Who can apply?  

Persons in the following eligible professions and who meet the minimum qualifications may apply:

• Licensed architects, civil and structural engineers
  • Minimum 3 years of experience with City of San José Building Codes is required.
  • Must be registered in the State of California for at least 3 years and certified to seal project drawings.
    
    
• Certified Access Specialists (CASp)
  • Must be certified in the State of California and in good standing.
    
    
• Unlicensed design professionals & licensed contractors
  • Minimum 3 years of experience with City of San José Building Codes is required.
  • Minimum of three issued permits that entailed plan review by the Building Division in the 36 months prior to your application to enroll; you must have acted as the professional of record or project lead.
  • Completion of a Best Prepared Designer training class offered by the Building Division (see below).

Steps to Enrolling

1. Download, complete, and digitally sign the Best Prepared Designer Enrollment Application.
   
   
2. Submit the application to BPD@sanjoseca.gov with the subject line “BPD Enrollment Application.”
   
   
3. Building Division staff will verify your eligibility. You will be notified via email of acceptance into the program and provided with a Best Prepared Designer ID number.
   
   
4. We will add your name to the public list of professionals with Best Prepared Designer privileges (see top of this page).

Eligible Projects

Only the following projects may be completed through the BPD Program. If you are an unlicensed designer or licensed contractor, you are limited to single-family residential projects and must use conventional framing.

Best Prepared Designer Project Eligibility Chart

Single-Family Residential Projects

• Addition of 500 sq. ft. or less on a single-story residence
• Attached patio cover
• Detached accessory building for use as a shed, playhouse, or similar
• Interior remodels
• New skylights
• Voluntary foundation repairs

Commercial Projects

• Barrier removals/ADA upgrades by a licensed architect with a signed CASp review
• Cell site projects (most)
• EV charging station installations that do not exceed 80% of panel/system capacity with a signed CASp review
• Gas station pump swaps
• Tenant improvement with a signed CASp review (only the Accessibility Review will be deferred)
• Wall-mounted signs

Enrolled professionals can submit eligible projects by emailing their submittal package to bpd@sanjoseca.gov. The submittal package must include:

• A completed, signed Building Permit Application (Form #310)
  
  
• A completed, signed Design Professional Certification Statement (Form #307-B)
  
  
• A complete plan set, including structural calculations and supporting details, as applicable
  
  
• A completed Best Prepared Designer Project Intake Checklist:
  • BPD Commercial Project Intake Checklist (Form #307-C); or
  • BPD Residential Project Intake Checklist (Form #307-D)

BPD TRAINING class

Required only for unlicensed design professionals or licensed contractors 

Attendance at a free training class hosted by the Building Division is required for unlicensed design professionals or licensed contractors prior to acceptance into the BPD Program.

 

As stated above, you must have at least three years of experience in ensuring compliance with City of San José building codes and have acted as the professional of record or project lead on at least three issued permits that required plan review by the Building Division in the 36 months prior to your date of enrollment application.

Upcoming Session 

There is no upcoming session scheduled at this time. To add your name to the registration list for our next class: Sign up Here