Building Services

OVERVIEW
The Building Division is responsible for issuing building permits and providing detailed inspections of electrical, mechanical, and plumbing projects. Building Inspection also investigates and responds to all citizen complaints concerning construction or safety issues of structures throughout the city. 


CLICK LINKS BELOW FOR INFORMATION

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News from the Building Official

  • 2025 California Building Code (Please be advised that the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24 and the 2024 IMPC will go into effect  on February 19, 2026.  All building permit applications submitted on or after February 19, 2026, must comply with the requirements of the 2025 California Building Code and associated Title 24 codes.  Applications submitted prior to this date may continue to use the 2022 code cycle)
  • 2025 California Building Code Changes
  • Development East of I-80:  A Geo-tech report on all development (such as construction, grading, and tree removal) east of I-80 is required due to the soil type close proximity to an active fault and a greater potential for a landslide (2016 CBC 107.1).  The Geo-tech report is in addition to the required soils report.

Permit Center

Most construction, remodeling and repairs require building permits as well as most electrical, mechanical and plumbing installations, repairs and replacements.  

APPLY FOR A PERMIT 

  1. Verify your address is within City of San Pablo (Click for City Limit Map) If you live outside the City limits contact Contra Costa County.
  2. Prepare required application forms 
  3. Prepare plans (if required for the project). Electronic plans required. File formatting requirements for Plans
  4. Verify if additional approvals are required from outside agencies. Please click here for a list of the outside agencies' contact information.
  5. Submit application forms, plans (if required) and approval stamps from outside agencies (if required).
PAYMENT OPTIONS SUBMISSION OPTIONS
  • Submit all required documents through this weblink 

Issued Permits

Finaled Permits

Outside Agency Fees

Inspections

We will be conducting Building Inspections Mondays - Thursdays. Call 510-215-3030 to schedule an inspection. 

Estaremos haciendo inspecciones de edificios lunes a jueves, llame al 510-215-3030 para programar una inspección.

All Information and Forms

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Information for Contractors and Homeowners:

As a contractor, to pull a permit in the City of San Pablo you will need to provide a complete scope of work and value of the job signed by the contractor and property owner/customer. You will be required to provide your contractors pocket card or written authorization from the card holder and a copy of their valid drivers’ license or identification (for signature validation) and valid identification or license for the person pulling the permits. 

As a homeowner, you will need to bring a valid drivers’ license or identification, and you must be listed on the title/deed of the property or you will need a letter of authorization from the property owner, a copy of the property owners drivers license (for signature validation) valid identification or license for the person pulling the permits. 

Plancheck and plans may be required depending on the scope of work. Call the Building Division at (510) 215-3030 to verify if plans will be required. 

  **Contractor: Copy of the fully executed contract between Vendor and Customer is required for permit issuance**

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The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board has adopted the third reissuance of the Municipal Regional Stormwater Permit, or MRP 3.0.  This reissuance includes significant changes and additional requirements in Provision C.3, one of these changes is the requirements to use the Bay Area Hydrology Model (BAHM) for projects that require hydromodification. 

Any projects over one acre that are subject to the NPDES C.3 requirements submitted to the City of San Pablo after April 17, 2024 will be required to use the BAHM modeling tool. The Contra Costa C.3 Guidebook and associated online tools have all been updated to reflect these changes. For more information please visit the Contra Costa Clean Water Program website at https://www.cccleanwater.org/development-infrastructure/development. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact pwengineering@sanpabloca.gov.

Stormwater Requirements as of July 1, 2023

The City of San Pablo's National Pollution discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES Permit No.CAS612008) requires the City to implement significant changes to portions of Section C.3 (New Development and Redevelopment) as of July 1, 2023.  Some of these changes include:

  • Impervious surface threshold for most projects will drop from 10,000 to 5, 00 sq.ft (all new and replaced impervious surface as part of the project will count including sidewalks and roads in both private and public right-of-way)
  • New categories of regulated projects include: 
    • Road and sidewalk repair projects ≥ contiguous sq. ft.
    • Road reconstruction and pavement widening ≥ 1 contiguous acre
    • Detached single family home that creates or replaces ≥ 10,000 sq.ft.
  • Special Projects Category C definition changes.



Contact Us

  1. Sergio Caldera

    Sergio Caldera

    Chief Building Official
    sergioc@sanpabloca.gov