Hercules, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

For projects in Hercules city limits, the City handles local planning, design review, zoning-related approvals, and Hercules business-license prerequisites; the County Building Official issues building permits and performs inspections for work regulated by the building code in Hercules.

Department

City of Hercules Building Department & Permit Services; permit issuance, plan review, and inspections are handled through the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Application & Permit Center

Address

City of Hercules Building Department & Permit Services, 111 Civic Drive, Hercules, CA 94547; Contra Costa County Application & Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553

Phone

City Building Department (510) 799-8244; County Building and Planning (925) 655-2700; County Application & Permit Center (925) 674-7200

Email

smatinpour@HerculesCa.gov

Website

https://www.herculesca.gov/government/building ; https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/7863/Building-or-Grading-Permit-Overview

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project also needs City of Hercules planning approval, design review, paving permit, sign permit, or business-license clearance before or alongside the building permit. Hercules states that many new buildings, new uses, and many exterior modifications require a City planning application.
2. Prepare digital application materials for the County ePermits Center. Common County requirements include plan sets, scope details, and supporting forms; projects may also need approvals from other agencies before permit issuance.
3. Submit the building permit application through Contra Costa County's ePermits Center. County guidance states building permit applications are 100% digital and paper applications are no longer accepted.
4. Wait for the County's initial completeness review. Contra Costa County states this initial review takes about 4 to 5 business days, depending on project scope and application completeness.
5. Pay any required upfront fees, including plan check fees where applicable, then respond to plan review comments and upload revisions if requested.
6. After approval, pay the remaining permit fees and download the issued permit card and approved plans. The County requires a printed permit card and full-size approved plans to be kept at the job site.
7. Schedule required inspections through the County automated phone line or ePermits Center, and do not proceed to final until all required inspections and any revision approvals are complete.

Typical processing time: Initial completeness review is about 4 to 5 business days; full review time depends on scope, completeness, outside-agency approvals, and correction cycles.

Source: City of Hercules Building Department & Permit Services; permit issuance, plan review, and inspections are handled through the Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Application & Permit Center

General Requirements

Hercules states no person may erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish a building or structure regulated by Title 9, or install or connect regulated equipment, without first obtaining the necessary permits from the County Building Official. City planning approval is also required for many new development projects, most new buildings, and many exterior building modifications.

Required Documents

• Digital plan set and application documents required by the County; common County forms include residential or commercial plan submittal packages, permit declarations, authorization of agent if applicable, and project-specific documents such as drainage plans, CalGreen debris recovery documentation, photovoltaic or generator checklists, geotechnical items, and approvals from planning, fire, sanitary district, environmental health, or public works when triggered.

Permit validity

County plan-check applications are deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued in good faith or a permit is issued. Issued building permits expire 365 days from issuance without approval of a required inspection, or if 365 days lapse between approved required inspections. Extensions and renewals are handled through County forms.

Building code

Hercules Municipal Code Chapter 9-2 adopts the 2022 California Building Code by reference and also adopts portions of Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2022-35 amending the 2022 CBC. Hercules' building page also references current California code-based permit exemptions under the 2022 California Residential Code.

Owner-builder

County permit declarations are used for licensed contractors or property owners. County guidance states permits may be issued to licensed contractors, property owners, or an authorized agent, but design professionals may apply and may not receive permit issuance. Owner-builders should expect to sign the applicable declarations.

Contractor requirements

Contractors working under the permit must be properly licensed for the work. Contra Costa County states commercial permits can only be issued to California licensed contractors, and City guidance notes Hercules businesses must secure a City business license. County planning guidance specifically notes business-license clearance for projects in Hercules.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

County building-related trade permits commonly show a $75.00 minimum for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits not otherwise itemized. Some specific permit categories have flat fees, such as residential reroofs at $150 plus $38 processing.

Plan check fee

Charged by permit type under the County fee schedule; larger projects typically pay plan check fees upfront before full review begins. The County fee explanation identifies plan check as the fee for staff review of plans for code compliance before permit issuance.

Permit fee formula

Primarily valuation-based under the County Land Development Fee Schedule for many building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, grading, and alteration permits, with flat-fee line items for certain permit types.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection is $150 per inspection trip.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation of work without permit is charged at two times the required permit fees, with a $300 minimum, added to permit fees.

Payment note

County fees are paid online through ePermits Center by credit card or e-check, or by in-person or mailed delivery to County offices. The County warns it will not request credit-card or bank information by phone or email.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet
• Oil derricks
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and height-to-diameter or width ratio does not exceed 2:1
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep, not greater than 5,000 gallons, and installed entirely above ground
• Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies supported by an exterior wall, projecting no more than 54 inches, and not requiring additional support

Important: Hercules expressly notes that electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work still requires permits; exempt accessory structures may still require Planning Division, sanitary district, and/or Contra Costa County Environmental Health approval depending on size, location, and foundation; pool barriers may still be required when water depth exceeds 18 inches; and exempt work is not authorization to violate zoning, planning, or other local or state requirements.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (925) 646-4108 (phone)
• https://aca-prod.accela.com/contracostaco/Default.aspx (online)
• https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/4777/Inspections (online)

Scheduling deadline

Cancellations or reschedules can be made online before 6:00 a.m.

Inspection hours

Contra Costa County posts the current business day's inspection schedule after 8:45 a.m. Monday through Friday and provides inspection time frames in 3-hour windows. Cancellations or reschedules can be made online before 6:00 a.m. on the day of inspection.

Time windows

Contra Costa County posts the current business day's inspection schedule after 8:45 a.m. Monday through Friday and provides inspection time frames in 3-hour windows. Cancellations or reschedules can be made online before 6:00 a.m. on the day of inspection.

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance and job card posting, rough or phase inspections as work progresses, any required special inspections where noted on plans, correction and reinspection as needed, then final inspection after all approved plans and revisions are on site. Reinspection note: Reinspection fees apply when work is not ready or not accessible, when extra trips are required because of deficient work, or when multiple partial inspections are requested for work normally inspected in one trip. County guidance says not to schedule final inspection while a revision is still under review.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Hercules Municipal Code Chapter 9-2 adopts the 2022 California Building Code by reference and also adopts portions of Contra Costa County Ordinance No. 2022-35 amending the 2022 CBC. Hercules' building page also references current California code-based permit exemptions under the 2022 California Residential Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Hercules Building Division overview
• City Building contact page
• Hercules planning applications
• County permit overview
• County permit revisions, extensions, and renewals
• County inspections
• County fee explanation
• https://ecode360.com/47765252
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Contra Costa County