City Building Permits

Town of Portola Valley, CA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Portola Valley, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California San Mateo County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Town-specific permitting; applies within the incorporated Town of Portola Valley limits (in San Mateo County), separate from County of San Mateo process.

Department: Planning & Building Department, Town of Portola Valley
Address: 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028
Phone: (650) 851-1700
Email: planbuild@portolavalley.net (building permits) , planning@portolavalley.net (planning permits) , inspections@portolavalley.net
Website: https://www.portolavalley.net/departments/planning-building-department

Online Permit Portal

Open Email/counter submission with supporting links (no dedicated public e-permit workflow)

Platform: Email/counter submission with supporting links (no dedicated public e-permit workflow) • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

Confirm whether a permit is required (work categories below).
Submit preliminary paperwork and required plans to planbuild@portolavalley.net or visit the Building & Planning permit counter (Monday–Thursday, 8:30am–12:00pm).
Town staff review for completeness and request supplemental items if needed.
Classify project: limited-scope work (email review on first-come-first-served basis) or larger-scope work (email + required Zoom virtual counter meeting).
If complete, fees/deposits are calculated and billed; project proceeds to formal review.
After review and permit issuance, request inspections by emailing inspections@portolavalley.net.
Start work only after required permit and any required pre-permit review is complete.

Source: Planning & Building Department, Town of Portola Valley

General Requirements

for any erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, move, improvement, or removal of building/structure, or work on electrical/plumbing/mechanical systems.

Permit validity: Not stated clearly in the published pages (Town generally states permits tied to reviewed applications and process milestones; verify specific permit status/date directly with the Department).
Building code: - Town has adopted 2025 editions of the California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, Fire, and Existing Building Codes with local amendments.
Owner-builder: - Owner-builder declaration required where claimed (no sale intent, owner is applicant, and owner-builder criteria are met). - Town requires either contractor license or owner-builder declaration per California Business and Professions Code provisions.
Contractor requirements: - All contractors listed in permit application must provide CSLB number/class; form requires explicit declaration of being licensed or qualifying for statutory exemption. - All general and subcontractors must have a valid Portola Valley business license. - Separate owner-builder declarations and statutory worker-compensation declarations apply.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: - Permit Application Fee (all building permits): For Initial Permit $87 (additional permits $40).
Reinspection fee: - No specific standalone “reinspection” table is published in the building fee index; additional plan review/revisions billed hourly. - Starting work without permit can trigger a fee resolution penalty and minimum double-permit fine exposure.
Payment note: - Deposits are required in many categories. - Additional staff/consultant time billed hourly where deposit accounts or non-scheduled complexity applies. - Credit card/3rd-party payment fees may apply.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Important: - Exempt-from-permit status does not waive zoning/design compliance (all work must still meet zoning, planning, and design requirements). - Exempt structures may still require separate plumbing/electrical/mechanical permits.

Inspections

How to Schedule

inspections@portolavalley.net (email)

Time windows: - Permit counter/opening hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30am–12:00pm; inspection offices are not posted with a fixed weekly schedule on public pages.

Typical inspection sequence: - Schedule only after permit is issued/compliant with permit conditions; staff confirmation required before considering inspection confirmed. - Inspector may cancel visits for safety/review reasons.

Additional Resources

Building code: - Town has adopted 2025 editions of the California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, Fire, and Existing Building Codes with local amendments.
Zoning information: View zoning info
License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Planning & Building Department, Town of Portola Valley before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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