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PermitBase

Building Permit in Redwood City, California

Redwood City takes submittals through a Box.com folder and will refuse files that are not named after the project address. Inspections are booked three to eight days ahead - far longer than the next-day norm.

Verified 2026-09-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • SUBMITTAL IS A FILE UPLOAD TO BOX.COM, NOT A PERMIT PORTAL. The published sequence: "Complete and submit the building permit application or revision application", then "Upload a completed permit application to this link" - a redwoodcitypermits.app.box.com folder.
  • THE FILENAME IS A HARD REQUIREMENT AND THE CITY SAYS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET IT WRONG: "The filename for the application must include the project address along with the words 'Permit application.' For example, '1017 Middlefield Permit Application.'" And for everything else: "The files must also be named with the address. Make sure to name the files with the address; otherwise, we will not accept the application or files."
  • AN EMAIL CLOSES THE SUBMITTAL: "Once the permit application and additional documents are uploaded, please email permits@redwoodcity.org to confirm the complete submittal." The upload alone does not register the application.
  • STATUS IS CHECKED SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN: "To check permit status, please visit the city eTRAKiT website". So a single project touches Box for submittal, email for confirmation and eTRAKiT for status.
  • SOLARAPP+ RUNS AS A SEPARATE AUTOMATIC ROUTE, published as "SOLARAPP+ AUTOMATIC PERMITTING" alongside the manual process.

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Permit feesNo fee schedule was opened and no fee basis is stated on the pages read - the Building & Code Enforcement page and the Inspections page - so none is asserted.
NOT TRANSCRIBED for this record.

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Building Permit permit actually take in Redwood City?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Booked three to eight days ahead, not next day

    "Online requests are currently scheduled between 3- 8 days in advance." This is a lead time rather than a cut-off, and it is far longer than the next-business-day pattern common elsewhere. The word "currently" suggests it moves with workload.

  2. 2

    The phone line is being retired

    "Notice: Transitioning to Online Inspection Requests. We are phasing out the Building Inspection Phone Line. Please submit all inspection requests through the Online Inspection Portal linked here: eTRAKiT." One exception survives: "Until the transition is complete, cancellations can be made by calling the Inspection Line at (650) 780-7361."

  3. 3

    Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

    "Inspection Availability - Monday-Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. No inspections on City holidays."

  4. 4

    No AM or PM guarantee, and the city tells you who to ask instead

    "We are unable to guarantee AM or PM inspections at this time. Please coordinate directly with your inspector after scheduling." The route to a time is the inspector, not the booking.

  5. 5

    A posted time on the day, and a two-hour rule around it

    "Please check Todays Building Inspections after 9 am on the day of your inspection for your estimated inspection time. Inspections will occur within two hours of the posted time." That converts an all-day wait into a four-hour window once the list is up.

See the full Redwood City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • BOOK INSPECTIONS 3-8 DAYS AHEAD - this is not a next-day city.
  • NAME EVERY FILE WITH THE PROJECT ADDRESS or the submittal is refused.
  • EMAIL permits@redwoodcity.org AFTER UPLOADING; the upload alone does not count.

Frequently asked questions

Redwood City requires a building permit for: SUBMITTAL IS A FILE UPLOAD TO BOX.COM, NOT A PERMIT PORTAL. The published sequence: "Complete and submit the building permit application or revision application", then "Upload a completed permit application to this link" - a redwoodcitypermits.app.box.com folder.; THE FILENAME IS A HARD REQUIREMENT AND THE CITY SAYS WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET IT WRONG: "The filename for the application must include the project address along with the words 'Permit application.' For example, '1017 Middlefield Permit Application.'" And for everything else: "The files must also be named with the address. Make sure to name the files with the address; otherwise, we will not accept the application or files."; AN EMAIL CLOSES THE SUBMITTAL: "Once the permit application and additional documents are uploaded, please email permits@redwoodcity.org to confirm the complete submittal." The upload alone does not register the application.; STATUS IS CHECKED SOMEWHERE ELSE AGAIN: "To check permit status, please visit the city eTRAKiT website". So a single project touches Box for submittal, email for confirmation and eTRAKiT for status.; SOLARAPP+ RUNS AS A SEPARATE AUTOMATIC ROUTE, published as "SOLARAPP+ AUTOMATIC PERMITTING" alongside the manual process.. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Redwood City Community Development Department, Building & Code Enforcement at (650) 780-7350 (Building Division direct); fax (650) 780-7348; (650) 780-7361 (inspection line, being phased out but still taking cancellations); (650) 780-7577 (Code Enforcement Hotline) before starting work.

Redwood City does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Redwood City Community Development Department, Building & Code Enforcement at (650) 780-7350 (Building Division direct); fax (650) 780-7348; (650) 780-7361 (inspection line, being phased out but still taking cancellations); (650) 780-7577 (Code Enforcement Hotline) for current turnaround.

Further than most places. "Online requests are currently scheduled between 3- 8 days in advance." Requests go through eTRAKiT; the phone line is being phased out, though cancellations can still be made on (650) 780-7361 until the transition completes.

Apply through City of Redwood City Community Development Department, Building & Code Enforcement at 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063. Phone: (650) 780-7350 (Building Division direct); fax (650) 780-7348; (650) 780-7361 (inspection line, being phased out but still taking cancellations); (650) 780-7577 (Code Enforcement Hotline), email: permits@redwoodcity.org. Office hours: THE COUNTER HAS TWO DIFFERENT SPANS DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU TURN UP OR DIAL IN, and the virtual one is wider. "Building Counter Hours (Except Legal Holidays) - In person: Monday - Thursday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Code Enforcement Services: Please call to schedule an appointment). Virtual: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m." That is 24 hours a week in person against 45 virtually. The city explains why: "Majority of counter staff is working remotely to continue to provide electronic permitting services." Walk-in service is "available on first come first service basis based on staff availability and open appointment slots", and the city "strongly encourage[s] electronic submittals.". Official information: https://www.redwoodcity.org/departments/community-development-department/building-inspection-code-enforcement.

Check the published list on the day. "Please check Todays Building Inspections after 9 am on the day of your inspection for your estimated inspection time. Inspections will occur within two hours of the posted time." AM and PM slots cannot be guaranteed - the city asks you to coordinate directly with your inspector after scheduling.

By uploading to the city's Box folder, then emailing. Complete the application, upload it to the published Box link, name every file with the project address, and then "email permits@redwoodcity.org to confirm the complete submittal." The upload on its own does not complete it.

Most likely the filenames. "The filename for the application must include the project address along with the words 'Permit application'", and for the rest: "Make sure to name the files with the address; otherwise, we will not accept the application or files."

In person, Monday to Thursday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., on a "first come first service basis based on staff availability and open appointment slots". A virtual counter runs longer - Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. - because most counter staff work remotely.

Redwood City's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Redwood City yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Redwood City lands. Privacy.

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