San Ramon, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Handles building permit review, issuance, inspections, and code enforcement within the incorporated City of San Ramon; work in the public right-of-way is handled separately through the Permit Center/Engineering.

Department

City of San Ramon Community Development Department, Building and Safety Services Division

Address

7000 Bollinger Canyon Rd, San Ramon, CA 94583

Phone

(925) 973-2580

Email

PermitCenter@SanRamon.ca.gov

Website

https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/community_development/building_and_safety_services

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create a CSS account and choose the correct permit type in the City of San Ramon permit portal.
2. Upload the permit application and required plans/documents; the City notes submissions are online and permit types cannot be changed after submittal.
3. The application is routed to Planning, Building and Safety, and Engineering for review as needed.
4. If no review is required, the permit moves to issuance and permit fees are invoiced.
5. If review is required, plan check fees are invoiced first; once paid, plans are routed for review.
6. The City states permit application processing typically takes 5 to 10 business days, and plan check comments are typically returned within 10 business days after plans are routed for review.
7. After comments are cleared and all fees are paid, the permit is issued.
8. During construction, schedule required inspections through CSS or by phone; a final inspection is required for sign-off.

Typical processing time: 5 to 10 business days for application processing; about 10 business days for first plan check comments after routing for review.

Source: City of San Ramon Community Development Department, Building and Safety Services Division

General Requirements

San Ramon cites the 2022 California Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical codes. In general, any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, change occupancy, or install/replace regulated building, electrical, plumbing, gas, or mechanical systems must obtain the required permit unless exempt under code section 105.2 or similar exemption sections.

Required Documents

• Varies by project type, but city submittal handouts consistently require a Standardized Permit Application plus project plans drawn to scale and supporting documents such as structural details/calculations, energy forms, site/floor plans, and other discipline-specific materials. For example, kitchen remodel submittals require the standardized application, code editions used, scope of work, plans, and Title 24 documentation where applicable.

Permit validity

City handouts state permits expire 180 days after issuance or after the last inspection passed, whichever is later. The fee schedule also lists a permit extension fee.

Building code

Current city building pages list the 2022 California Building Code, 2022 California Residential Code, 2022 California Electrical Code, 2022 California Mechanical Code, 2022 California Plumbing Code, and City of San Ramon Municipal and Zoning Ordinances.

Owner-builder

City forms allow either a licensed contractor or owner-builder. City application materials include owner-builder declarations; project handouts note permits may be issued to the homeowner, but if the owner personally performs work and inspections show the work cannot be completed satisfactorily, a licensed contractor must perform the work. If the owner hires workers, proof of workers' compensation insurance is required before inspection.

Contractor requirements

City forms require contractor license number and license class. City handouts state permits may be issued only to a properly licensed California contractor or the homeowner, and owner-builder declarations reference California contractor licensing law.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$207 for valuation-based building permits for projects valued from $1.00 to $500.00

Plan check fee

55% of building permit fee; disabled access plan check is 25% of the plan check fee; energy plan check is 25% of the plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based, with tiered base amounts plus an added charge per $100 or $1,000 of valuation depending on the valuation bracket. Some permit categories also use flat fees.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation fee for work without permit is equal to the permit fee.

Payment note

The City allows applicants to estimate fees, pay invoices online through CSS, and for some submittal workflows notes that plan check fees must be received before review starts.

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.
• Fences not over 7 feet high, with city note of 6-foot maximum plus 1 foot of lattice.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter or width 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 do not require additional support.

Important: The city states that exemption from permit requirements does not authorize work that violates the code or any other laws or ordinances of the jurisdiction.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (925) 973-2582 (phone)
• (925) 973-2580 (phone)
• https://srch-munis-web.sanramon.ca.gov/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService#/home (online)
• https://srch-munis-web.sanramon.ca.gov/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService#/inspection/todaysinspections (online)

Scheduling deadline

The reinspection page says requested inspections are assigned a 2-hour window available by phone or online on the inspection day.

Inspection hours

The IVR system offers inspection windows of Anytime (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), AM (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), and PM (12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.). The city notes AM/PM requests cannot be guaranteed. The reinspection page says requested inspections are assigned a 2-hour window available by phone or online on the inspection day.

Time windows

The IVR system offers inspection windows of Anytime (8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.), AM (8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.), and PM (12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.). The city notes AM/PM requests cannot be guaranteed. The reinspection page says requested inspections are assigned a 2-hour window available by phone or online on the inspection day.

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by permit, but San Ramon publishes staged inspection codes including footing/foundation, framing and rough trade inspections, insulation, and final inspections. The City states a final inspection is required to sign off the permit. Reinspection note: Reinspection fees are assessed for repeated failure on the same correction items, failing to appear during the assigned inspection window, not having required access equipment such as ladders for reroof/solar inspections, or otherwise not being ready for inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Current city building pages list the 2022 California Building Code, 2022 California Residential Code, 2022 California Electrical Code, 2022 California Mechanical Code, 2022 California Plumbing Code, and City of San Ramon Municipal and Zoning Ordinances.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit Center
• Building code overview and permit triggers
• Permit exemptions
• https://www.sanramon.ca.gov/our_city/departments_and_divisions/community_development/development_application_and_building_permit_proces/building_permit_review_process
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Contra Costa County