Building permits for unincorporated Santa Cruz County are issued by the Building section of the County’s Community Development and Infrastructure (CDI) department. The Unified Permit Center, 701 Ocean Street, 4th Floor, Santa Cruz, sees customers for building, zoning, geologic hazards, environmental planning, environmental health and public works by appointment, Monday through Thursday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. A cashier is available without appointment Monday - Thursday 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM.
This guide covers unincorporated Santa Cruz County. The four incorporated cities, Santa Cruz, Watsonville, Scotts Valley and Capitola, run their own permitting.
EZ Permits and plan review in Santa Cruz County
EZ Permits are same-day permits for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, reroof, window and similar work; walk-in EZ Permit appointments are available Monday - Thursday 8:00 to 9:00 AM as time allows. An EZ Permit cannot include alteration of walls. In a flood zone, the application needs either an owner-contractor contract with a cost breakdown or a completed Substantial Improvement and Damage Application Packet (PLG315).
Projects that need plan review go through ePlan Review.
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
Santa Cruz County permit costs and fees
Fees are paid in three stages: intake fees (plan check and processing) at application; inspection and other fees, such as sewer connection, at issuance; and impact fees just before completion.
Intake fees include zoning plan review, an erosion-control preliminary site inspection (which varies by structure type and rural or urban location), building plan review, permit processing and stormwater plan review. A road engineering plan review fee applies to any new residential unit or new bedroom addition.
If no inspection has been done, 100% of the building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permit fees may be refunded; nothing is refunded after the first inspection.
Septic systems and wells in Santa Cruz County
Septic (onsite wastewater) and well permits come from County Environmental Health, County Government Center, 701 Ocean Street, 3rd Floor, Room 312, (831) 454-2022. Walk-ins are Monday - Thursday 8am - 12pm; appointments Monday - Thursday 1pm - 5pm and Friday.
On a septic parcel, an Environmental Health Building Clearance evaluates the septic system for the proposed work and is valid for 1 year. It needs a pumping inspection report from the last 3 years for a major clearance (bedrooms, ADU, over 500 sq. ft.) or the last 5 years for a minor one (garage, pool, deck).
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Drinking water wells serving 1-4 dwellings must be permitted as an Individual Water System. Well permits are tiered: Tier 1 covers de minimis domestic wells under 2 acre-feet per year, and wells over 2 acre-feet or with non-domestic uses must install a meter and report use.
Encroachment permits in Santa Cruz County
Utility excavation or trenching, street improvements, and tree trimming, removal and planting in the County road right-of-way need an encroachment permit from CDI’s Public Works Division, which also plan-checks building permit applications. Public Works switchboard: (831) 454-2160.
How to get a building permit in Santa Cruz County
Same-day EZ Permits cover trade, reroof and window work without wall alterations; projects that need plan review go through ePlan Review.
On a septic parcel, get the Environmental Health Building Clearance with a recent pumping report.
Appointments are Monday through Thursday mornings through the Appointment Scheduler.
Intake fees at application, inspection fees at issuance, impact fees before completion.
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 County Building on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California
Inspections in Santa Cruz County
County building inspections must be scheduled by 3:00pm at least one business day ahead and are scheduled Monday through Thursday; Friday morning slots exclude finals and complex inspections. Inspectors call between 8-9am on the inspection day with a time, and photos are not accepted in lieu of an inspection.
Building permits in the City of Santa Cruz
In the City of Santa Cruz, Building & Safety permits are handled through the Access Santa Cruz online portal, which takes new applications, revisions and resubmittals, schedules inspections and takes fee payments.
Official Santa Cruz County permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
Rather not deal with the Santa Cruz County building department?
Get a free quote →- CDI Building Permits & Safety
- Unified Permit Center contacts
- EZ Permits
- Fees and payments
- Schedule a building inspection
- Encroachment permits
- County Environmental Health
- Environmental Health water wells
- City of Santa Cruz Building & Safety
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Santa Cruz County permit the same day?
Yes, an EZ Permit for mechanical, electrical, plumbing, reroof, window and similar work, as long as no walls are altered.
Will the County refund my permit fees?
If no inspection has been done, 100% of the building, plumbing, electrical and mechanical permit fees may be refunded; nothing after the first inspection.
Can I send photos instead of an inspection?
No. The County does not accept photos in lieu of an inspection.
Simplify Santa Cruz 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.
Ready to break ground in Santa Cruz County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Santa Cruz County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Santa Cruz County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.