Permit records
Alameda County permit search
Alameda County permit records are public. The county publishes them through Alameda County Permit Portal, and searching does not require an account.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 10 official sources
- Project types verified
- 10
- in Alameda County
- Search verified
- 8 Sep 2026
- we opened it ourselves
Search Alameda County permit records
Covers the unincorporated county only (Castro Valley, San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, Sunol and the other unincorporated areas). Records show as map dots, red for active and green for closed; the county's own advice is to type just the street number and the first few letters of the street name. Files older than 2001 are requested through the historical file form on permit.acgov.org.
The search accepts address or case number.
Open the Alameda County record searchApplying rather than searching? Use the Alameda County permit portal
We opened this address ourselves on . Official government links only, and we check them on a schedule.
How to search
- Open the Alameda County permit record search.
- Enter an address, or switch the search type to look up permits by case number.
- Open a result to see the permit's status, inspection history, and issue date.
If the permit does not turn up
Older permits are often missing from online records, and a permit filed under a contractor's name will not surface in an address search that expects the owner. Alameda County Public Works Agency, Building Inspection Department can check the paper file.
- 399 Elmhurst Street, Room 141, Hayward, CA 94544-1395
- Phone: 510-670-5440
- Email: permitbid@acpwa.org
- Official permit page
- Official fee schedule
What needs a permit in Alameda County
Every project type we have verified in Alameda County, with the rule, the threshold, and the fee that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | Height of a raised deck above adjacent grade at which the building permit exemption stops, and only where the deck is not over a basement or story below and is not part of an accessible route | ...valuation using the Schedule A building permit fee table (for example, '$381.46 for... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...of a building permit scope, 'Electrical Permit 20% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Permit exemption height limit: 7 feet for fences of light materials, 5 feet 9 inches for fences of concrete, masonry, or similar heavy materials | ...using the Schedule A building permit fee table, which starts at a '$140.00 minimum... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...of a building permit scope, 'Mechanical Permit 18% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Total area of each sunshade structure, including any roofed area, at which the building permit exemption stops; the exemption also requires an average height of not more than 10 feet | ...is priced from construction valuation using the Schedule A table with a $140.00... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...of a building permit scope, 'Plumbing Permit 17% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | Depth of a prefabricated pool at which the building permit exemption stops; the exemption also requires the pool to hold no more than 5,000 gallons and to be installed entirely above ground | ...A table, plus building plan review at '80% of the Building Permit fees, $140.00... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | Aggregate roof area repaired on a previously permitted roof, at which the building permit exemption stops | ...valuation on the Schedule A building permit fee table, which begins '$140.00... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | Floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed accessory to a house, at which the building permit exemption stops | ...and the Schedule B square-foot valuation table, with a stated minimum of '$140.00... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...energy system less than 35 Kva per system (when no plan review is required) $280.00... |