Town of Woodside, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Town of Woodside, San Mateo County, California

Department

Town of Woodside Building Department

Address

2955 Woodside Road, Woodside, CA 94062

Phone

650-851-6796

Email

The site shows “Email Building” but does not expose an address , permit submissions are directed to projectmanagers@woodsideca.gov for e-mail filing.

Website

https://www.woodsideca.gov/157/Building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm permit need early if uncertain (Town requires a permit for erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of buildings/structures and electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems).
2. Contact Planning at 650-851-6796 to confirm whether discretionary review is required.
3. Prepare application, scope, plans, valuation, and required supporting documents.
4. Email application package (PDF) to the Building Department (projectmanagers@woodsideca.gov) unless the project is one of the eTRAKiT-only permit types.
5. Pay applicable fees/deposits at submission.
6. Complete plan check review cycle (including any revisions requested), then permit issuance.
7. Schedule and complete inspections in sequence before final sign-off.
8. Processing-time estimate: not published for permit issuance in the Town pages; only inspection scheduling is explicit (72 hours advance notice, afternoons only).
9. Source URL: https://www.woodsideca.gov/157/Building and https://www.woodsideca.gov/473/Apply-for-Permits-Online

Source: Town of Woodside Building Department

General Requirements

generally for new/altered/improved construction, repair, move, demolition, or occupancy changes.

Required Documents

• Building permit application, complete scope, plans, valuation, and scope-appropriate supporting docs (e.g., fire-safe checklist, structural/engineering data, soils reports, owner/contractor info, and department-specific documents).

Permit validity

New work must have an inspection within one year of scheduling; no permit activity for one year requires a new permit (permit fees non-refundable after 365 days if issued). Inactivity/refund details are in the fee schedule.

Building code

California Building Code and Woodside Municipal Code.

Owner-builder

Town provides an Owner-Builder declaration path; it warns owner-builders they may be held liable if they submit a permit as owner without proper licensed oversight and that contractor license/bonding requirements generally apply.

Contractor requirements

Finalization is tied to license confirmation; no person may transact business without a Town business license, and finalization requires all licenses confirmed for subcontractors (Town Municipal Code reference via town page).

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$155 (Permit Processing Fee / Minimum Permit Fee)

Plan check fee

see above (plan review percentage + hourly follow-on for additional review/revisions).

Permit fee formula

mixed model: - Building permit fee uses valuation-based and flat components (varies by permit type). - Plan check is charged as a percentage of building permit fee: 20% counter review, 85% residential, 100% commercial. - Additional plan review, engineering, planning review and revisions billed hourly; first three plan reviews included in base fee note.

Reinspection fee

Re-inspection fee $155 (after first re-inspection); Missed inspection $155.

Payment note

- Fees are due when submitting the permit application (cash/check is explicitly noted for in-person submittals). - Fees must be paid before review/permit processing of many permit types. - Permit extensions/reactivations/reissuance and special deposit-based fees also apply as listed in the fee schedule.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Detached accessory structures of 120 sq ft or less may avoid a building permit if no plumbing, electrical, or mechanical equipment is proposed, but still require a Planning Permit.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• eTRAKiT (via Woodside CSQR portal) (online)
• 650-851-6796 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

call 650-851-6796 or email for Building; schedule 72 hours in advance; afternoons only (1:00–4:30 PM).

Time windows

Building inspections generally limited to afternoon windows; Town says it conducts first-come, first-serve and only a limited number per day.

Typical inspection sequence: plan check approvals -> Building final inspection after other required departments clear their finals (Planning, Geology, Public Works, Woodside Fire, Health, etc. as applicable).

Additional Resources

• Building code: California Building Code and Woodside Municipal Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permits
• Submittal Requirements Checklists Forms
• Overall Development Review Process Pdf
• wood.csqrcloud.com
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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