The County of Santa Clara Department of Planning and Development is at the County Government Center, East Wing, 7th Floor, 70 West Hedding Street, San José, (408) 299-5700. Since August 24, 2026, building, grading and drainage permits must be applied for through the Development Permit Application option on the County’s Public Permit Portal: the application first goes through a completeness review, then fees are collected and plan review starts.
This guide covers unincorporated Santa Clara County and San José, the county seat. The County’s website could not be checked, so these facts come from the Department’s documents and its Accela portal; the Environmental Health address is from an older brochure, so confirm it before you go.
Application types on the County portal
Development Permit Applications are accepted Monday - Thursday, 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., excluding County holidays. Minor Permit Applications (minor residential mechanical, electrical, plumbing and reroof) and Residential SolarApp+ applications can be submitted 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The PV roof-mount application has been removed from the portal.
New Planning land use applications require a meeting with staff before submittal. General Consultation meetings (formerly Virtual Counter) last up to 45 minutes and can be booked online, by phone or by email.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Contractors are licensed statewide by the Contractors State License Board (Classes A, B, B-2 and C) for work of $1,000 or more or any permitted work; a city may also require a business licence or tax registration. Contractor licensing in California
Who handles permitting in Santa Clara County?
Census estimates list fifteen incorporated cities and towns in the county, each with its own permitting; San Jose is by far the most populous.
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Planning and Development | Building, grading and drainage permits; 70 West Hedding Street, East Wing, 7th Floor, San José | (408) 299-5700 |
| Fire Marshal’s Office | Fire review | (408) 299-5760 |
| Land Development Engineering | Grading | (408) 299-5730 |
| Roads and Airports Department | County roads and sidewalks | (408) 494-2700 |
| Department of Environmental Health | Septic clearance before the building permit; 1555 Berger Drive, Suite 300, San Jose | (408) 918-3400 |
On septic parcels, DEH requires a septic clearance before the building permit is issued, which may include inspection of the tank and drain field.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Santa Clara County permit costs and fees
From the Building Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027 (effective July 18, 2026):
- Building permit: $821.89 for $1 - $5,000 of valuation; $1,438.31 for the first $25,000 plus $57.53 per additional $1,000 for $25,001 - $50,000.
- Residential plan check: 70% of the building permit fee.
- On a residential building permit, mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits are each 11% of the building permit fee, with a $410.00 minimum.
- In-ground residential swimming pool: $1,890.00 plan check plus $1,931.00 inspection.
- A 3% information technology fee applies to many items.
How to get a building permit in Santa Clara County
New land use applications need a meeting with staff; book a General Consultation of up to 45 minutes.
On a septic parcel, DEH must clear the project before the building permit is issued.
Use a Development Permit Application (Monday - Thursday hours) or, for minor trade and reroof work and residential solar, a Minor or SolarApp+ application at any time.
Plan review starts once the application is complete and fees are collected.
A County permit is valid for one calendar year from issuance and expires unless work starts and an inspection is approved within that year; ask for an extension before it expires (forms to e-permits@pln.sccgov.org).
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the County Department of Planning and Development on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California
Inspections in Santa Clara County
County building inspections can be requested through the Mobile Inspection App, the Public Permit Portal or the inspection request line, (408) 299-5700. Requests received before 3pm on a workday get a next-day inspection, and inspections can be requested up to five days in advance. Encroachment permits are tracked on the same portal. For land development work, notify the County land development inspector, (408) 299-6868, at least 24 hours before starting and for the final inspection.
Building permits in San José
Inside San José, the City’s Building Division, 200 E. Santa Clara St., Tower, 2nd Floor, runs the Development Services Permit Center and online permitting at www.SJPermits.org. Questions go to 408-535-3555 or BuildingPermits@sanjoseca.gov.
Rather not deal with the Santa Clara County building department?
Get a free quote →Official Santa Clara County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- County Public Permit Portal
- Notice: new Development Permit Application process (PDF)
- Building Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Building permit extensions (PDF)
- Septic clearance brochure (PDF)
- County resources directory (PDF)
- San José Building Division
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Can I still file a roof-mount solar permit on the County portal?
The PV roof-mount application has been removed from the portal. Residential SolarApp+ applications can be submitted at any time.
How long is a Santa Clara County building permit valid?
One calendar year from issuance. It expires unless work starts and an inspection is approved within that year; extensions must be requested before it expires.
Do I need Environmental Health approval on a septic parcel?
Yes. DEH requires a septic clearance before the building permit is issued, and it may inspect the tank and drain field.
Simplify Santa Clara County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Check whether the parcel is in a city or on county land, and which county offices beyond Building must sign off
- Line up septic, well, encroachment and fire approvals so they do not hold up the building permit
- File in the county portal, track review rounds and book inspections against the county’s cut-off times
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.
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More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Santa Clara County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.