Santa Cruz County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

County planning and building records and permits are maintained for projects in the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County.

Department

Planning Division / Unified Permit Center - Building Permits & Safety, County of Santa Cruz

Address

701 Ocean St., 4th Floor, Santa Cruz, CA 95060

Phone

Planning Switchboard (831) 454-2580; Public Works Switchboard (831) 454-2160

Email

planning.buildinginfo@santacruzcountyca.gov , recordsroominquiries@santacruzcountyca.gov , planning.zoninginfo@santacruzcountyca.gov

Website

https://cdi.santacruzcountyca.gov/UPC/BuildingPermitsSafety.aspx

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Research permit history and parcel context, then check zoning and environmental requirements before preparing the application.
2. Prepare the application package and fee estimate using the Camino Online Permit Guide and Residential/ADU fee estimator tools.
3. Apply through ePlan Review or the appropriate EZ Permit workflow and pay intake fees when required.
4. County staff and outside agencies review the project for code compliance.
5. Respond to correction comments and resubmit required documents or plan updates if needed.
6. After approvals, upload final required documents and pay issuance fees.
7. Download approved plans and the permit card before starting work.
8. Start construction only after permit issuance.
9. Schedule required inspections as work progresses; the permit is extended 6 months for each approved progress inspection.
10. Complete the permit after final inspection and clearance of any holds.

Typical processing time: No published fixed processing-time SLA was found on official county pages.

Source: Planning Division / Unified Permit Center - Building Permits & Safety, County of Santa Cruz

General Requirements

A building permit is generally required unless the work is specifically exempted by the California Building Code and Santa Cruz County Code Chapter 12.

Required Documents

• Residential plans
• Camino guide checklist items and required forms
• Application Requirements for Residential Structures (PLG280) materials
• Owner-Builder Acknowledgment (PLG-220) when no contractor is used

Permit validity

Permit is valid for one year from issuance and is extended six months from each approved progress inspection based on the date of the last approved progress inspection.

Building code

References include the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, and county building code provisions.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder acknowledgment is required for owners not hiring a contractor.

Contractor requirements

In the EZ permit workflow, only qualified property owners or licensed contractors are accepted online, and contractors must have a valid California contractor license and apply within their trade classification limits.

Fees

Plan check fee

Included in intake fees as Building Plan Review.

Permit fee formula

Intake, plan-check, processing, permit, and impact fees are graduated and based on project size, type, complexity, structure evaluation, and area-specific requirements.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees may be charged when the site is not ready or required documents, representatives, or corrections are missing.

Payment note

Online payment is accepted with a 2.29% convenience fee for credit card or similar electronic payments; electronic check has no convenience fee; payments made after 8:00 PM typically post the next business day.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures <=120 sq. ft. on lots with an existing single-family dwelling or garage
• Fences <=8 ft for wood or metal and <=6 ft for concrete masonry
• Interior wall treatments such as painting, papering, and finish work
• Retaining walls <=3 ft retaining material, subject to surcharge and other limits
• Detached decks, walks, and platforms <=200 sq. ft. and <=30 in. above grade that do not serve egress
• Certain temporary or movable items, small prefabricated pools, small prefabricated shelters or canopies, some shading devices, and small water tanks meeting code limits

Important: Exempt work can still require zoning clearance, fire review, or other approvals. Confirm site-specific conditions with county staff before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• County Inspection Scheduler (online)

Scheduling deadline

Schedule by 3:00 PM at least one county business day before the requested inspection date.

Inspection hours

Inspections are scheduled Monday-Friday; inspectors call between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM to confirm timing.

Time windows

Typical inspector arrival window is about 2-3 hours; Friday inspections are AM only and may not include final or complex inspections.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence includes foundation, slab or under-floor, under-floor insulation, roof shear, exterior shear or hold-down inspections, and other project-specific inspections as required.

Additional Resources

• Building code: References include the California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, and county building code provisions.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Records and Parcel Research
• Inspection Sequence
• Permit Fees
• Residential Fee Estimator
• Re-Roofing Procedures
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement