On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Danville
Danville states a permit is required for most construction and repair work, including plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work; structural changes; residential additions; remodels; accessory structures such as patios and decks; ADUs; HVAC/water-heater/AC replacement; retaining walls supporting more than 3 feet of soil height or any retaining wall with surcharge loading; and pools/spas/hot tubs. Encroachment permits are separately required for work in the public right-of-way.
Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less do not require a building permit, based on the Town handout stating permits are required for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet.
Electrical and plumbing permits are still required for accessory structures regardless of size.
Retaining walls supporting 3 feet or less of soil height and not subject to surcharge appear to fall outside the Town's project-specific retaining-wall permit trigger. The Town FAQ uses different wording, so applicants should confirm borderline cases with the Permit Center.
Detached residential cabanas, sheds, and patio structures not attached to the home are not required to go through SRV Fire review, even though they may still need Town approval depending on size and scope.
- Exempt Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less do not require a building permit, based on the Town handout stating permits are required for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet.
- Exempt Electrical and plumbing permits are still required for accessory structures regardless of size.
- Exempt Retaining walls supporting 3 feet or less of soil height and not subject to surcharge appear to fall outside the Town's project-specific retaining-wall permit trigger. The Town FAQ uses different wording, so applicants should confirm borderline cases with the Permit Center.
- Exempt Detached residential cabanas, sheds, and patio structures not attached to the home are not required to go through SRV Fire review, even though they may still need Town approval depending on size and scope.
Note: Danville's public materials reviewed here do not publish a single comprehensive local "no permit required" list. Even where a Town building permit is not required, zoning setbacks, fire rules, and other code requirements may still apply.
Required documents
- Building permit application; project drawings; supporting documents/letters required by the project-specific submittal checklist; and, for online filings, PDFs formatted per the Town's electronic submittal instructions. Before issuance, the permit card must be signed in four places: contractor or owner-builder declaration, authorization for inspections, workers' compensation declaration, and owner/contractor signature. Depending on scope, applicants may also need structural calculations, Title 24 energy forms, geotechnical reports, fire review, CCCSD-stamped sheets, and other outside-agency approvals.
- Building code
- Danville's current building codes became effective January 1, 2026 and include the 2025 California Administrative, Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, Green Building Standards, and Wildland-Urban Interface codes.
- Permit validity
- The Town FAQ states issued permits have 365 days from issuance to complete the work. If a permit expires, reinstatement may be possible by emailing the Building Division with justification; the FAQ lists a $115 reinstatement fee if approved. The fee schedule separately lists Permit Reactivation at $118 minimum. Applications with no activity can expire after 180 days, and approvals can expire if not issued within 180 days after approval.
- Owner-builder
- Danville will not issue an owner-builder permit until the owner-builder acknowledgment form is read, initialed, signed, and returned. The Town warns owners they may be liable for injuries to unlicensed workers and notes property owners generally do not need to sign permits unless acting as owner-builder.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California, and Danville's forms require contractor license information and workers' compensation information. The outside-agency checklist also directs applicants to verify CSLB license and workers' compensation status. For encroachment permits, contractors and subcontractors must have a Town business license.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: Town FAQ says reviews can last up to 5 or 10 working days depending on scope. The Business Concierge page says certain architect-prepared commercial tenant improvements with no structural or Title 24 energy work are generally reviewed within 5 business days instead of the normal 10-day commercial review.
- 01 Confirm the property is inside Danville town limits and check zoning/setbacks with Planning before preparing plans.
- 02 Review the Permit Directory for the specific project type and gather the required plans and supporting documents.
- 03 Obtain any required outside-agency approvals before submittal, especially SRV Fire review and CCCSD review/stamp where applicable.
- 04 Complete the Town's building permit application and prepare PDFs in the Town's required electronic format if filing online.
- 05 Submit through the online portal or the Permit Center, depending on project type.
- 06 Monitor portal status during review. Town FAQ states plan review can take up to 5 or 10 working days depending on scope.
- 07 After approval, pay remaining fees, sign the permit card in all required places, satisfy pre-issuance conditions, and wait for permit status to change to `Issued` before starting work.
- 08 Keep stamped plans and the inspection card on site, schedule required inspections, and complete/finalize the permit within the permit term.
Typical processing time: Town FAQ says reviews can last up to 5 or 10 working days depending on scope. The Business Concierge page says certain architect-prepared commercial tenant improvements with no structural or Title 24 energy work are generally reviewed within 5 business days instead of the normal 10-day commercial review.
Source: Town of Danville Development Services, Building Division / Permit Center ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Danville building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
Minimum building permit inspection fee is $118.
02
Plan check fee
Structural and architectural plan review is 65% of the building fee. Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical plan review fees are percentages of the structural/architectural plan review. Additional plan review rounds are charged hourly.
03
Permit fee formula
Building permit fees are valuation-based under the Town's building permit fee table. Separate sub-permits apply for electrical (20% of building permit fee), plumbing (17%), and mechanical (18%). Some permit categories also have fixed established fees.
04
Reinspection fee
Reinspection/administration fee is $118 minimum.
05
Penalty (no permit)
Investigation fees may apply for work without a permit.
The fee schedule states credit-card payments are subject to a 2.99% processing fee with a $2.00 minimum. Fees are generally collected before permit issuance.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- 925-314-3333 (phone)
- 925-314-3330 (phone)
- https://www.danville.ca.gov/CSS (online)
- Scheduling deadline
- Inspection requests must be made before 3:00 p.m.
- Inspection hours
- Inspection requests must be made before 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspections. Inspections may be scheduled up to 5 days in advance. The next day's 2-hour inspection window is posted online after 5:00 p.m.
- Time windows
- Inspection requests must be made before 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspections. Inspections may be scheduled up to 5 days in advance. The next day's 2-hour inspection window is posted online after 5:00 p.m.
Typical sequence: After permit issuance, the permit holder schedules inspections by permit number/PIN and requested inspection code. Previously scheduled inspections and statuses are visible in the portal, and finalization closes the permit. Reinspection note: Fee schedule lists a reinspection/administration fee of $118 minimum. No inspections can be ordered on expired permits unless the Town approves reinstatement/reactivation.
Source: Town of Danville Development Services, Building Division / Permit Center ↗
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Danville permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Danville, CA? ▸
Danville states a permit is required for most construction and repair work, including plumbing, electrical, or mechanical work; structural changes; residential additions; remodels; accessory structures such as patios and decks; ADUs; HVAC/water-heater/AC replacement; retaining walls supporting more than 3 feet of soil height or any retaining wall with surcharge loading; and pools/spas/hot tubs. Encroachment permits are separately required for work in the public right-of-way.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Danville, CA? ▸
Building permit fees in Danville, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is Minimum building permit inspection fee is $118.. Fees are calculated as: Building permit fees are valuation-based under the Town's building permit fee table. Separate sub-permits apply for electrical (20% of building permit fee), plumbing (17%), and mechanical (18%). Some permit categories also have fixed established fees.. Plan check fee: Structural and architectural plan review is 65% of the building fee. Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical plan review fees are percentages of the structural/architectural plan review. Additional plan review rounds are charged hourly..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Danville, CA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Danville, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the property is inside Danville town limits and check zoning/setbacks with Planning before preparing plans. 2. Review the Permit Directory for the specific project type and gather the required plans and supporting documents. 3. Obtain any required outside-agency approvals before submittal, especially SRV Fire review and CCCSD review/stamp where applicable. 4. Complete the Town's building permit application and prepare PDFs in the Town's required electronic format if filing online. 5. Submit through the online portal or the Permit Center, depending on project type. 6. Monitor portal status during review. Town FAQ states plan review can take up to 5 or 10 working days depending on scope. 7. After approval, pay remaining fees, sign the permit card in all required places, satisfy pre-issuance conditions, and wait for permit status to change to `Issued` before starting work. 8. Keep stamped plans and the inspection card on site, schedule required inspections, and complete/finalize the permit within the permit term.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Danville, CA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Danville, CA typically run Town FAQ says reviews can last up to 5 or 10 working days depending on scope. The Business Concierge page says certain architect-prepared commercial tenant improvements with no structural or Title 24 energy work are generally reviewed within 5 business days instead of the normal 10-day commercial review.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Danville, CA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Danville, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less do not require a building permit, based on the Town handout stating permits are required for accessory structures greater than 120 square feet.; Electrical and plumbing permits are still required for accessory structures regardless of size.; Retaining walls supporting 3 feet or less of soil height and not subject to surcharge appear to fall outside the Town's project-specific retaining-wall permit trigger. The Town FAQ uses different wording, so applicants should confirm borderline cases with the Permit Center.; Detached residential cabanas, sheds, and patio structures not attached to the home are not required to go through SRV Fire review, even though they may still need Town approval depending on size and scope.. Note: Danville's public materials reviewed here do not publish a single comprehensive local "no permit required" list. Even where a Town building permit is not required, zoning setbacks, fire rules, and other code requirements may still apply. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Danville, CA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Danville, CA via: 925-314-3333, 925-314-3330, https://www.danville.ca.gov/CSS. Inspection requests must be made before 3:00 p.m..
last verified April 2026
source Town of Danville Development Services, Building Division / Permit Center ↗
entry id permits/california/contra-costa/danville
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Danville Development Services, Building Division / Permit Center before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.