Brentwood, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center

Street address

150 City Park Way, Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone

(925) 516-5405

building@brentwoodca.gov

Coverage

Applies to properties within the incorporated City of Brentwood. Properties in unincorporated Contra Costa County are permitted through Contra Costa County, not the City of Brentwood.

Online portal

eTRAKiT / Electronic Submittal Portal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Brentwood

The city's Building FAQ states permits are generally required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move, or demolish a building or structure, or to install, alter, remove, replace, repair, improve, convert, or add electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. The city also publishes a "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for common project screening.

Scope of work

Permit?

Small detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit only if they do not include electrical or plumbing service; Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says anything over 120 square feet, or any shed with electrical or plumbing, requires a permit.

Exempt

The city directs applicants to its "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for additional common exemptions and permit-trigger guidance.

Exempt

Exempt Small detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit only if they do not include electrical or plumbing service; Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says anything over 120 square feet, or any shed with electrical or plumbing, requires a permit.
Exempt The city directs applicants to its "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for additional common exemptions and permit-trigger guidance.

Note: Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says some work can still require zoning review even if a building permit is not required, and structures such as patio covers, roofs, and similar improvements may require permits regardless of size. Separate planning, engineering, fire, or utility approvals may also apply depending on scope and location.

Required documents

Building Permit Application; project plans; and project-specific materials identified by Brentwood's Application Submittal Matrix and submittal sheets. Depending on scope, city materials call for site plans, architectural/structural drawings, calculations, Title 24 energy documents, truss or deferred-submittal information, accessibility forms, owner-builder declarations, and other trade-specific supporting documents.

Building code: Brentwood states that the 2025 California Codes apply to permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026. The city also publishes a 2025 Code Update Information Letter and an Applicable Codes handout.
Permit validity: The city's FAQ says permits become void if work does not commence within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after work begins, unless extended under the code.
Owner-builder: Brentwood publishes a Building Permit Declarations form and an Owner Builder Form. The FAQ warns that owner-builders assume full responsibility for code compliance and may have limits on selling the property if they perform the work themselves.
Contractor requirements: The Building FAQ says all contractors and subcontractors doing work valued at $1,000 or more must hold a current California contractor license for their trade, and the permittee must identify the licensed contractor or sign as owner-builder.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Brentwood's public Development Services pages reviewed do not publish one universal turnaround time for all building permits. Inspection requests are described as being available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

01

Confirm the project is in Brentwood city limits and review any zoning or development constraints before preparing plans.
02

Create an eTRAKiT account if you plan to submit electronically. Brentwood routes applicants to its Electronic Submittal Portal for building applications, plans, and document exchange.
03

Prepare the application package. City handouts identify a Building Permit Application, project plans, and project-specific supporting documents; the Application Submittal Matrix and project-type submittal sheets show what is required for each permit type.
04

Submit the package through the Electronic Submittal Portal, by appointment, during walk-in hours, at the permit-center drop-off area, or by USPS/other delivery service.
05

Pay applicable permit and plan review fees. The city notes that payments cannot be taken after 4:00 p.m. daily.
06

Respond to plan review comments and resubmit any corrected plans or documents as requested.
07

After approval, receive the permit and approved plans through the portal or from Permit Center staff, then schedule inspections as work progresses and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Brentwood's public Development Services pages reviewed do not publish one universal turnaround time for all building permits. Inspection requests are described as being available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

Source: City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Brentwood building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly stated on the public HTML pages reviewed. Brentwood announced updated building permit and planning fees effective February 1, 2025, and publishes its FY 2025/26 Cost Allocation Plan and development fee study materials online.

Plan check fee

Project-specific under the city's fee schedule; no single universal plan check percentage was clearly published on the public HTML pages reviewed.

Permit fee formula

Varies by permit type under the city's adopted fee schedule and user-fee study; building permit and plan review charges are set through the city's published fee materials rather than a single flat rate.

Reinspection fee

A separate publicly stated reinspection amount was not clearly identified on the pages reviewed.

Penalty (no permit)

Brentwood's public FAQ states that starting work without first obtaining the required permit can trigger special investigation fees in addition to normal permit fees.

Fees are paid through the city/permit-center process; Development Services states payments cannot be accepted after 4:00 p.m. daily.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

building@brentwoodca.gov (email)
(925) 516-5405 (phone)
https://brent-trk.aspgov.com/eTRAKiT/ (online)

Scheduling deadline: Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only.
Inspection hours: Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only. The FAQ says inspections may be available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.
Time windows: Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only. The FAQ says inspections may be available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

Typical sequence: Brentwood's public pages reviewed do not publish one citywide sequence for every permit type; applicants should expect inspections to follow the approved plans and permit scope, with rough and final inspections as applicable to the work. Reinspection note: The city warns that extra fees may apply when work begins without a permit; a separate published reinspection charge was not clearly identified on the city pages reviewed.

Source: City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Brentwood permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Brentwood, CA? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Brentwood, CA? ▸

Building permit fees in Brentwood, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Not clearly stated on the public HTML pages reviewed. Brentwood announced updated building permit and planning fees effective February 1, 2025, and publishes its FY 2025/26 Cost Allocation Plan and development fee study materials online.. Fees are calculated as: Varies by permit type under the city's adopted fee schedule and user-fee study; building permit and plan review charges are set through the city's published fee materials rather than a single flat rate.. Plan check fee: Project-specific under the city's fee schedule; no single universal plan check percentage was clearly published on the public HTML pages reviewed..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Brentwood, CA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Brentwood, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the project is in Brentwood city limits and review any zoning or development constraints before preparing plans. 2. Create an eTRAKiT account if you plan to submit electronically. Brentwood routes applicants to its Electronic Submittal Portal for building applications, plans, and document exchange. 3. Prepare the application package. City handouts identify a Building Permit Application, project plans, and project-specific supporting documents; the Application Submittal Matrix and project-type submittal sheets show what is required for each permit type. 4. Submit the package through the Electronic Submittal Portal, by appointment, during walk-in hours, at the permit-center drop-off area, or by USPS/other delivery service. 5. Pay applicable permit and plan review fees. The city notes that payments cannot be taken after 4:00 p.m. daily. 6. Respond to plan review comments and resubmit any corrected plans or documents as requested. 7. After approval, receive the permit and approved plans through the portal or from Permit Center staff, then schedule inspections as work progresses and obtain final approval.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Brentwood, CA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Brentwood, CA typically run Brentwood's public Development Services pages reviewed do not publish one universal turnaround time for all building permits. Inspection requests are described as being available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Brentwood, CA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Brentwood, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Small detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit only if they do not include electrical or plumbing service; Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says anything over 120 square feet, or any shed with electrical or plumbing, requires a permit.; The city directs applicants to its "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for additional common exemptions and permit-trigger guidance.. Note: Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says some work can still require zoning review even if a building permit is not required, and structures such as patio covers, roofs, and similar improvements may require permits regardless of size. Separate planning, engineering, fire, or utility approvals may also apply depending on scope and location. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Brentwood, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Brentwood, CA via: building@brentwoodca.gov, (925) 516-5405, https://brent-trk.aspgov.com/eTRAKiT/. Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only..

last verified April 2026 source City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center ↗ entry id permits/california/contra-costa/brentwood

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Brentwood

Other jurisdictions in Contra Costa County.