Brisbane, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City of Brisbane (San Mateo County) building permits and inspections for in-city parcels.

Department

Building Division, Community Development Department, City of Brisbane

Address

50 Park Place, Brisbane, CA 94005

Phone

(415) 508-2120

Email

building@brisbaneca.org

Website

https://www.brisbaneca.org/building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether a permit is required (call/email staff if unclear).
2. Collect required submittal materials and complete the online permit application in Clariti.
3. Upload required drawings/documents (digital PDF only; all development plan pages in one PDF file).
4. Submit; plan check review starts.
5. Pay plan check fee at submission and additional permit fees when permit is issued.
6. Request inspections in Clariti after permit issuance.

Typical processing time: City notes plan review can take longer than normal; it also publishes a target of 15 business days for plan check and 15-day resubmittal cycles.

Source: Building Division, Community Development Department, City of Brisbane

General Requirements

before constructing, enlarging, altering, replacing, repairing, converting, demolishing, or changing use/occupancy of buildings/structures in city limits.

Required Documents

• - Title sheet with scope, applicant contact, code cycle, sheet list and signatures/stamps where required. - Plans for site, floor/roof, elevations, MEP, and structural items. - Any project-specific add-ons (surveys, geotechnical, soils, structural calcs, etc.) based on project scope. - Owner/contractor declarations and proof/statement on license, contractor status, and worker compensation as listed in the permit application form.

Permit validity

- No work started or 12-month inactivity can lead to permit expiration; permit suspension/abandonment rules and reissuance terms are in the municipal code.

Building code

- The City�s Building pages reference current California Building Code cycles and California energy code requirements, with notice that the city uses the latest adopted state cycle and has adopted local reach/energy requirements.

Owner-builder

An owner can claim the owner-builder exception under state law only under owner-building rules; if owner sells within one year, burden of proving non-sale purpose applies. If the owner contracts out work, all contractors must hold appropriate licensing.

Contractor requirements

- City page states all contractors are required to have a valid city business license. - Building permit applications require licensed professionals for many project types and require plans/certificates to bear signatures/stamps/license numbers when required.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

plan check minimum shown as $64.

Plan check fee

- Listed as 50% (residential), 60% (non-residential), 85% (fast track), with $64 minimum.

Permit fee formula

plan check is a % of permit fee (residential 50%, non-residential 60%, fast-track 85%); building permit fee is based on square footage or valuation per fee category.

Reinspection fee

- Starting work without required permit is subject to significant penalties up to 10x required permit fee (with $10,000 cap per code basis, and lower rate for small owner exemptions in cited code text).

Payment note

fee collection is split by phase (plan check at submittal, permit at issuance); card payments carry a 2% surcharge.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Important: - City indicates many common home and business alterations still require permits (bathrooms/kitchens, roofing, driveways, deck repair, patio covers, tree removal/replacement, solar, etc.). - For uncertainty, verify with Building staff before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Clariti (online)
• (415) 508-2120 (phone)

Time windows

- Residential and most commercial inspections: Monday�Thursday afternoons, Friday mornings. - City construction hours listed as weekdays 7:00 a.m.�7:00 p.m.; weekends/holidays 9:00 a.m.�7:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: - Schedule inspections as work progresses, from required intermediate inspections through final inspection. - Requests are logged and confirmed through the portal.

Additional Resources

• Building code: - The City�s Building pages reference current California Building Code cycles and California energy code requirements, with notice that the city uses the latest adopted state cycle and has adopted local reach/energy requirements.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Why Are Permits Needed
• Building Permits
• Building Handouts And Forms
• 25356
• 25361
• 25386
• 24501
• Item Attachment 001 29D65D4D4A62484E8Bc7F1A98E6A00E9
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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