The Value of a Job Card

If you're remodeling your home, or doing any construction that requires a permit from the San Francisco Building Department (just about everything except paint and wallpaper requires a permit), then you will be issued what is called a 'Job Card' (I capitalize it to emphasize its importance). This card, pictured right, is a record of inspections of the work by the  building inspector, who will make notes on it and sign it each time he or she visits your job site. The Job Card is given to you when you are issued a building permit. It should be kept on the job site at all times until work is completed.

The Job Card is an important record of the Department of Building or Inspection's signing off on your completed work. When your job is finished and your work is "finaled," you should keep the job card along with your building permit with your permanent records on your property.

Here's the gotcha: The inspector is supposed to update the records in the building department's computers, but that doesn't always happen. So it's vitally important that you keep your Job Cards so you have proof that the job was signed off on. Otherwise, when you go to sell your house, the 3R Report, which is the record of permits that have been pulled on your property, will be incomplete. Having the Job Card to show the building department can reverse the incorrect information.

So the advice is to keep your Job Cards with your family trust and birth certificates. They are that important!