.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 13 OF 17 1 41,569.00 41,569.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 5 OF 5 1 44,224.00 44,224.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 11 of 17 1 40,242.00 40,242.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 12 of 17 1 40,904.00 40,904.00 COMBUSTION INSPECTOR GRADE-E006 STEP 5 OF 5 1 66,282.00 66,282.00 COMMISSIONER OF PERMIT & INSPECTION SERVICES. GRADE-I129 STEP 5 1 127,245.00 127,245.00 DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS I045 1 114,605.00 114,605.00 DIRECTOR OF MAYORS TASK FORCE GRADE-I 39 1 71,210.00 71,210.00 ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 17 OF 17 3 74,300.00 222,900.00 Environmental Safety Assessor I177 1 74,956.00 74,956.00 EXAMINER (PLUMBERS) GRADE-I001 STEP 5 3 2,079.00 6,237.00 329 ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 Housing and Enforcement Budgeted Salaries ORG OBJ DESCRIPTION QTY SALARY TOTAL 16550001 411001 LABORER II GRADE-B025 STEP 5 1 46,837.00 46,837.00 PLUMBING INSPECTOR GRADE-F001 STEP 5 OF 5 3 74,300.00 222,900.00 SENIOR TYPIST GRADE-A006 STEP 5 OF 5 1 46,936.00 46,936.00 SUPERVISOR OF ELEVATORS GRADE-F003 STEP 5 OF 5 1 82,221.00 82,221.00 SUPERVISOR OF SLUM & BLIGHT GRADE-F005 STEP 5 OF 5 1 81,849.00 81,849.00 TOTALS 82 5,193,332.00 330 ---PAGE BREAK--- 2022-2023 Actual Amount 2023-2024 Adopted Budget 2023-2024 Revised Budget 2023-2024 Year To Date 4/29/2024 2024-2025 Recommended Budget 1151 LICENSES AND PERMITS TOTAL 750,532 1,021,477 998,431 617,911 1,081,326 16551001 PERMITS PS 745,655 1,013,977 990,931 612,887 1,075,326 411001 ANNUAL SALARY 716,556 982,252 959,206 580,645 1,037,826 413001 OVERTIME 5,334 2,000 2,000 12,018 8,000 413004 SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL 0 1,500 1,500 0 0 414001 LONGEVITY 10,850 6,225 6,225 9,525 9,500 414007 PERFECT ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE 0 5,000 5,000 0 5,000 414028 VACATION BUYOUT 0 2,000 2,000 1,537 2,000 415001 AUTOMOBILE ALLOWANCE 12,915 15,000 15,000 9,162 13,000 16551004 PERMITS TR 175 100 100 0 100 458003 REGISTRATION & MEMBERSHIP FEES 175 100 100 0 100 16551006 PERMITS SV 4,702 7,400 7,400 5,024 5,900 432004 ENGINEER & TECHNICAL SERVICES 2,718 5,000 4,017 2,500 3,000 455000 PRINTING & BINDING 1,774 2,000 2,983 2,349 2,500 455100 INTERNAL PRINT SHOP 210 400 400 175 400 City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 General Fund 331 ---PAGE BREAK--- City of Buffalo Recommended Budget 2024-2025 Licenses and Permits Budgeted Salaries ORG OBJ DESCRIPTION QTY SALARY TOTAL 16551001 411001 ACCOUNT CLERK TYPIST GRADE-A005 STEP 17 OF 17 3 46,336.00 139,008.00 BINGO INSPECTOR GRADE-A022 STEP 5 OF 5 1 53,208.00 53,208.00 BUILDING CODE SPECIALIST A024 - STEP 13 of 17 1 68,439.00 68,439.00 BUILDING CODE SPECIALIST GRADE-A024 STEP 15 OF 17 1 71,599.00 71,599.00 CHIEF BUILDING INSPECTOR GRADE-F003 STEP 5 OF 5 1 82,221.00 82,221.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 13 OF 17 1 41,569.00 41,569.00 CLERK GRADE-A002 STEP 17 OF 17 2 44,224.00 88,448.00 CONSULTANT V 1 19,500.00 19,500.00 COORDINATOR OF DEVELOPMENTAL PLANS GRADE-A069 STEP 5 OF 5 1 78,552.00 78,552.00 LICENSE INSPECTOR GRADE-A029 STEP 17 OF 17 1 61,071.00 61,071.00 LICENSE INSPECTOR GRADE-A029 STEP 5 OF 5 1 61,071.00 61,071.00 SR ACCOUNT CLERK GRADE-A007 STEP 5 OF 5 1 47,592.00 47,592.00 SUPERVISING BUILDING CODE SPECIALIST GRADE-A073 STEP 5 OF 5 1 78,896.00 78,896.00 SUPERVISOR OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION GRADE-F002 STEP 17 OF 17 1 78,208.00 78,208.00 SUPERVISOR OF LICENSES A063 - STEP 4 of 5 1 68,444.00 68,444.00 TOTALS 18 1,037,826.00 332