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When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Colma
Colma states that any owner or authorized agent intending to construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building/structure, or regulated electrical/gas/mechanical/plumbing work, must first apply for and obtain the required building permit.
Note: Several exempt items still trigger separate plumbing/electrical/mechanical permitting if those permit categories apply, and planning/fire/public-works approvals may still be required.
- Building Permit Application form (Project Information, owner/owner-authorized party details, responsible party, contractor name and CA license field), plus supporting plans/spec sheets as requested by the Building Department during review.
- Building code
- Colma Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Energy and Fire Prevention codes are adopted by reference with local amendments (per Colma Building & Construction Municipal Code Chapter 5.04, updated January 2026).
- Permit validity
- Colma says permits expire 1 year from issuance; first inspection must be scheduled within 180 days of issuance; subsequent inspections no more than 180 days apart. For non-commenced permits and suspended/abandoned projects, renewal/reinstatement fees and conditions are set by ordinance.
- Owner-builder
- Colma's posted building application materials do not explicitly describe a separate owner-builder exemption; instead, they include owner/responsible party submission options.
- Contractor requirements
- Building permit application asks for contractor details including CA license number. Separate permit types (e.g., grading permit form) explicitly call out contractor license fields.
Application process
Typical processing: not published publicly in a single standard processing-time page.
- 01 Confirm the work type and whether it is exempt (Town of Colma publishes an exempt/required permit handout).
- 02 Obtain and complete the Building Permit Application and required supplemental forms from the Colma Building Department "Forms & Handouts" page.
- 03 Call (650) 757-8888 or email building@colma.ca.gov with submittal questions and submission details.
- 04 Pay permit/plan-check-related fees under the Town's master fee schedule before or at permit issuance.
- 05 Schedule inspections after permit issuance and complete required inspections on sequence required by staff.
Typical processing time: not published publicly in a single standard processing-time page.
Fee schedule
Colma building permit fees
fee schedule is published as an ordinance-based schedule; online payment portal details are not explicitly posted on the permit pages.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
- Microsoft Outlook Booking page for scheduling department contacts/visits (online)
- (650) 757-8888 (phone)
- building@colma.ca.gov (email)
- Time windows
- Town business hours listed as Monday�Friday 8:00 AM�5:00 PM.
Typical sequence: file/obtain permit, then request inspections in sequence for plan and completion milestones; subsequent inspections should be within 180 days from previous inspection to preserve permit validity.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Colma permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Colma, CA? ▸
02 How much does a building permit cost in Colma, CA? ▸
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Colma, CA? ▸
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Colma, CA? ▸
05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Colma, CA? ▸
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Department (Town of Colma) before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.