County Building Permits

Santa Cruz County Building Permit Guide

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

California Updated March 2026

Important: Santa Cruz 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 Cruz County

Permit authority
Planning Division / Unified Permit Center - Building Permits & Safety
Online portal
ePlan Review
EZ permits
EZ Permit Service
Inspection scheduling
County inspection scheduler

Cities in Santa Cruz County

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

Capitola Permit guide → Santa Cruz Permit guide → Scotts Valley Permit guide → Watsonville 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?

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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.