San Jose building permits
Building permits in San Jose are issued by the City of San José Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, Building Division1. You can apply and request inspections online through sjpermits.org1.
On this page
- Building department contacts
- Do you need a permit in San Jose? Common projects
- Building codes in force in San Jose
- San Jose building permit fees
- How to get a building permit in San Jose
- Permit expiration and extensions
- Inspections in San Jose
- Building without a permit in San Jose
- Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- California rules that also apply in San Jose
- Sources
Building department contacts
City of San José Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, Building Division1
Building permits
- Website
- sanjoseca.gov1
- Apply online
- sjpermits.org1
- Phone
- (408) 535-35551
- [email protected]1
- Address
- Development Services Permit Center, San José City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St., 1st Floor, San José, CA 951132
- Hours
- Counter: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 8 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1-5 p.m.; Wed 9 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1-5 p.m.; phone M-F 7am-4pm2
- Inspections
- SJPermits.org or 408-535-35551
To look up permits already issued for an address (useful before you buy, or to check a contractor's work), use the city's official permit search: sjpermits.org4.
Do you need a permit in San Jose? Common projects
Each project below has its own page with San Jose's exact rule, the official wording, fees and inspections.
| Project | Permit needed? | Key limit in the city rule |
|---|---|---|
| Fence | Depends on size or scope | Exempt up to this height: 7 feet, for side and rear yards; on corner lots, only sides not along the street6 |
| Deck | Depends on size or scope | Exempt up to this area: 200 square feet6 |
| Shed | Depends on size or scope | Exempt up to this area: 120 square feet6 |
| Roof | Depends on size or scope | – |
| Pool | Yes | Pools exempt below this depth: 18 inches7 |
| Water heater | Yes | Like-for-like replacement exempt? No8 |
Building codes in force in San Jose
These are the model codes San Jose enforces, with the edition and the date it took effect. Plans are reviewed and work is inspected against them. For the state framework, see California building codes.
| Code | Title as adopted | Model edition | Effective | Adopted by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Building Code (IBC) | 2025 California Building Code - CCR Title 24 Part 29 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 2025 California Residential Code - CCR Title 24 Part 2.59 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2025 California Electrical Code - CCR Title 24 Part 39 | 202310 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) | 2025 California Mechanical Code - CCR Title 24 Part 49 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) | 2025 California Plumbing Code - CCR Title 24 Part 59 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| State code | 2025 California Energy Code – CCR Title 24 Part 69 | 20259 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31257 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) | 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code – CCR Title 24 Part 79 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| State code | 2025 California Historical Building Code - CCR Title 24 Part 89 | 20259 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| International Fire Code (IFC) | 2025 California Fire Code – CCR Title 24 Part 99 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31258 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| International Existing Building Code (IEBC) | 2025 California Existing Building Code - CCR Title 24 Part 109 | 202410 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31256 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
| State code | 2025 California Green Building Standards Code – CCR Title 24 Part 119 | 20259 | 9 | City Council, Ordinance No. 31257 (adopted November 18, 2025)11 |
Transition rules. Applications made on or after January 1, 2026 use 2025 codes9.
San Jose building permit fees
Fees come from the Building and Structure Permits Fee Schedule12, effective 12.
How valuation is set. ICC Construction Tax valuation rates (for construction taxes)12.
Each line is worded as in San Jose’s schedule; formulas are not added up into a total (how permit fees work).
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Credit card third-party service fee | Technology surcharge | 2.66% of credit card payments12 |
| Residential Express (expedited review) premium fee | Expedited review | 1.5 x the plan review fee for a Single-Family Residential Addition/Alteration5 |
How to get a building permit in San Jose
- Apply at SJPermits, then upload documents through SJePlans3
- Plan review with comments via SJePlans3
- Permit issued after plan approval and payment of final fees3
- Permit Card lists required inspections3
- Schedule inspections at SJPermits.org or 408-535-35553
- Apply online
- Yes13
- Over-the-counter permits
- Over-the-Counter Service for qualifying small single-family/duplex projects (e.g., accessory buildings under 500 sq ft, conventional framing)5
- Posting the permit
- Permit Card must be on site3
Permit expiration and extensions
- How long a permit lasts
- Expires 12 months from issuance or 180 days from last inspection approval14
- Extensions
- First extension adds 180 days; max two extensions (540 days total)14
Inspections in San Jose
The inspection San Jose’s published material names. Do not cover work until it has passed (how inspections work).
- Inspections listed on the Permit Card3
- How to schedule
- SJPermits.org "Schedule an Inspection" button; assistance M-F 7am-4pm at 408-535-355515
Building without a permit in San Jose
| Consequence | Applies to | As the city states it | Way to fix it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil penalty | Unpermitted work16 | $1,000 citation16 | Obtain a permit as if new (visible work) or schedule a code enforcement inspection at 408-535-7770 (concealed work)16 |
For how unpermitted work is usually legalized, see how to legalize unpermitted work.
Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- Homeowner may pull a building permit
- Yes17
- Sale or rental limits
- Owner-builder may not build single-family structures with intent to sell unless exceptions apply17
- Affidavit or declaration
- Yes17
California's statewide owner-builder and licensing rules are on the California permit guide.
California rules that also apply in San Jose
- Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections in California
- Contractor licensing in California
- Selling a home with unpermitted work in California
- Private plan review and inspections in California
Sources
- Building DivisionCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Development Services Permit CenterCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Checked November 7, 2026
- Fences & Retaining WallsCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Last updated April 15, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Legalizing ConstructionCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement, Code Enforcement DivisionChecked November 8, 2026
- Accessory Buildings & StructuresCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Last updated April 14, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Draft Ordinance amending Title 24 (Technical Codes) of the San José Municipal Code (Council Agenda 10/28/2025, Item…City of San José, City Council (Legistar)Published October 16, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Swimming Pools, Spas & Hot TubsCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Last updated April 15, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Water HeatersCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Last updated April 14, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Adopted Building CodesCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Guide to Title 24, 6th EditionCalifornia Department of General Services, Building Standards CommissionPublished July 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- San José City Council Minutes, November 18, 2025City of San José, City Council (Legistar)Adopted November 18, 2025Checked November 7, 2026
- Building Permit FeesCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Online Permits at SJPermits.orgCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Checked November 7, 2026
- Bulletin #203: How to Extend or Refile a Building PermitCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionRevised September 10, 2024Checked November 8, 2026
- InspectionsCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Bulletin #202: How to Legalize Unpermitted WorkCity of San José, Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE), Building DivisionRevised January 25, 2023Checked November 8, 2026
- Form #311: Owner-Builder Acknowledgement and Verification of InformationCity of San José, Development Services Permit Center (PBCE)Revised July 3, 2019Checked November 7, 2026