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City building permits

City of Pacifica

How to apply for a building permit in City of Pacifica, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Last verified
April 2026
On this page 6
§ 01

Permit authority

Building Division, City of Pacifica

Street address
1800 Francisco Boulevard, Pacifica, CA 94044 (building office); Mail: 170 Santa Maria Avenue, Pacifica, CA 94044
Coverage
Building permits for properties within the incorporated City of Pacifica; San Mateo County agencies apply to unincorporated County areas.
Online portal
City-hosted GreenVue permit portal (CSG Engr)
City-hosted GreenVue permit portal (CSG Engr)
§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Pacifica

- Construction, alteration, moving, demolition, reroofing, electrical/plumbing/heating installations, roof changes, swimming pool work, and generally any physical change to property structures. - Also required before building, altering, repair, installation of regulated systems, and any occupancy change. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/774/637828565644630000

Note: - No permit does not mean other zoning/development rules are waived. - Some exempt items still may require review of plans, zoning, encroachments, or private utility/utility-right-of-way permits.

Required documents
  • - Job details: project valuation, area, short description, contacts. - Building permit application in portal steps (4-step submission flow). - Plans/docs uploaded as required
  • permit emails are sent from donotreply@csgengr.com. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/780/638888864564200000
  • https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division
Building code
- 2025 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Energy Code, CALGreen, Wildland-Urban Interface Code (effective Jan. 1, 2026), plus local amendments in Pacifica Municipal Code Title 8. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division
Permit validity
- Not published on the Building Division overview or linked fee schedule pages accessed here. Confirm on issued permit/notice documents or in current building code sections.
Owner-builder
- Not explicitly stated in the Building Division landing material; the city provides design-professional requirements instead.
Contractor requirements
- Design must be by a licensed architect/engineer for certain structural, occupancy, and system types; unlicensed designs are limited to narrow low-risk categories (small wood-frame SFH/4-plex classes, nonstructural nonseismic work, etc.). - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/790/637828565691330000
§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

  1. 01
    Open the Building Division permit portal and choose to apply for a new permit.
  2. 02
    In the new project flow, create an account (or create permit without registration) and complete Job Info/Project Info (project address, permit type, valuation, square footage, brief description).
  3. 03
    Enter contact information and owner email/phone.
  4. 04
    Upload required files (PDF preferred; project plans can be submitted in one combined set when required).
  5. 05
    Submit the application and pay plan check and other required fees before review.
  6. 06
    City review: first review ~3�4 weeks; resubmittals ~2�3 weeks each; final agency coordination up to ~1 week.
  7. 07
    Permit status and next steps are provided through the permit account.

Source: Building Division, City of Pacifica ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Pacifica building permit fees

Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
- City does not use a single universal minimum; plan-check base minimums vary by permit type. Example from City schedule: Plan Review (new construction/tenant improvements) minimum first-hour base is $336 (FY 2025-26).
02
Plan check fee
- Plan review is fee-based; users must pay required plan check before review/issuance.
03
Permit fee formula
- Valuation-based and hourly mix; community development and building entries include hourly plan review rates, valuation-based permit calculations, and per-footage/per-SF entries depending on work class.
04
Reinspection fee
- Fee schedule includes penalties for unpermitted construction work and false alarm call escalation; additional inspections may have hourly charges.

- Pay plan check before review via permit account. - In-person payment can be made by card or check at 1800 Francisco Blvd; card payment is subject to 3% service fee. - Checks to: City of Pacifica, Building Division, 170 Santa Maria Ave., Pacifica, CA 94044.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule
  • (650) 737-1000 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
- Call Building Inspection Hotline: (650) 737-1000. - Permit office notes also mention inspection phone requests with weekday daytime window and 24-hour advance notice.
Inspection hours
- Building Division office hours: Mon 8:30-12:30, Tue 13:30-17:00, Wed 8:30-12:30 and 13:30-19:00, Thu 8:30-12:30. - Inspections cannot be requested more than one week in advance.

Typical sequence: - Footing/foundation, underground plumbing, floor joists/insulation, framing, exterior lath, sheetrock, then final. - Electrical/plumbing/mechanical inspections at intermediate stages before concealment.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Pacifica permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Pacifica, CA?
- Construction, alteration, moving, demolition, reroofing, electrical/plumbing/heating installations, roof changes, swimming pool work, and generally any physical change to property structures. - Also required before building, altering, repair, installation of regulated systems, and any occupancy change. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/774/637828565644630000
02 How much does a building permit cost in Pacifica, CA?
Building permit fees in Pacifica, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is - City does not use a single universal minimum; plan-check base minimums vary by permit type. Example from City schedule: Plan Review (new construction/tenant improvements) minimum first-hour base is $336 (FY 2025-26).. Fees are calculated as: - Valuation-based and hourly mix; community development and building entries include hourly plan review rates, valuation-based permit calculations, and per-footage/per-SF entries depending on work class.. Plan check fee: - Plan review is fee-based; users must pay required plan check before review/issuance..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Pacifica, CA?
To apply for a building permit in Pacifica, CA, follow these steps: 1. Open the Building Division permit portal and choose to apply for a new permit. 2. In the new project flow, create an account (or create permit without registration) and complete Job Info/Project Info (project address, permit type, valuation, square footage, brief description). 3. Enter contact information and owner email/phone. 4. Upload required files (PDF preferred; project plans can be submitted in one combined set when required). 5. Submit the application and pay plan check and other required fees before review. 6. City review: first review ~3�4 weeks; resubmittals ~2�3 weeks each; final agency coordination up to ~1 week. 7. Permit status and next steps are provided through the permit account.
04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Pacifica, CA?
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Pacifica, CA via: (650) 737-1000. - Call Building Inspection Hotline: (650) 737-1000. - Permit office notes also mention inspection phone requests with weekday daytime window and 24-hour advance notice..
last verified April 2026 source Building Division, City of Pacifica ↗ entry id permits/california/san-mateo/pacifica

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building Division, City of Pacifica before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.