Town of Hillsborough, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to properties within the incorporated Town of Hillsborough; permits administered by the Town’s Building Division. Separate permit or zoning requirements may apply for county/state permits, utility encroachments, fire review, and similar municipal agencies.

Department

Town of Hillsborough Building and Planning Department / Building Division

Address

1600 Floribunda Avenue, Hillsborough, CA 94010

Phone

650-375-7400 (website contact); 650-375-7411 (Building Division staff line in permit guidance)

Email

ecullinan@hillsborough.net , tanderson@hillsborough.net (listed in Hillsborough handouts)

Website

https://www.hillsborough.net

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Talk with the local code official (recommended before design/finalizing plans) to confirm whether a permit is required for your scope.
2. Prepare application package and include sketches/plans describing “who, what, when, where, how” and separate scopes when needed (electrical, plumbing, and mechanical trades generally submitted separately).
3. Submit through eTRAKiT using online permit/applicant workflow (separate permit records may be required by trade).
4. Building official reviews plans for compliance with local requirements and code, including design review, fire review, and other agency inputs where applicable.
5. Permit is issued after review and required fees are paid.
6. Schedule job-site inspections as work proceeds; request visits with 1–2 day notice.
7. Complete inspections and final review; obtain final documentation/closure before occupancy completion.

Typical processing time: Not published as a single universal timeline for all permit types on official permit pages; applicant is advised to call Building Division for case-specific timing.

Source: Town of Hillsborough Building and Planning Department / Building Division

General Requirements

New buildings, additions/remodels, residential improvements (decks, garages, fences, gates, antennas, satellite dishes, fireplaces, pools, water heaters), major renovations, HVAC systems, plumbing systems (including drainage and landscape watering), electrical/solar systems, tree removal, and similar construction work are listed by the town as permit-required categories.

Required Documents

• Permit application and trade-specific submittals
• plans/drawings and calculations as required
• plan sheets in approved sizes (commonly 11" x 17" minimum, up to 24" x 36"), numbered pages with title block, location owner/designer info, photos or condition reports for existing and proposed work, plus required specialty docs (Title 24, soils, structural, electrical as applicable).

Permit validity

The Town does not publish a single universal “permit valid for X days” rule on the permit pages; construction completion controls remain tied to completion-time limits after permit issuance under municipal code time-limit provisions (ranges by job value, with extension process).

Building code

2025 California Code of Regulations (Title 24 family) requirements are enforced, with the Town’s adopted municipal code and amendments; municipal page explicitly states these now apply for 2025 code cycles.

Owner-builder

Most construction is by licensed contractor. Owner-builder permits are possible only in limited situations and are covered by separate town handout(s); only property owners (not business owners/tenants) can qualify.

Contractor requirements

Work is generally treated as requiring licensed professional contractors for most work; required trade submittals/inspections and owner-builder restrictions make permit issuance dependent on qualified professionals.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

In the published fee table, Building Permit Base Fee starts at approximately $203 (prior schedule value) / $233 (current table row shown) for valuation $1-$4,000.

Plan check fee

65% of the Building Permit fee (from table-based fee language).

Reinspection fee

- Stop-work reactivation fee: $250 to $1,000 (set by building official). - Unpermitted start of work can trigger up to 10x permit fee surcharge. - Completion-time penalties are set by ordinance (e.g., escalating daily penalties after permit deadlines).

Payment note

Full payment is required before permits are issued; permit applications are subject to document imaging charges; final cost depends on valuation and plan review/inspection categories.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Important: - The Town has explicit exemptions in local code sections, but scope must be validated case-by-case with Building Division. - Even work often treated as exempt may still be subject to design standards, grading/development, utility, or other municipal approvals. - Call the Building Division before starting work if your scope is uncertain.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• eTRAKiT (online)

Scheduling deadline

Town guidance indicates inspection requests are by project coordination with required advance notice (typically 1–2 days); permit/registration and process support is available through town and eTRAKiT channels.

Inspection hours

Construction/activity timing in adjacent guidance indicates no Sunday work; general neighborhood-noise work-hour controls are Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. for construction noise complaints.

Typical inspection sequence: Rough plan check -> required trade/system inspections -> final inspection and permit closure; final inspection is needed before project completion certificate/acceptance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2025 California Code of Regulations (Title 24 family) requirements are enforced, with the Town’s adopted municipal code and amendments; municipal page explicitly states these now apply for 2025 code cycles.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Permits
• Obtaining A Permit
• Handouts Forms
• Codes
• Archive.Aspx'Amid=41&Type=Recent
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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