Fees and Time Required

To assist in planning your project, DSA provides the following information:



What "Construction Cost" is

Both estimated and actual costs of the project reflect the total outlay for all work included in the approved plans and specifications (exclusive of fees paid but not recovered for architectural, engineering, inspection and testing services) regardless of whether the funds are provided by the school district, by other public or private agencies or by individuals. The cost includes any moving or relocation expenses. In the event a building is converted to school use (addressed in Title 24, Part 1, Section 4-306) the cost includes the current replacement cost of the building.



How Revisions of Plans and Specifications Affect Fees

No additional fee is charged for revisions to the approved plans and specifications, provided the revisions are to the same school building and do not require substantial checking for safety of design. If the original plans are abandoned and the plans and specifications submitted as revisions are for a new project, or they reflect a different structural concept from the original approved plans, it is necessary that a new application is filed and fee paid.



Structural Safety and Fire & Life Safety Review Fees

The following information is based on the California Administrative Code - Part 1, Title 24, California Code of Regulations, Article 4, Sections 4-320 through 4-325.

How Structural/Fire & Life Safety Fees are Calculated

As per Fee Schedule 11, the filing fee for project applications is 0.7 percent of the first $1,000,000 of estimated construction cost and 0.5 percent on the excess of the estimated cost over $1,000,000. The minimum fee is $250.00.



Access Compliance Review Fees

The following information is from the California Building Standards Administrative Code - Part 1, Title 24, California Code of Regulations, Article 1, Sections 5-104 through 5-109.

How Access Compliance Fees are Calculated

The filing fee for project applications is 0.4 percent of the first $500,000 of estimated construction cost, plus 0.2 percent of the estimated cost between $500,000 to $2,000,000, plus 0.02 percent of the estimated cost over $2,000,000. The minimum fee in any case is $400.00.



Sample Fee Calculations

Calculation for review of Structural Safety and Fire & Life Safety:

Estimated Construction Cost

Calculations

Final Filing Fee

$8,000

0.7% X $8,000 = $56.00

$250.00
(Minimum Charge)

$925,000.00

0.7% X $925,000 = $6,475.00

$6,475.00

$5,000,000.00

0.7% X $1,000,000 = $7,000.00
0.5% X $4,000,000 = $20,000.00

$27,000.00

The fee calculation for review of Access Compliance will be as follows:

Estimated Construction Cost

Calculations

Final Filing Fee

$5,000,000.00

.4% X $500,000.00 = $2,000.00
.2% X $1,500,000.00 = $3,000.00
.02% X $3,000,000.00 = $600.00

(Minimum Charge
is $400.00)
$5,600.00



Plan/Field Review Fee Calculator

Plan/Field Review Fee Calculator. This tool allows you to calculate the plan/field review fees for school and public building construction projects in DSA.



Estimating Plan Review Time

How long will it take?

The estimated plan review time generated by using this calculator is only intended for use as a planning tool when scheduling school construction projects. This estimated review time, in calendar days, may not apply in all cases. Contact a DSA Regional Office if a more detailed estimate is desired. DSA will monitor the accuracy of this calculator and make changes to reflect actual results.

Plan Review Time Calculator [1] [2]

Size ($ million)

<1

1-5

6-10

11-12

21-60 [3]

A. Intake [4]

30 days

35 days

35 days

35 days

35 days

B. New buildings (actual time to review – structural review takes the most time)

7 days

7-30 days

31-60 days

61-80 days

81 days + 2 days /$1mil

C. Modernization [5] (access compliance may take the most time for review)

7 days

14 days

21 days

28 days

28 days

D. Complexity

Increase the review time (B. or C. above) by up to 50% for complex projects, i.e. - unusual structural systems, curved walls, irregular structures, schools built on steep slopes, seismic retrofit

E. Reuse

Reduce the review time (B. above) based on how many individual buildings within a project are exactly the same as previously approved plans or repeat on the same project. i.e. – a project that has 10 buildings, with 3 identical buildings, will have a 20% savings in review time since only 8 building designs will need to be reviewed.

F. Number of Buildings

A large building takes less time to review than several small buildings. Subtract up to 20% for one/two large buildings or add up to 20% for several small buildings to the review time (B. above) based on number of buildings.

G. Architect/Engineer (A/E) Response to Plan Review Comments [6]

One to six months – dependent on architect/engineer (A/E) response. Experience is that few projects are returned for back-check in less than 30 days. Projects can be voided if back-check doesn't start within six months of when the check-set was returned to the A/E for corrections.

H. Back-check New [6] [7]

2 days

5 days

10 days

15 days

30 days

I. Back-check Modernization [5] [6] [7]

2 days

2 days

2 days

3 days

5 days

Footnotes

[1] Days indicated are calendar days.

[2] Preliminary meetings, especially for large or complex projects, are suggested at which the specific details of a project can be considered and a schedule discussed and agreed upon.

[3] The DSA Regional Office should always be contacted for determining review times for projects over $60 million in construction cost.

[4] Intake time will increase if incomplete drawings are submitted. Plan review will not begin until a complete submittal is received.

[5] These times do not apply to rehabilitation projects. Preliminary meetings are strongly encouraged for rehabilitation projects.

[6] Quality of the design, responsiveness of the A/E to the comments and level of preparation for back-check can significantly affect the schedule. The values shown are based on reasonable performance.

[7] Upon receipt of the stamped file copies of the plans and specifications, DSA shall issue a letter approving the application. This letter constitutes the "written approval, as to the safety of design and construction" required by sections 17297 and 81134, Education Code, before any valid contract for construction may be made or executed.



Sample Project (1) Modernization

Given:

  • $5 million construction cost
  • steeply sloping site
  • complete submittal
  • 1 month turn-around

Calculation: Project (1) Modernization

A. Intake

35 days

C. Modernization

14 days

D. Complexity (+10%C)

1.4 days

G. A/E Response

30 days

I. Back check

2 days

EST. TOTAL

82 days


Sample Project (2) New

Given:

  • $20 million middle school
  • regular type buildings
  • three classroom wings (30% of the project) exactly the same
  • complete submittal
  • 1 month turn-around

Calculation: Project (2) New

A. Intake

35 days

B. New - Review

80 days

E. Reuse (-20% B)

-16 days

G. A/E Response

30 days

I. Back check

15 days

EST. TOTAL

144 days


Sample Project (3) New

Given:

  • $20 million middle school
  • complex structural design
  • many small buildings
  • incomplete submittal causing 14 day delay
  • 2 month turn-around

Calculation: Project (3) New

A. Intake + 14 days

49 days

B. New - Review

80 days

D. Complexity (+10% B)

8 days

F. # of Bldgs. (+15% B)

12 days

G. A/E Response

61 days

I. Backcheck

15 days

EST. TOTAL

225 days