Plan Submittal & Permit Requirements
Please Note: For all residential projects that include additions and new structures, please contact PG&E and obtain preliminary clearance for your project prior to submitting for permit. Click on the PG&E handout PG&E projects submission(PDF, 216KB) for more details and links to PG&E required sites and documents. Please include any approvals from PG&E with your building permit submittal.
ADU/JADU and Additions
For Sprinkler requirements for your modification:
Prior to permit submittal, the owner of the proposed project shall provide to the Fire Department a dimensioned site plan indicating distance as measured around the exterior of the building(s) to the nearest public fire hydrant and public fire apparatus access roadway. The new construction shall be within 400-feet of a public fire hydrant and 150-feet of a public fire apparatus access road. Additional infrastructure or inclusion of fire sprinklers may be required to allow proposed construction if not in compliance with above requirements. For specifics on this please contact the Fire Department at 650.829.6645.
Plan Submittal Requirements - Residential and Commercial Projects
The handout provided is to assist you in preparing your submittal for plan check. “Section A” lists the minimum information required for most plan submittals. Additional plan information that may be needed is listed in "Section B". The scope of your project should be reviewed with Building Division Staff and the appropriate items will be marked. Plan Submittal Requirements and Application(PDF, 253KB)
To initiate the plan review process, the plan check application must be completed and submitted.
Based on the project valuation, a plan check fee will be collected at the time of submittal.
We are proud to offer the convenience of an Online Permitting Center that serves many general permit needs.
Type of Work that Requires a Building Permit
Any building or structure that is to be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished requires a Building Permit Application(PDF, 50KB) from the Building Division.
Who Can Obtain a Permit?
Limitations on who can take out a Building Permit are as follows:
- Property owners may take out a Building Permit as an owner-builder. If California licensed contractors do all of the work, the building may be offered for sale. However, an owner-builder may not construct a building that is intended for sale or offered for sale within one year of completion of the project.
- A lessee may take out a permit for a project with the same rights as an owner-builder, provided his/her lease allows for this to be done (this is mostly seen in the case of non-residential buildings). The lessee must provide evidence to the Building Division that they have this right.
- Contractors licensed in the State of California may take out permits for the type of work they are licensed to perform.
- Architects acting as agents for the owner may take out a permit.
- Any other person acting as an agent for an owner or contractor who can present a verifiable affidavit showing that they have authority to take out a permit.
Business License Requirements
Anyone who takes out a Building Permit and is being financially compensated for the work they do in conjunction with the permit, must also have a City Business License.
Work That Is Exempt from Permits
Please check with the Planning Division to ensure that you are also in compliance with their requirements. Exemptions are as follows:
Please Note: While the codes may exempt certain work from permit requirements, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work must still be permitted.
Workers Compensation Information
Section 3700 of the State of California Labor Code requires that anyone who is an employer must provide workers’ compensation insurance for their employees. You may be considered an employer if you hire someone to perform any type of work that is done for which a permit is issued.
If you hire a contractor who has employees, the contractor must have workers’ compensation insurance. If your contractor has employees and does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, you may be liable for any damages as a result of injury in the performance of the work for which the permit was issued.
It is highly recommended that persons hiring contractors obtain proof of workers’ compensation insurance coverage prior to the commencement of the work
You can apply for many permits through our online permitting center at permits.ssf.net for over-the-counter permits such as water heaters, furnaces, electrical upgrades, re-roofing, windows, photovoltaic, garage doors, siding and kitchen or bathroom updates without walls moving.
We are now accepting electronic submittals with the option to upload plans for residential and commercial with an attached completed plan check application (Plan Submittal Requirements and Application).