San Antonio DSD — Building Permits & Certificate of Occupancy

SA Development Services — Building Permits & COO

Source: Small Business Building Permits Guide, Development Services Dept., City of San Antonio (March 2015). Core process is stable; fees should be verified at sanantonio.gov/dsd before relying on them.

Step 0 — Free commercial consultation first

Before purchasing or signing a lease, schedule a free commercial consultation at the One-Stop (Development Services) to verify zoning and confirm the property is platted. Parking is checked here — the number of required spaces is tied to occupant load (number of seats). Phone: 210-207-1111.

Do I need a new Certificate of Occupancy?

Change of ownership with same use: No new COO needed — request a name change on the existing COO.

Change of use: New COO required. The DSD guide explicitly cites “adding coffee counter/shop to a book store” and “changing an office into a restaurant” as examples that require a new COO.

601 Delaware’s last use was auto repair (Olympia Mobile Alignment, 1989). A coffee shop is a full change of use — a new COO is required.

Business types that always require a new COO

Alcohol Sales · Bed & Breakfasts · Boarding Homes · Head Shops · Transitional Homes · Live Entertainment · Community Homes & Assisted Living Facilities · Salvage Yards & Metal Recycling Facilities

A coffee shop without alcohol is not on this always-require list, but still needs a new COO due to the change of use from auto repair.

Do I need a building permit?

A building permit is required for any changes to the structure, interior alterations, or change/expansion of use. For a coffee shop build-out at 601 Delaware, permits will be needed for:

Requires a permit:

Removing/adding interior walls
Installing commercial cooking exhaust system
Installing new plumbing fixtures (espresso bar, three-compartment sink)
Constructing a washroom or barrier-free washroom
Installing a grease interceptor or backflow preventer
Installing exit signs/emergency lighting
Any patio over 120 sq ft

Does NOT require a permit:

Painting, floor tiling, or carpeting
Installing minor millwork and cabinetry
Replacing existing windows (same size and location)

Which permit application?

Application	When to use
Commercial Minor Repairs	Repair-only work (windows, walls, floors, sheetrock); no plans required; may still need COO application if use is changing
Commercial Remodel Permit	Structural changes to walls, corridors, or doors; building plans required
Commercial Building Permit	New construction, adding square footage, or interior finish-out; building plans required

For a 601 Delaware coffee shop build-out (new plumbing, possible wall changes, exhaust system): Commercial Remodel Permit at minimum, likely plus a COO application.

Before submitting — Preliminary Plan Review

Optional paid meeting with DSD and your contractor before submitting plans. Identifies issues early and prevents costly revisions. Bring:

Agenda of items to discuss
Detailed project plan
Design documents

Topics to cover: mechanical/electrical/plumbing permits, parking requirements, tree preservation/landscaping, addressing if subdividing, how to track plan review and inspections online.

Permit cost

Building permit fees are based on the value of the project. Fee schedule and estimator at sanantonio.gov/dsd.

Timeline

Plans must meet city building codes before permit is issued. DSD will provide a deficiency list if plans have problems. Fast-track permits and partial/conditional approvals are available.

Contact

One-Stop consultation: free; schedule at DSD
Permit questions: 210-207-1111
Online: sanantonio.gov/dsd (Accela Customer Access portal for applications)
COO reprint (no use change): $53 with surcharges

H and H Coffee