PLAN CHECK INQUIRY FORM

About the Program

Category: Information Technology (Best in Category)

Year: 2023

The County of San Diego’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Plan Check Program oversees new construction and remodeling of public swimming pools, food, massage, and body art facilities to provide guidance and verify code compliance. DEHQ staff reviews plans that consist of the facility layout, materials, and equipment, and conducts field inspections of the construction projects to ensure proper installation. An inquiry form was created using Microsoft Forms to streamline communication between staff and customers. Based on their responses, customers are either directed to resources on the DEHQ website or are asked to enter specific information so staff can better respond to their request. Customers are also able to schedule an inspection if needed. Additionally, Microsoft Forms has built-in data analytics that have helped DEHQ track inquiries in a more accurate manner and make changes to the DEHQ website to better serve customers. Implementing the inquiry form has saved an average of 15 minutes of back-and-forth communication between staff and customers for each inquiry received. In 2022, DEHQ received 1,178 inquiries through the form, which equates to an estimated 295 hours of time savings or about $47,000.