Brentwood, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to properties within the incorporated City of Brentwood. Properties in unincorporated Contra Costa County are permitted through Contra Costa County, not the City of Brentwood.

Department

City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center

Address

150 City Park Way, Brentwood, CA 94513

Phone

(925) 516-5405

Email

building@brentwoodca.gov

Website

https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/community-development/development-services

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project is in Brentwood city limits and review any zoning or development constraints before preparing plans.
2. Create an eTRAKiT account if you plan to submit electronically. Brentwood routes applicants to its Electronic Submittal Portal for building applications, plans, and document exchange.
3. Prepare the application package. City handouts identify a Building Permit Application, project plans, and project-specific supporting documents; the Application Submittal Matrix and project-type submittal sheets show what is required for each permit type.
4. Submit the package through the Electronic Submittal Portal, by appointment, during walk-in hours, at the permit-center drop-off area, or by USPS/other delivery service.
5. Pay applicable permit and plan review fees. The city notes that payments cannot be taken after 4:00 p.m. daily.
6. Respond to plan review comments and resubmit any corrected plans or documents as requested.
7. After approval, receive the permit and approved plans through the portal or from Permit Center staff, then schedule inspections as work progresses and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Brentwood's public Development Services pages reviewed do not publish one universal turnaround time for all building permits. Inspection requests are described as being available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

Source: City of Brentwood Community Development Department, Development Services Division / Permit Center

General Requirements

The city's Building FAQ states permits are generally required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move, or demolish a building or structure, or to install, alter, remove, replace, repair, improve, convert, or add electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. The city also publishes a "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for common project screening.

Required Documents

• Building Permit Application; project plans; and project-specific materials identified by Brentwood's Application Submittal Matrix and submittal sheets. Depending on scope, city materials call for site plans, architectural/structural drawings, calculations, Title 24 energy documents, truss or deferred-submittal information, accessibility forms, owner-builder declarations, and other trade-specific supporting documents.

Permit validity

The city's FAQ says permits become void if work does not commence within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after work begins, unless extended under the code.

Building code

Brentwood states that the 2025 California Codes apply to permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026. The city also publishes a 2025 Code Update Information Letter and an Applicable Codes handout.

Owner-builder

Brentwood publishes a Building Permit Declarations form and an Owner Builder Form. The FAQ warns that owner-builders assume full responsibility for code compliance and may have limits on selling the property if they perform the work themselves.

Contractor requirements

The Building FAQ says all contractors and subcontractors doing work valued at $1,000 or more must hold a current California contractor license for their trade, and the permittee must identify the licensed contractor or sign as owner-builder.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly stated on the public HTML pages reviewed. Brentwood announced updated building permit and planning fees effective February 1, 2025, and publishes its FY 2025/26 Cost Allocation Plan and development fee study materials online.

Plan check fee

Project-specific under the city's fee schedule; no single universal plan check percentage was clearly published on the public HTML pages reviewed.

Permit fee formula

Varies by permit type under the city's adopted fee schedule and user-fee study; building permit and plan review charges are set through the city's published fee materials rather than a single flat rate.

Reinspection fee

A separate publicly stated reinspection amount was not clearly identified on the pages reviewed.

Penalty (no permit)

Brentwood's public FAQ states that starting work without first obtaining the required permit can trigger special investigation fees in addition to normal permit fees.

Payment note

Fees are paid through the city/permit-center process; Development Services states payments cannot be accepted after 4:00 p.m. daily.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Small detached accessory structures of 120 square feet or less are exempt from a building permit only if they do not include electrical or plumbing service; Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says anything over 120 square feet, or any shed with electrical or plumbing, requires a permit.
• The city directs applicants to its "Do I Need A Building Permit" handout for additional common exemptions and permit-trigger guidance.

Important: Brentwood's accessory-structure guidance says some work can still require zoning review even if a building permit is not required, and structures such as patio covers, roofs, and similar improvements may require permits regardless of size. Separate planning, engineering, fire, or utility approvals may also apply depending on scope and location.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• building@brentwoodca.gov (email)
• (925) 516-5405 (phone)
• https://brent-trk.aspgov.com/eTRAKiT/ (online)

Scheduling deadline

Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only.

Inspection hours

Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only. The FAQ says inspections may be available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

Time windows

Development Services walk-in hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; Friday is by appointment only. The FAQ says inspections may be available next day, in two days, or in three days depending on workload.

Typical inspection sequence: Brentwood's public pages reviewed do not publish one citywide sequence for every permit type; applicants should expect inspections to follow the approved plans and permit scope, with rough and final inspections as applicable to the work. Reinspection note: The city warns that extra fees may apply when work begins without a permit; a separate published reinspection charge was not clearly identified on the city pages reviewed.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Brentwood states that the 2025 California Codes apply to permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026. The city also publishes a 2025 Code Update Information Letter and an Applicable Codes handout.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Applications and handouts
• Development Services
• Electronic Submittal Portal page
• Building forms and handouts
• 2025 code update letter
• Application Submittal Matrix
• Building FAQ
• New Commercial Submittal and Approval Requirements
• https://www.brentwoodca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/3022/638167248131830000
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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