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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.