California / Contra Costa County
Plumbing Permit in Contra Costa County, California
Permit required
Yes, a permit is required
Before replacing, adding, or extending gas piping, before installing or replacing a water heater, and before replacing existing piping systems or running new water or gas lines.
Issued byContra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources
Quick answer
Contra Costa County's fee schedule states that a plumbing permit is required for all plumbing work regulated by the Plumbing Code, and that where the plumbing work is performed in conjunction with a building permit the fee may be added to that permit so a separate plumbing permit is not required. The county's Residential Gas Piping handout applies the same rule to gas work: "A plumbing permit is required to replace, add or extend any gas piping. Permits are required prior to installation or replacement of gas piping." The county's All About Building Permits guide separately lists replacement of existing piping systems and installation or replacement of water heaters among the common activities requiring a building permit.
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When a permit is usually needed
Before replacing, adding, or extending gas piping, before installing or replacing a water heater, and before replacing existing piping systems or running new water or gas lines.
What a plumbing permit costs in Contra Costa County
How Contra Costa County compares in California
No California jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.
| Jurisdiction | Permit needed? | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | Permit required | ...permit scope, 'Plumbing Permit 17% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... |
| Contra Costa Countythis page | Permit required | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00... |
| Fresno County | Permit required | ...2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47... |
| Los Angeles | Permit required | ...per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and... |
| Los Angeles County | Permit required | ...the Los Angeles Code, Ord. No. 2013-0050), effective July 1, 2026: $41.35... |
| Orange County | Permit required | Plumbing Permit Application Flat Fee: $363 for FY 2024-25, $383 for FY... |
| Riverside County | Permit required | Residential Plumbing (BPL-RPLU): $274.30 fixed fee, per Appendix A to... |
How to apply in Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.
What most plumbing permit applications include:
- For Contra Costa County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
- For Contra Costa County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
- Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
- Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
- Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).
General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division sets the exact checklist for Contra Costa County.
Where to apply in Contra Costa County:
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
- Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553
- Phone: 925-655-2700
- Email: permits@dcd.cccounty.us
Plumbing Permit in Contra Costa County compared with nearby California localities
| Locality | Permit needed? | Threshold | What each California schedule says | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... | |
| Alameda County | Permit required | Any size | ...of a building permit scope, 'Plumbing Permit 17% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... | |
| Fresno County | Permit required | Any size | ...Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47... | |
| Los Angeles | Permit required | Any size | Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and a... | |
| Los Angeles County | Permit required | Any size | ...28 of the Los Angeles Code, Ord. No. 2013-0050), effective July 1, 2026: $41.35 for... |
Inspections and closing out your permit
In Contra Costa County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
- In Contra Costa County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
- In Contra Costa County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
- In Contra Costa County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
- In Contra Costa County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
- In Contra Costa County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
- In Contra Costa County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
- In Contra Costa County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).
Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Contra Costa County permit portal or by phone at 925-655-2700.
Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.
Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Contra Costa County
- Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before replacing, adding, or extending gas piping, before installing or replacing a water heater, and before replacing existing piping systems or running new water or gas lines.
- Budget the fee. Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum." Plumbing inspection fees for an addition or alteration to a dwelling unit start at $75.00 plus $0.14 for each additional $1,000 above $2,000 of improvement value; work not covered by the listed tiers is calculated from the S-002 A.1 Building Permit valuation table. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. Official fee schedule.
- Apply. In Contra Costa County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Contra Costa County permit portal.
- Keep the office details handy. Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Phone: 925-655-2700. Address: Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553.
- Plan for inspections. In Contra Costa County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.
Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked .
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need a plumbing permit in Contra Costa County?
- Contra Costa County's fee schedule states that a plumbing permit is required for all plumbing work regulated by the Plumbing Code, and that where the plumbing work is performed in conjunction with a building permit the fee may be added to that permit so a separate plumbing permit is not required. The county's Residential Gas Piping handout applies the same rule to gas work: "A plumbing permit is required to replace, add or extend any gas piping. Permits are required prior to installation or replacement of gas piping." The county's All About Building Permits guide separately lists replacement of existing piping systems and installation or replacement of water heaters among the common activities requiring a building permit. Always confirm with the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division before starting.
- How much does a plumbing permit cost in Contra Costa County?
- Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum." Plumbing inspection fees for an addition or alteration to a dwelling unit start at $75.00 plus $0.14 for each additional $1,000 above $2,000 of improvement value; work not covered by the listed tiers is calculated from the S-002 A.1 Building Permit valuation table. Fee schedule adopted May 24, 2022, effective August 10, 2022. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
- Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Contra Costa County?
- You can apply through the Contra Costa County permit portal or contact the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division directly. The links are listed on this page.
- Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Contra Costa County?
- Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how Contra Costa County applies this before you apply.
From the Library
What else needs a permit in Contra Costa County
Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | area of a deck that is also no more than 30 inches above grade at any point, is not attached to a dwelling, and does not serve a code-required exit door | No deck-specific flat fee is published |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 C.6, "Electrical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | height of a fence, with concrete and masonry walls treated as walls rather than fences | ..."Fences Greater than 7ft": Building Permit / Inspection, chain-link or wood $116.00... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 D.6, "Mechanical Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | roof area of a trellis, arbor, or pergola accessory to a residence, treated by the county as a one-story detached accessory structure | ...cover (includes pre-fab types, usually with ICBO research listing)" at $25.73 per... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated pool accessory to a one or two family dwelling that is installed entirely above ground and holds no more than 5,000 gallons | The Building Valuation Data Supplement sets a "Swimming pool, lump sum of: $39,514.98"... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Schedule item 14, "Re-Roofs - Residential": Building Permit / Inspection $150.00... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached accessory structure | No shed-specific flat fee is published |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...mount," photovoltaic systems 15 kW or less: Building Permit/inspection $86.00 per... |
Plumbing Permit in other California localities
Everything above, sourced
Code references
National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Contra Costa County documents; the office above sets the local rules.
How this plumbing permit page for Contra Costa County was verified. 2 official sources: contracosta.ca.gov, contracosta.ca.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.
Last checked: Report an error on this page
Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across California localities