City Building Permits

Town of Los Gatos, CA Building Permit Guide

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

California Santa Clara County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

All properties within the incorporated Town of Los Gatos.

Department
Community Development Department, Building Division
Address
110 E. Main St., Los Gatos, CA 95030
Phone
(408) 354-6876
Website
https://www.losgatosca.gov/220/Building

Online Permit Portal

Open Los Gatos Online Permit Portal

Platform: Accela Citizen Access • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only

Application Process

  1. Create an online account at the Town portal and confirm by email.
  2. Prepare plans and supporting documents in digital format.
  3. For most projects, start with a Building Pre-Application through the portal. Staff complete intake and notify the applicant to pay fees online if required.
  4. The project is routed through plan review. Respond to staff comments and resubmit through the portal as needed.
  5. Some direct online permit types are available without a pre-application, including residential service panel, repipe, water heater, furnace, air-conditioner, reroof, and SolarAPP+ permits.
  6. Pay remaining permit fees and obtain permit issuance before starting work.

Source: Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

The Building Division handles plan review for new construction, additions, remodels, and inspection services for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work within Town limits.

Required Documents

  • Plans and supporting documents in digital format
  • Project-specific submittal materials per Town guidelines
Building code
California Building Code
Contractor requirements
Contractors must have a current Town of Los Gatos business license to obtain permits.

Fees

Plan check fee
65% of electrical/mechanical/plumbing fees; Title 24 plan review/inspection surcharge: 15% of the building permit fee
Permit fee formula
Valuation-based permit fees plus unit fees and surcharges per the FY 2025-2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule
Trade permit fee
Service equipment 200 amps or less $96.00; residential water re-piping $141.00; each water heater/water softener $39.00
Reinspection fee
$195.00 per hour
Payment note
Permit extension $96.00; NPDES inspection fee $86.00; SB 1186 accessibility fee $4.00.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • One-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet
  • Fences not over 7 feet high
  • Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge
  • Certain small water tanks
  • Sidewalks and driveways (subject to possible encroachment permit)
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
  • Prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep
  • Playground equipment
  • Qualifying window awnings
  • Qualifying detached low decks
  • Listed cord-plug decorative lighting, certain receptacle or overcurrent-device replacements, low-voltage low-wattage equipment, and minor repair work (limited electrical exemptions)
  • Portable heating/cooking/drying appliances, portable heating/ventilation/cooling equipment (limited gas and mechanical exemptions)

Important: Exempt work still must comply with applicable codes and other local laws and ordinances. Confirm edge cases with the Building Division before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Scheduling deadline
Inspection requests must be submitted by 12:00 PM for the next business day. Requests received after noon are pushed to the following business day.
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, excluding holidays
Time windows
Inspectors try to honor AM/PM requests but do not guarantee them.

Typical inspection sequence: Online scheduling requires the user to register, log in, open the building permit record, and use the inspections function to request the inspection type needed.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Community Development Department, Building Division before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Town of Los Gatos can be complicated.

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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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