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Department Names

Francis Vineyard

Francis Vineyard

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Joined
Jan 1, 2010
Messages
3,105
Location
Charlottesville, VA
We are considering renaming our department to be easily recognized and to find. Currently it's Neighborhood Development Services, but people ask what is that you do?

This department attaches Planners, Engineers, Department of Highway Liaison, Building and Property Maintenance under one roof.

I had difficulty finding the Building Inspection Dept. with other localities, for example one is under Public Works. Took me several links in the search to get to there inspection department, let alone figure out where it was located.

Any suggestions?
 
I have had the same problem looking at some other towns. The building department/inspections is hidden down somewhere inside the Planning and Development or some other umbrella. It's almost as if it is being hidden on purpose.
 
Francis,

The Building Code Books state; " The Department of Building Safety is hereby created"

As you stated; the department is hidden under many different departments; Public Works, Planning, Development, etc..

Inspections Department; or just Inspections; is a popular name in many cities.

Uncle Bob
 
Normally, I would recommend something like "Life Safety Services", but since the codes are no longer about life safety maybe try "Department of Social and Economic Justice".
 
Dog catcher

You do have a catch all dept

City or city wide development services and engineering ???
 
I vote for Building Department or Building Division of the (planning or fire or Economic Development) Department. that's a good catch all that at least guides us somewhere.
 
About ten years ago I believe it was 3 separate departments then; Engineering, Planning, Building and Life Safety. It probably makes too much sense to name it Engineering, Planning, Building and Life Safety. Powers that be brought us under a single umbrella with a single service counter enabling daily communication between us to help expedite all phases of construction, and provided customer convenience at a single location.

Similarly operating as a downsize business which of course includes marketing having no budget.
 
Sorry,

I thought you meant just the Building Inspections department.

Community Development is used by a lot of cities, to cover Planning, Building, and Engineering.

Uncle Bob
 
Our jurisdiction uses "Neighborhood Services" since that's the intended mission on who they serve. Call me "old school" but I've always liked Building Inspection Division but can realize merit in Pack's position.
 
Sidestep the question of the department name by placing a link to it from the first page on the city web site. Label the link "Building Permits"
 
OK, well, on the OP, We are under Community Developement, we are the Building Inspection Division, although now that we are thrown in with Fire Inspections, we go with the "Building Safety Unit" when we are functioning under that guise.
 
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