San Benito County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Serves unincorporated San Benito County. Incorporated cities such as Hollister and San Juan Bautista have their own city permitting authority.

Department

San Benito County Resource Management Agency, Building and Code Enforcement Division / Planning and Building Inspection Services

Address

2301 Technology Parkway, Hollister, CA 95023-9174

Phone

(831) 637-5313

Email

sbcplan@cosb.us

Website

https://www.sanbenitocountyca.gov/departments/resource-management-agency/building-services-applications-and-forms

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm project-specific requirements with County Planning/Building and any outside agencies the county identifies for the project type, such as Environmental Health, water/sanitation district, and fire district.
2. Register for an Accela Citizen Access account.
3. Complete the county building permit application. The county application says only licensed contractors, property owners, or authorized agents with written authorization may obtain permits.
4. Prepare the required electronic submittal package. County handouts for new single-family dwellings require, at minimum, the permit application, Construction and Demolition Recycling Plan, and electronic copies of plans and supporting documents such as structural calculations, truss calculations, energy compliance, and soils/geotechnical reports when applicable.
5. Submit online or electronically. The county online submittal page directs applicants to complete the application, gather project handouts and plans, then email the application and plans to county staff; the county notes a Dropbox link may be used if needed.
6. Pay permit fees by credit card by calling the main line during posted payment hours.
7. After plan review and issuance, post the permit on site and call for inspections at least 24 hours in advance.

Source: San Benito County Resource Management Agency, Building and Code Enforcement Division / Planning and Building Inspection Services

General Requirements

A complete permit application with plans/data required by the Building Official must be filed before any work may be done on any building. County code authorizes permits for work to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, convert, demolish, plumb, wire, install, or change work on or about a building.

Required Documents

• Completed building permit application
• Project plans
• Construction and Demolition Recycling Plan
• Project-specific supporting documents
• Structural calculations for new single-family dwellings
• Truss calculations for new single-family dwellings
• Energy compliance report for new single-family dwellings
• Soils/geotechnical report when applicable
• CALGreen/C and D compliance materials
• Architectural plans
• Structural plans
• Electrical plans
• Plumbing plans
• Mechanical plans

Permit validity

The public county pages reviewed did not clearly post a general permit expiration rule. Applicants should confirm current validity and extension rules with the Building Division before filing.

Building code

2022 California Administrative Code, California Building Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Residential Code, CALGreen, Energy Code, Historical Code, Existing Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, and California Fire Code, plus certain other referenced codes

Owner-builder

The county application includes an Owner-Builder Declaration stating owners may be legally and financially responsible for the project, may become employers if labor/material value reaches $500, and must verify contractor licensing and workers' compensation if they hire others. Before permit issuance, the owner-builder form must be completed and signed by the property owner, and the county requires ID, notarization, or other signature verification acceptable to the agency.

Contractor requirements

The county application states contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California and to list their license numbers on permits and contracts. Licensed contractor and workers' compensation declarations are part of the permit application packet.

Fees

Plan check fee

Varies by project. The public fee schedule reviewed does not clearly expose a single universal plan check percentage, but it does state additional plan review caused by plan changes/additions/revisions is charged at actual cost after initial review has been completed.

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based master fee schedule. Publicly visible line items include a California Building Standards Fee of $1 per $25,000 of total valuation and a $20 documentation fee; the schedule also shows several flat-fee permit items and separate impact fees.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees assessed under Section 305.8 are listed at $150 per inspection. Inspections requested outside normal business hours are listed at $182 per hour with a 4-hour minimum. Inspections where no fee is otherwise indicated are listed at $150 per hour with a 1-hour minimum.

Payment note

The county online submittal page directs applicants to call (831) 637-5313 to pay permit fees by credit card Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.; payments are unavailable from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the San Benito County Resource Management Agency, Building and Code Enforcement Division / Planning and Building Inspection Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Accela Citizen Access (online)
• (831) 637-1041 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests should be made at least 24 hours in advance.

Inspection hours

Building Inspection Services office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Time windows

AM and PM time slots.

Typical inspection sequence: Obtain permit, post permit on site, complete the work for the requested inspection stage, ensure approved plans/specifications and a qualified person are on site, then call for inspection. Roofing and photovoltaic inspections require an OSHA-approved ladder secured to the building. Electrical inspections require accessible/open panels, junction boxes, and related components.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2022 California Administrative Code, California Building Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Residential Code, CALGreen, Energy Code, Historical Code, Existing Building Code, Referenced Standards Code, and California Fire Code, plus certain other referenced codes
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• County Code Library
• San Benito County Impact Fees
• Planning & Building Inspection Services
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement