Contra Costa County, California Building Permit Guide

Contra Costa County’s Department of Conservation and Development (DCD) provides building permit and inspection services for unincorporated Contra Costa County along with the cities of Clayton, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda; other cities and towns have their own building departments. DCD’s Building Inspection office is at 30 Muir Road, Martinez, open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Building Code Hotline 925-655-2737).

This guide covers DCD’s building permit area. County pages give more than one main DCD number; this guide uses the Application and Permit Center number. Fees are from the Land Development Fee Schedule PDF, although the Payment Information page still cites an earlier adoption. The Environmental Health website could not be checked, so its contacts come from the County’s older permit lists.

What requires a building permit in Contra Costa County?

• Retaining walls of 3 feet or more need a building permit.
• Drainage plans (Ordinance 2007-01) are required for certain projects, including 1,000 square feet or more of new impervious surface, grading or clearing of more than 10,000 square feet, or work within 100 feet of the top bank of a mapped watercourse.
• Soil investigation report: required for a new single-family dwelling and for all commercial projects, unless the Building Official grants an exception. For flood zone information call (925) 313-2000.
• Local ordinances in Title 7 of the County Code cover gas shut-off valves, EV parking and charging (Ordinance 2015-22) and wood-burning appliances (Ordinance 2000-35).

Many projects, including all residential units, need Planning approval before a building permit.

California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments

Contra Costa County building department: who handles permitting

DCD does planning only for unincorporated areas. In Clayton, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda the city does planning and DCD does the building permit: for example City of Lafayette Planning 925-284-1976, Town of Moraga Planning 925-888-7040 and City of Orinda Planning 925-253-4210.

Contra Costa County permit costs and fees

Building and planning fees come from the Land Development Fee Schedule, adopted by the Board of Supervisors on May 24, 2022 and effective August 10, 2022:

• Plan review on improvement value up to $2,000: $49, plus $8.94 for each additional $1,000.
• A 40% Land Development Surcharge applies on all building permit fees.
• Residential re-roof: $150 for the permit/inspection plus $38 processing. Reinspections: $150 per inspection trip.

The permit can also include fees DCD collects for other agencies, such as fire district and school district impact fees and Public Works drainage area and road fees. Card payments carry a 2.5% convenience fee, and payments are taken only through the ePermits Center or in person or by mail, never by phone, e-mail or wire transfer.

How to get a building permit in Contra Costa County

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with County Building Inspection on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Inspections in Contra Costa County

Schedule inspections online in the ePermits Center (no login needed) or on the automated phone line, 925-646-4108. Same-day requests on the phone system are accepted until 5:30 AM Monday-Friday; same-day requests left on voicemail are not scheduled. Cancel or reschedule online before 6:00 AM on inspection day. The day’s schedule is posted after 8:45 AM, Monday-Friday, with 3 hour inspection windows. To avoid a cancelled inspection and a re-inspection fee, have the permit and stamped plans on site and a representative 18 years or older present.

Contra Costa County permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• DCD permit information
• Building inspections
• Payment information
• Land Development Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Building code and ordinances
• Permits by department (PDF)
• Application and Permit Center phone list (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

Does Contra Costa County issue building permits in Lafayette or Orinda?

Yes. DCD provides building permit and inspection services for Clayton, Hercules, Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda, but those cities do their own planning.

Does a retaining wall need a permit?

Yes, in DCD’s area a building permit is required for a retaining wall of 3 feet or more.

Can I pay County permit fees by phone?

No. Payments are taken only through the ePermits Center or in person or by mail.

Simplify Contra Costa County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm which office has the parcel and which other agencies must sign off before the building permit
• Prepare the application and plans in the format the local portal accepts
• Track plan review, pay fees and schedule inspections against each office’s cut-off

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Contra Costa County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.