Pacifica, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits for properties within the incorporated City of Pacifica; San Mateo County agencies apply to unincorporated County areas.

Department

Building Division, City of Pacifica

Address

1800 Francisco Boulevard, Pacifica, CA 94044 (building office); Mail: 170 Santa Maria Avenue, Pacifica, CA 94044

Phone

650-738-7341

Email

permittech@pacifica.gov

Website

https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Open the Building Division permit portal and choose to apply for a new permit.
2. In the new project flow, create an account (or create permit without registration) and complete Job Info/Project Info (project address, permit type, valuation, square footage, brief description).
3. Enter contact information and owner email/phone.
4. Upload required files (PDF preferred; project plans can be submitted in one combined set when required).
5. Submit the application and pay plan check and other required fees before review.
6. City review: first review ~3�4 weeks; resubmittals ~2�3 weeks each; final agency coordination up to ~1 week.
7. Permit status and next steps are provided through the permit account.

Source: Building Division, City of Pacifica

General Requirements

- Construction, alteration, moving, demolition, reroofing, electrical/plumbing/heating installations, roof changes, swimming pool work, and generally any physical change to property structures. - Also required before building, altering, repair, installation of regulated systems, and any occupancy change. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/774/637828565644630000

Required Documents

• - Job details: project valuation, area, short description, contacts. - Building permit application in portal steps (4-step submission flow). - Plans/docs uploaded as required
• permit emails are sent from donotreply@csgengr.com. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/780/638888864564200000
• https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division

Permit validity

- Not published on the Building Division overview or linked fee schedule pages accessed here. Confirm on issued permit/notice documents or in current building code sections.

Building code

- 2025 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Energy Code, CALGreen, Wildland-Urban Interface Code (effective Jan. 1, 2026), plus local amendments in Pacifica Municipal Code Title 8. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division

Owner-builder

- Not explicitly stated in the Building Division landing material; the city provides design-professional requirements instead.

Contractor requirements

- Design must be by a licensed architect/engineer for certain structural, occupancy, and system types; unlicensed designs are limited to narrow low-risk categories (small wood-frame SFH/4-plex classes, nonstructural nonseismic work, etc.). - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/home/showpublisheddocument/790/637828565691330000

Fees

Minimum permit fee

- City does not use a single universal minimum; plan-check base minimums vary by permit type. Example from City schedule: Plan Review (new construction/tenant improvements) minimum first-hour base is $336 (FY 2025-26).

Plan check fee

- Plan review is fee-based; users must pay required plan check before review/issuance.

Permit fee formula

- Valuation-based and hourly mix; community development and building entries include hourly plan review rates, valuation-based permit calculations, and per-footage/per-SF entries depending on work class.

Reinspection fee

- Fee schedule includes penalties for unpermitted construction work and false alarm call escalation; additional inspections may have hourly charges.

Payment note

- Pay plan check before review via permit account. - In-person payment can be made by card or check at 1800 Francisco Blvd; card payment is subject to 3% service fee. - Checks to: City of Pacifica, Building Division, 170 Santa Maria Ave., Pacifica, CA 94044.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Important: - No permit does not mean other zoning/development rules are waived. - Some exempt items still may require review of plans, zoning, encroachments, or private utility/utility-right-of-way permits.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (650) 737-1000 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

- Call Building Inspection Hotline: (650) 737-1000. - Permit office notes also mention inspection phone requests with weekday daytime window and 24-hour advance notice.

Inspection hours

- Building Division office hours: Mon 8:30-12:30, Tue 13:30-17:00, Wed 8:30-12:30 and 13:30-19:00, Thu 8:30-12:30. - Inspections cannot be requested more than one week in advance.

Typical inspection sequence: - Footing/foundation, underground plumbing, floor joists/insulation, framing, exterior lath, sheetrock, then final. - Electrical/plumbing/mechanical inspections at intermediate stages before concealment.

Additional Resources

• Building code: - 2025 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Energy Code, CALGreen, Wildland-Urban Interface Code (effective Jan. 1, 2026), plus local amendments in Pacifica Municipal Code Title 8. - Source: https://www.cityofpacifica.org/departments/community-development/building-division
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning Code
• Planning Documents
• Planning Division
• 638863818072663193
• www.flowstobay.org
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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