Alpine County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

All properties within Alpine County. Alpine County has no incorporated cities, so the county Building Safety Division is the permit authority countywide.

Department

Alpine County Community Development, Building Safety Division

Address

50 Diamond Valley Road, Markleeville, CA 96120

Phone

(530) 694-2140

Email

communitydevelopment@alpinecountyca.gov

Website

https://www.alpinecountyca.gov/157/Building-Safety-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the parcel is in Alpine County and check zoning, development standards, access, and utility constraints before applying.
2. Prepare the application package, including a scope description, square-footage summary by occupancy, signed PDF plans, and project-specific supporting documents.
3. Submit the building permit application through the iWorQ Citizen Portal.
4. Route plans to applicable outside agencies and obtain required approvals, sign-offs, and fee clearances.
5. Pay the plan review deposit and other required fees determined at submittal.
6. Respond to correction comments and resubmit revised plans if required.
7. After approval and agency clearances, pay final permit fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work.
8. Request inspections through the active permit portal as work progresses and obtain final approval before occupancy or use.

Typical processing time: Normal first plan review time is about 3 weeks, though peak building season may exceed 3 weeks. Plans are reviewed in the order received.

Source: Alpine County Community Development, Building Safety Division

General Requirements

Permits are required for most new construction, additions, alterations, reroofing, solar, EV charging stations, pools and spas, structures over 120 square feet, fences over 6 feet, retaining walls over 4 feet, demolition, erosion control, onsite grading of 50 cubic yards or more, temporary structures, and electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and structural repairs. In general, improvements, replacements, and repairs require permits.

Required Documents

• Online permit application
• Complete PDF plan set
• Project description and square-footage summary
• Title page with project address and APN
• Vicinity map
• Code summary
• Owner and applicant information
• Zoning and parcel data
• Site and setback information
• Utility and fire-protection information
• Floor plans and elevations
• Engineering calculations
• Truss designs if applicable
• Title 24 energy documentation
• Fire sprinkler documents if applicable
• Project-specific forms such as authorization of agent, LP-gas form, special inspections, owner-builder disclosures, and outside-agency approvals

Permit validity

Permits become invalid unless work starts within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 12 months after commencement. Written extensions may be granted for up to 180 days each, and unless the Building Official approves otherwise, the maximum validity of an open permit may not exceed 4 years. Plan review expires 180 days after construction document submittal unless extended by written request.

Building code

Alpine County Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the 2022 California Building Standards Code package with county amendments, including the California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Existing Building, and CALGreen codes.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders may obtain permits but must complete the county owner-builder package and disclosures, assume full responsibility for the work and worker safety, and may only do the work on their principal residence occupied for 12 months or more before completion. The county also states owner-builders cannot sell more than two permitted properties in any 3-year period and must perform the work themselves or use immediate family, employees, or licensed subcontractors.

Contractor requirements

Only licensed contractors and property owners acting as owner-builders may be issued building permits. Contractors must hold the appropriate CSLB classification for the work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$226.00

Plan check fee

Plan review deposit is determined at submittal based on square footage and valuation, with an estimated deposit of $1.00 per square foot up to $2,500, subject to Building Official determination. Additional plan review caused by changes, additions, or revisions to approved plans is $151.00 per hour, 1/2-hour minimum, and fees apply after more than two plan checks.

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based: $226 for the first $2,500; then $226 plus $36.13 per additional $1,000 up to $25,000; then $1,057 plus $30.20 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000; then $1,812 plus $27.18 per additional $1,000 up to $100,000; then $3,171 plus $12.65 per additional $1,000 up to $500,000; then $4,228 plus $8.55 per additional $1,000 up to $1,000,000; then $9,513 plus $6.78 per additional $1,000 over $1,000,000.

Reinspection fee

2nd reinspection fee is $151.00 per hour, 1-hour minimum, plus mileage. Inspections outside normal business hours are $201.98 per hour, 2-hour minimum, plus mileage.

Penalty (no permit)

Unpermitted work or inspections for which no fee is specifically indicated are charged at $151.00 per hour, 1-hour minimum, plus mileage.

Payment note

Online permit payments are processed through ACI Payments. Enter the 6-digit permit number with no dashes or spaces. ACI charges a 2.75% processing fee.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-width or diameter ratio does not exceed 2:1
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Swings and other playground equipment
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that project no more than 54 inches and need no additional support
• Detached decks not over 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
• Minor electrical repair work such as replacement of lamps, certain low-voltage work, listed temporary decorative lighting, and like-for-like overcurrent device replacement
• Portable or minor gas and mechanical work listed in CRC R105.2, including portable appliances and replacement of minor parts that do not alter approval or create unsafe conditions
• Minor plumbing work such as stopping leaks, clearing stoppages, and removing and reinstalling water closets when valves, piping, and fixtures are not replaced or rearranged

Important: Permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the code or any other law or ordinance. Separate zoning, encroachment, environmental health, utility, fire, WUI, or other approvals may still be required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Active Building Permit Portal (online)
• (530) 694-2140 (phone)
• communitydevelopment@alpinecountyca.gov (email)

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: The county does not publish a county-specific inspection card sequence in its public materials. Inspections are requested through the active permit portal as work progresses, and required stages depend on the approved scope of work and applicable code requirements.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Alpine County Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the 2022 California Building Standards Code package with county amendments, including the California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Existing Building, and CALGreen codes.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Building Safety Division
• Building Documents and References
• A Building Permit
• Building Permit Information Guide
• County Building Code Title 15
• Technical Building Codes Chapter
• Zoning Code Title 18
• Maps and GIS Data
• Public GIS Site
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement