Building permits in the City of San José are issued by the Planning, Building & Code Enforcement (PBCE) Building Division, with applications filed at SJPermits.org and plan review through SJePlans. The city offers several service tracks — from Over-the-Counter issuance to the Streamlined Tenant Alteration Review (STAR) — and the 2025 California building codes have been in effect since January 1, 2026.
This San José building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the SJPermits.org process, the service tracks, trade permits, and inspections — so your San José project starts clean.
This guide covers the City of San José. PBCE permits only work within city limits; unincorporated Santa Clara County and other cities run their own processes. Plan review is currently running longer than usual due to application volume — the city advises adding two to three weeks to posted review time frames.
What requires a building permit in San Jose?
Under the California Building Standards Code (Title 24, 2025 edition) as adopted with San José amendments, a permit is required before most construction, alteration, or demolition. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and ADUs
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Swimming pools, signs, and retaining walls
- Rooftop solar PV (required on new construction)
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Use the project Wizard to confirm the right pathway, then apply through SJPermits.org first.
Who handles permitting in San Jose?
Permitting is administered by the PBCE Building Division, which also runs the Development Services Permit Center. Projects route to the appropriate service track, and a project Wizard helps identify the correct pathway before you apply.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Development Services Permit Center, San José City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St., 1st Floor, San José, CA 95113 |
| Phone | (408) 535-3555 (Mon–Fri, 7 a.m.–4 p.m.) |
| Online portal | SJPermits.org — apply, pay, track, schedule; plan review via SJePlans |
| Project Wizard | Identifies the right permit pathway before you apply |
| Construction tax | Applies per ICC valuation rates; confirm current schedule |
| Enforced code | California Building Standards Code (Title 24, 2025 edition) with San José amendments |
Start with the project Wizard, then apply at SJPermits.org. The Wizard identifies the right pathway; you can apply, upload plans (SJePlans), pay fees, and schedule inspections online. Card payments under $100,000 are accepted with a 2.66% third-party service fee — other payment methods avoid it.
San Jose building permit cost
San José building permit fees come from the Building and Structure Permits Fee Schedule and are based on plan review and permit issuance for the type and valuation of work. A separate construction tax applies, calculated using ICC valuation rates, and credit-card payments carry a 2.66% service fee.
Because the fee schedule and construction-tax rates are updated periodically, confirm current amounts in SJPermits.org or the published schedule before budgeting. The city's Building Fee Estimator can help scope residential and ADU costs.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Plan review fee | Based on the type and valuation of work |
| Permit issuance fee | Collected at issuance per the fee schedule |
| Construction tax | Calculated using ICC construction valuation rates |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| Card service fee | 2.66% on credit-card payments (other methods avoid it) |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific San Jose project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
San Jose trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and a CSLB-licensed contractor, each filed in SJPermits.org.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a CSLB-licensed (C-10) electrician.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a CSLB-licensed (C-36) plumber.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a CSLB-licensed (C-20) mechanical contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools, signs, and solar are permitted separately. San José offers a Streamlined Restaurant Program for small food/beverage spaces and a Streamlined Tenant Alteration Review (STAR) for eligible office and commercial interior improvements, issued in a single group meeting.
Verify your contractor's license. California requires a Contractors State License Board (CSLB) license for any project where labor and materials total $500 or more — covering general (A/B) and specialty trades (C-10 electrical, C-36 plumbing, C-20 HVAC). Verify a license at (800) 321-2752 before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in San Jose
Use the Wizard & confirm zoning
Run the SJPermits project Wizard to identify your pathway, confirm the parcel is inside city limits, and check zoning and design considerations.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application (computer-fillable PDF with digital signature), valuation, signed plans, and Title 24 energy documentation.
Apply at SJPermits.org
Create or log into your account and submit through the right service track — Over-the-Counter, Standard Plan Review, Streamlined Restaurant, or STAR.
Plan review & corrections
Upload plans via SJePlans; add two to three weeks to posted review time frames due to current volume. Resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay fees and the construction tax (card under $100k carries a 2.66% fee), then download and post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections in SJPermits.org. Clear all required inspections to obtain your final approval or Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in San Jose
Schedule inspections through SJPermits.org using your permit number. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site throughout construction.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official San Jose permitting resources
- 🏛️ San José Building Division
- 💻 SJPermits.org online services
- 📋 Development Services Permit Center
- 💵 Building permit fees & taxes
- 🪪 Contractors State License Board (CSLB)
- 📘 California Building Standards Commission
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San José's project Wizard, multiple service tracks, construction tax, and currently-extended review times reward applicants who pick the right pathway and submit complete packages. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for San José — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know SJPermits.org and the PBCE process, so your San José submissions move faster.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of San José Planning, Building & Code Enforcement Department before filing. This is not legal advice.