St. Helena, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of St. Helena. Unincorporated Napa County is handled by Napa County, not the City.

Department

City of St. Helena Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

1088 College Avenue, St. Helena, CA 94574

Phone

(707) 967-2779

Email

building@cityofsthelena.gov

Website

https://www.cityofsthelena.gov/245/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create an eTRAKiT account. Public users set up an account directly; contractors receive portal credentials after registering their contractor license with the City.
2. Start the application in eTRAKiT under Permits, upload the building permit application and all required checklists, plans, and supporting documents. St. Helena states it has gone digital and paperless for all permitting and no longer accepts paper applications or plans.
3. Staff performs a completeness check. Incomplete applications are not accepted for review.
4. After submittal is deemed complete, staff assesses plan check and permit fees and emails instructions for payment in eTRAKiT.
5. City departments review the submittal for compliance. Over-the-counter permits are often issued at submission if complete and no plan check is required. Rapid permits are targeted for up to 14 working days for first comments or issuance and up to 14 working days for subsequent review. Standard permits are targeted for up to 28 working days for first comments and up to 28 working days for subsequent review.
6. Once approved and fees are paid, the permit is issued through the portal.
7. Request inspections through eTRAKiT after issuance.

Typical processing time: Over-the-counter permits may be issued at submission if complete. Rapid permits are targeted for up to 14 working days. Standard permits are targeted for up to 28 working days. Tent permits need at least 2 full working days, excluding weekends and holidays.

Source: City of St. Helena Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

St. Helena requires building permits for construction, alteration, improvement, demolition, or repair work that falls under the adopted building codes and local requirements. City-published categories show permits are commonly required for new buildings, additions, interior remodels, commercial tenant improvements, decks, patio covers, retaining walls, signs, fences in listed categories, window and door replacements with structural modification, reroofs, HVAC replacements, water heater replacements, electrical service changes, solar systems, and similar work. Work in the public right-of-way separately requires City encroachment permitting.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Electronic plans uploaded to eTRAKiT
• Applicable City checklists, worksheets, and handouts from the Building Forms & Handouts page
• Additional project-specific supporting documents required by the relevant checklist or review agency
• Fire sprinkler permits, when required, submitted as concurrent but separate applications

Permit validity

Permit applications expire 365 days after submission if not pursued in good faith. Issued building and fire permits are valid for 365 days from issuance. A permit expires if work is not started within 365 days, or if work is abandoned or no inspection occurs for more than 365 days. Each approved inspection extends permit life another 365 days. Extensions may be granted at the Chief Building Official's discretion if requested before expiration; the extension request form lists a $77 administrative fee.

Building code

Current City checklists for 2026 submittals require plans to state compliance with the 2025 California Residential Code and the St. Helena Municipal Code. California HCD states the 2025 California Building Standards Code became effective January 1, 2026, and applies to permits with application dates on or after January 1, 2026.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders must submit the City owner-builder disclosure before permit issuance. The property owner must complete and sign the disclosure and provide identity verification acceptable to the City when the permit is issued. The owner-builder form warns the owner is legally and financially responsible for the work and may have employer and liability obligations.

Contractor requirements

Permit applications ask for the California contractor license number and City of St. Helena business license number. The City requires either a signed statement that the applicant is licensed under the Contractors State License Law or a stated basis for exemption. Contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single department-wide minimum fee is published; fees are permit-type specific. Examples in the current schedule include Temp Power Pole - Residential at $50 and Water Heater - Residential at $75.

Plan check fee

Plan check fees are due at first submittal. The City expects two submittals per project; additional rounds can trigger supplemental plan check charges. Supplemental plan check fee is $160.50 for the first half hour, with a 1 hour minimum noted on the schedule, then $141 for each additional half hour or portion.

Permit fee formula

Mixed structure. Many common permits use flat published fees. Larger building permits use schedule tables keyed to occupancy, use, size, and category. Where no specific fee is listed, the Community Development Director may charge full cost recovery based on staff hourly rates and outside costs.

Reinspection fee

Supplemental inspection fee is $124.50 for the first half hour, with a 1 hour minimum noted on the schedule, then $105 for each additional half hour or portion. After-hours inspection fee is $231 per hour with a 4-hour minimum.

Penalty (no permit)

Applications submitted after work has already begun or been completed through code enforcement are subject to double the standard building permit fee. Expired permit fee is listed as discretionary.

Payment note

Staff performs a completeness review first, then sends fee instructions. Applicants pay fees through eTRAKiT. No plan review starts until required fees are paid.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of St. Helena Community Development Department, Building Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• eTRAKiT (online)
• (707) 967-2779 (phone)
• building@cityofsthelena.gov (email)
• (707) 968-2658 (phone)
• pwpermits@cityofsthelena.gov (email)

Scheduling deadline

As of December 31, 2025, the Building Division states all inspection requests must be made through eTRAKiT.

Inspection hours

Onsite inspections are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Time windows

AM window: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM; PM window: 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Typical inspection sequence: The City does not publish one universal inspection sequence for all project types. Typical sequence depends on scope, but inspections are requested after permit issuance and all permits require a final inspection. Project-specific handouts and checklists may add required stages for foundations, framing, MEP rough-ins, insulation, and final approval.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Current City checklists for 2026 submittals require plans to state compliance with the 2025 California Residential Code and the St. Helena Municipal Code. California HCD states the 2025 California Building Standards Code became effective January 1, 2026, and applies to permits with application dates on or after January 1, 2026.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Division
• Building Resources
• Building Forms & Handouts
• Online Permit Center
• Major Encroachment Permits
• California HCD Code Effective Date Bulletin
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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