MEDIA RELEASE

Homebuilders can expect a little relief with their building permit applications under a new procedure that took effect March 1, 2010. The building division of the County Department of Public Works no longer requires pre-engineered wooden roof truss drawings or roof framing plans to be submitted with a building permit application.

Instead, the architect or structural engineer of record accepts responsibility and liability for engineering, construction and installation of wooden roof trusses in an acceptance letter to the building division.

This change keeps the design/construction process moving forward, allowing for the solicitation of bids, hiring of a contractor and time to shop for an engineer to do roof truss drawings appropriate to the project.

The acceptance letter must be received and approved prior to scheduling a framing inspection with the area-building inspector assigned to their project.

The letter with the architect or structural engineer seal should include a tax map key, property owner’s contact information and contractor’s name. It should be addressed to Brian Kajikawa, building division chief, Department of Public Works, and mailed or delivered to: (Hilo) Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Ste. 7, or (Kona) 75-5706 Kuakini Hwy. Office hours are weekdays Monday-Friday 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.