Pleasanton, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Handles building permits and inspections within the City of Pleasanton. Planning review may be required before building permit submittal, and utility infrastructure work in city streets and sidewalks is handled separately by the Public Works Inspections Division.

Department

City of Pleasanton Community and Economic Development Department, Building and Safety Division

Address

200 Old Bernal Avenue, Pleasanton, CA 94566-0802

Phone

(925) 931-5300

Email

buildingdivision@cityofpleasantonca.gov

Website

https://www.cityofpleasantonca.gov/our-government/community-and-economic-development/permits-forms-fees/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether Planning review or other outside approvals are required before building submittal.
2. Create an Accela Citizen Access account and log in.
3. Start a new Building application, accept the disclaimer, and select the correct permit type.
4. Complete the online form with the project address, scope of work, valuation, and applicant information.
5. Upload the building permit application and all required PDF plans and supporting documents. Pleasanton accepts electronic building plan check submittals only.
6. Wait for intake review. The city says to allow about 2 to 3 business days for processing of a new electronic submittal.
7. Pay plan review fees when the city emails payment instructions. The submittal does not become an active plan check until payment is received.
8. Respond to plan check comments if issued, then resubmit revised plans and a response letter.
9. After approval, pay the remaining permit fees online, download the approved permit set and job card from ACA, and keep them on site for inspections.

Typical processing time: Intake processing about 2 to 3 business days; initial plan review typically about 10 business days for small jobs, 15 business days for additions, alterations, and tenant improvements, and 25 business days for new construction or unusually complex projects; after final approval, permit issuance may take up to 2 additional working days.

Source: City of Pleasanton Community and Economic Development Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

Pleasanton requires permits for construction, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, and building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and related work unless the work is specifically exempt under PMC 20.04.130. The city also directs applicants to confirm both Building and Planning requirements before altering, grading, or building on property or within easements or rights-of-way.

Required Documents

• Building permit application; electronic PDF plan set; and, as applicable, structural calculations, Title 24 energy calculations, truss calculations, soils report, specifications, Zone 7 impervious surface worksheet, Planning conditions-of-approval response letter, school fee receipt for new construction and additions over 500 square feet, civil and landscape plans, and waste management documentation.

Permit validity

Building permits expire if work is not commenced within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after an approved required inspection. Written extensions of up to 180 days may be granted for justifiable cause. Plan review applications are deemed abandoned after 360 days unless pursued in good faith or extended.

Building code

Pleasanton adopted updated local construction codes by Ordinance 2299 on October 21, 2025. Pleasanton Title 20 includes adoption of the 2025 California Building Code and related California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building, Property Maintenance, and related technical codes.

Owner-builder

The application requires an owner-builder declaration citing California Business and Professions Code Sections 7031.5 and 7044. Owner-builders may perform work themselves or through employees if the work is not intended or offered for sale; if the improvement is sold within one year of completion, the owner-builder bears the burden of proving it was not built for sale. Except for a personal residence occupied at least one year before completion, an owner-builder cannot legally sell a structure not built entirely by licensed contractors.

Contractor requirements

Pleasanton requires the permit applicant to state that they are either a California licensed contractor or exempt from licensure. If the permit is issued in a contractor's name, the contractor must provide California license number, class, and signature attesting the license is current and in full force and effect. Workers' compensation declarations are also required.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$120 for valuation-based building permits from $1 to $1,000; many stand-alone residential electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits also start at $120.

Plan check fee

Generally 75% of permit fees and surcharges, or 100% when life safety and egress review is required, with a $180 minimum. Deferred submittal plan review is 5% of the plan review fee with a one-hour minimum, and expedited review adds 50% of plan review fees when available.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Many permit fees are valuation-based using the Building Permit Fee Table; some common residential permits use flat fees such as kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, reroofs, and pools. A 5% technology fee applies on all permits, and state SMIP, CBSC, and other applicable surcharges are added.

Reinspection fee

Reinspections are charged at hourly inspection rates with a 2-hour minimum; the current inspection rate is $165 per hour. Investigation fee for starting work without permits is 100% of the building permit fee, in addition to required permit fees. Additional plan review fees may apply after more than two resubmittals or for revisions.

Penalty (no permit)

Reinspections are charged at hourly inspection rates with a 2-hour minimum; the current inspection rate is $165 per hour. Investigation fee for starting work without permits is 100% of the building permit fee, in addition to required permit fees. Additional plan review fees may apply after more than two resubmittals or for revisions.

Payment note

Plan review fees are due at submittal and the application does not become an active plan check until payment is received. Remaining permit fees are paid online before permit issuance. Since January 1, 2025, credit and debit card payments to the City of Pleasanton carry a 2.5% convenience fee; cash or check payments do not.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses up to 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or IIIA liquids
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height-to-width ratio not exceeding 2:1
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, carpeting, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Above-ground prefabricated pools at Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep and 5,000 gallons or less
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
• Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Group R-3 window and door replacements that do not change dimensions, opening style, framing, or weather barrier
• Certain small window awnings at Group R-3 and Group U occupancies
• Non-fixed movable fixtures, cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Detached decks at one- and two-family occupancies not over 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
• Roof repairs not exceeding the lesser of 25% of roof area or 500 square feet

Important: Exemptions do not authorize work that violates code or other city laws. Separate electrical, mechanical, plumbing, planning, fire, floodplain, stormwater, HOA, or accessibility requirements may still apply, and emergency repairs requiring a permit must be filed by the next business day.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online through ACA at https://aca.cityofpleasantonca.gov/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx (online)
• https://aca.cityofpleasantonca.gov/CitizenAccess/Default.aspx (online)
• online through https://www.pleasantonpermits.com/ via the Permit Status and Inspections link (online)
• https://www.pleasantonpermits.com/ (online)
• (844) 670-9753 (phone)
• (925) 931-5322 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

For next-business-day inspections, requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m.

Inspection hours

For next-business-day inspections, requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. on the previous business day. Building inspectors are available for calls at (925) 931-5300 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. on the morning of inspection. The city does not publish fixed field inspection arrival windows in the cited handout.

Time windows

to 8:00 a.m. on the morning of inspection.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence is foundation, under-slab and under-floor, floodplain elevation documentation where applicable, shear and roof, rough plumbing, mechanical, gas, and electrical, frame, sprinkler pre-concealment, energy and insulation, lath or wallboard, fire-resistance-rated construction, balcony and walking-surface waterproofing where applicable, other special inspections as required, and final inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pleasanton adopted updated local construction codes by Ordinance 2299 on October 21, 2025. Pleasanton Title 20 includes adoption of the 2025 California Building Code and related California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building, Property Maintenance, and related technical codes.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Pleasanton Municipal Code
• Permit Center and permits page
• Electronic submittal requirements
• Residential plan check checklist
• Inspection scheduling handout
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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