Town of Los Altos Hills, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

All properties within the incorporated Town of Los Altos Hills.

Department

Town of Los Altos Hills Building Department

Address

26379 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills, CA 94022

Phone

(650) 947-2501

Email

building@losaltoshills.ca.gov

Website

https://losaltoshills.ca.gov/292/Building-Department

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether your project requires a Site Development permit or other Planning approval before submitting for a building permit.
2. As of July 1, 2024, all building permits must be submitted electronically through eTrakit. Create a contractor or homeowner profile before submitting.
3. For smaller permits (kitchen/bathroom remodels, water heaters, reroofs, solar, furnaces, HVAC, seismic retrofits), you may also submit by emailing building@losaltoshills.ca.gov with a Building Permit Application and submittal drawings.
4. Include all applicable documents: site/architectural plans, engineering plans, structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, CALGreen checklist, soils/geotechnical materials, and other agency approvals.
5. City staff reviews the submittal for code compliance and completeness.
6. Respond to any correction comments and resubmit revised documents.
7. Pay remaining permit fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work.

Typical processing time: Average time from Site Development permit submittal to issuance of building permit is about 13 to 17 weeks for new residences and major additions.

Source: Town of Los Altos Hills Building Department

General Requirements

A permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, and before installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

Required Documents

• Completed building permit application
• Site/architectural plans
• Engineering plans (when required)
• Structural calculations
• Title 24 energy documents
• CALGreen checklist
• Soils/geotechnical materials (where applicable)
• Other agency approvals (where applicable)

Building code

2022 California Building Standards Codes

Fees

Plan check fee

65% of permit fee

Permit fee formula

Base fee $240 plus 0.9% of project valuation

Trade permit fee

MEP permits: base fee $180 plus 0.9% of project valuation; furnace $82; gas lines $82; water heater $82; demolition $180; reroof (<$50,000 valuation) $375; solar $450 + $15/kW above 15kW

Reinspection fee

$210 per reinspection

Penalty (no permit)

Up to 4x permit fee for work without a permit

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter/width ratio does not exceed 2:1
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Swings and other playground equipment
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that project no more than 54 inches and do not require additional support
• Decks not over 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the required exit door

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from planning approval. Some exempt items may still require planning review. Confirm with the Building Department before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (650) 947-2501 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Schedule inspections 3 to 4 days in advance; same-day inspections are not provided.

Inspection hours

Monday through Thursday (no building inspections on Fridays)

Typical inspection sequence: Provide job address, permit number, type of inspection, requested date, and AM/PM preference when scheduling.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2022 California Building Standards Codes
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Permit Submittal Checklist
• Fee Schedule & Payment
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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