For eligible projects, STAR facilitates efficient, speedy plan review through an in-person meeting with the project design team and staff from across City departments. Working together, the group can find on-the-spot creative resolution of questions and issues concerning the project’s design and compliance.

Formerly known as Special Tenant Improvement-Industrial Tool Installation (STI-ITI) Service, we have renamed the service and revised requirements as outlined on this page. This is a popular service for office and commercial tenants who are undertaking improvements to a leased space.

To get started, you'll first request review of your project's eligibility for STAR service. 

Request Project Eligibility Review

1. Review the STAR Eligibility Criteria section below. If your project meets the criteria, proceed with these steps. If it does not meet the criteria, instead submit your project to our Commercial Service for plan review.

2. Complete the Project Eligibility Review Request Form and email it to Targeted.Review@sanjoseca.gov. 

3. Building Division staff will email you to confirm your project's eligibility. If eligible, you will also be offered some meeting date/time options. You may then proceed to select a meeting appointment for project review.  

All design team members are required to attend the STAR Plan Review meeting in-person at City Hall. Lack of full attendance may result in cancellation of the meeting.   

PREPARE FOR STAR PLAN REVIEW MEETING

This is a 90-minute, in-person meeting at City Hall. The project's design team will meet with staff from the City's Planning, Building, Public Works, and Fire departments. All design professionals on the applicant’s design team must attend. Lack of full attendance may result in cancellation of the meeting. 

Save time by meeting our eligibility criteria. City staff rely on the accuracy of information submitted by the applicant in the Project Eligibility Review Request form to determine a project's eligibility. If an applicant brings plans for an ineligible project to the review meeting, the meeting will be promptly cancelled and the applicant will be directed to submit their plans through the standard review process. 

Cost of cancellations. If a review meeting is cancelled or rescheduled with less than 2 business days’ notice, or involves no-shows on the day of the meeting, the cost of the associated review time plus the 50% surcharge fee will be billed to the applicant’s account.  

Preparation Steps

1. Prepare Your Submittal. Follow the instructions for the STAR Submittal Requirements (see above).
   
   
2. Pay Fees. Pay the initial plan check fees at least 5 business days before the meeting. See fees in our Building Fee Schedule.
   
   
3. Upload Plans/Documents. Upload the project plans, documents and required forms at least 2 business days before the meeting.
   
   
   • Format and name the files according to the Electronic Plan Review - File Format Requirements.
     
     
   • Follow the instructions at Upload Your Project Files.
     
     
4. Bring Plans to the Plan Review Meeting. Bring stamped and signed hard copies of full-size plans to the meeting. See the STAR Submittal Requirements section for details on the plans to bring.

RESOURCES

• Project Eligibility Review Request Form 
  
  
• Visit SJEconomy for information about locating your project in San José.