County Building Permits

Santa Clara County Building Permit Guide

Building permit information for unincorporated Santa Clara County and all incorporated cities. Find your jurisdiction's permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Important: Santa Clara County issues building permits only for properties in unincorporated areas of the county. If your property is inside an incorporated city, select your city below — that city's building department handles your permits, not the county.

Unincorporated Santa Clara County

Permit authority
Department of Planning and Development (DPD)
Apply for permit
Apply online
Schedule appointment
Book appointment
Governing body
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors

Cities in Santa Clara County

Select your city for local permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Campbell Permit guide → Cupertino Permit guide → Gilroy Permit guide → Los Altos Permit guide → Los Altos Hills Permit guide → Los Gatos Permit guide → Milpitas Permit guide → Monte Sereno Permit guide → Morgan Hill Permit guide → Mountain View Permit guide → Palo Alto Permit guide → San Jose Permit guide → Santa Clara Permit guide → Saratoga Permit guide → Sunnyvale Permit guide →

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the relevant city or county department before applying.

Related California Resources

License Requirements Verify your contractor's CSLB license → Contract Template Free homeowner-contractor agreement →

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Santa Clara County can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

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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 authorities 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.