Building permits in Santa Clara County, California
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Santa Clara County, 5 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development, Development Services (Building Inspection Office)
- County Government Center, East Wing, 7th Floor, 70 West Hedding Street, San Jose, CA 95110
- Phone: 408-299-5700
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
Look up a permit in Santa Clara County
Santa Clara County permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history by address or permit number online.
What needs a permit in Santa Clara County
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Santa Clara County, 5 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | deck area, paired with a 30-inch height limit, no attachment to the dwelling, and no required exit door served | Decks are charged by valuation, not by a flat fee. |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Under the county's Building Section Services Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025 the... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence height at which the County Residential Code permit exemption stops applying | No fence-specific permit fee is published. |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Under the county's Building Section Services Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025 the... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | Not specified | No patio-specific flat fee is published. |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Under the county's Building Section Services Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025 the... |
| Pool Permit | It depends | depth of a prefabricated swimming pool | The county charges single-family residential swimming pools as flat fees. |
| Roof Replacement Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Reroof up to 5,000 square feet is a flat fee under the county's Building Section... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | floor area of a one-story detached tool or storage shed | No shed-specific flat fee is published. |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Not specified | Solar is charged as an electrical system only permit. |
Planning a project in Santa Clara County?
Hire it out
Before you sign, ask the contractor:
- Who pulls the permit, you or me, and is the permit fee included in the bid?
- Which inspections will this job need, and who meets the inspector on site?
- Is your contractor license active in this locality, and under which business name?
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project