County building permit guide
Santa Clara County, California building permits — complete guide (2026)
Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development handles county jurisdiction permits, while San Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Milpitas, and other cities operate their own permit systems.
Avg cost: $200–$1
200+
Processing: 3–10+ weeks
~20K permits/yr
~1.9M residents
$200–$1,200+Avg permit cost
3–10+ weeksProcessing time
~20,000Permits/year
Very ADU-friendly; city-dependentADU-friendly
Ready to apply for your Santa Clara County, California permit?
County Planning and Development applies to county jurisdiction. Most large cities have separate building departments.
Use Santa Clara County Planning and Development permit resources ↗
Santa Clara County, California Building Department
Yes
Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development
(408) 299-5700
Mon–Fri business hours; verify current counter hours
70 W Hedding St, San Jose, CA 95110
Santa Clara County permit resources / public permit portal
Jurisdiction is critical in Santa Clara County. Many parcels are inside cities, and projects may also require fire, grading, geologic, hillside, tree, or airport land-use review.
Permit fees — Santa Clara County, California, 2026
| Permit type | Fee range | Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Construction | $1,000–$5,000 | 6–12 weeks | Highest fees in NorCal; EV-ready required; solar mandate |
| ADU | $400–$2,000 | 3–8 weeks | Pre-approved plans in San Jose; fee waivers for affordable ADUs |
| Solar | $100–$400 | 1–3 weeks | All new homes must have solar; SolarAPP+ accepted; battery storage permits common |
| Room Addition | $500–$2,500 | 4–8 weeks | Seismic upgrades often required; all-electric for new work in several cities |
| Pool | $500–$1,800 | 4–8 weeks | High fees; safety fence required; drought surcharge in some cities |
| Electrical | $150–$500 | 1–3 weeks | EV charger very high volume; panel upgrades common |
| HVAC | $150–$400 | 1–2 weeks | All-electric heat pump required in several SCC cities |
| Roofing | $200–$600 | 2–3 weeks | Class A in VHFHSZ; cool roof requirements; tile common |
| ADU Garage Conversion | $300–$1,500 | 3–6 weeks | Most common ADU type; must meet habitability standards |
| Battery Storage | $200–$600 | 1–3 weeks | Tesla Powerwall permits; fire separation requirements in garages |
How to get a permit in Santa Clara County, California
1
Identify your city
15 cities in SCC, each with own building dept. Only unincorporated areas use county department.
2
Check all-electric mandates
San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto prohibit gas in new construction. Heat pumps, induction, electric water heaters required.
3
Seismic requirements
Seismic Design Category D. Hayward Fault runs through county. All major additions require seismic engineering.
4
Submit plans online
Most cities use Accela. Palo Alto and Mountain View have particularly thorough review processes.
5
CalGreen + solar
All new homes require solar (Title 24 2022), EV-ready conduit, water-efficient fixtures.
6
Schedule inspections
Book 1–2 weeks ahead for structural. Trade inspections within 3–5 business days.
Jurisdictions within Santa Clara County, California
Special zone requirements
Seismic Zone 4 (SDC D)
County-wide
Hayward Fault. Highest seismic risk in NorCal. Soft-story retrofit programs in San Jose.
Very High Fire Hazard Zone
Santa Cruz Mtn foothills, eastern hills
Chapter 7A fire-resistant construction. Some fire districts charge surcharges.
All-Electric Mandate
San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto
Gas prohibited in new construction. Heat pumps, induction, electric water heaters required.
Frequently asked questions — Santa Clara County, California
Does SCC require solar on new homes?
Yes — Title 24 requires solar on all new single-family homes since 2020. System sized based on conditioned floor area.
What is the all-electric mandate?
San Jose, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, and others prohibit gas in new residential construction. All heating, cooking, water heating must be electric.
ADU permitting in SCC?
60-day approval mandated for ADUs under 850 sq ft. San Jose has pre-approved plans and waives impact fees for below-market-rate ADUs. Garage conversions most common.
EV charger permit requirements?
Electrical permit required for Level 2 EVSE. Cost $150–$300. Most cities have simplified 1-page application.
Official sources: Santa Clara County Department of Planning and Development; 2025 California Building Standards Code; 2025 California Energy Code; U.S. Census BPS.