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San Mateo building permits

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San Mateo, California — as published 2026-09-20.

Verified 2026-09-20 · Source

Codes adopted

THE CITY LISTS THE 2025 TITLE 24 PARTS IN FULL, INCLUDING THE EMPTY ONE: "2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code and California Code of Regulations, Title 24" - Part 1 Administrative, Part 2 Building, Part 2.5 Residential, Part 3 Electrical, Part 4 Mechanical, Part 5 Plumbing, Part 6 Energy, "Part 7: Currently Vacant", Part 8 Historical Building, Part 9 Fire, Part 10 Existing Building, Part 11 Green Building Standards (CALGreen) and Part 12 Referenced Standards.A 1997 MODEL CODE IS STILL ADOPTED, DELIBERATELY AND BY SECTION: "THE DANGEROUS BUILDING CODE (SMMC 23.30): 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings." The UCADB is a separate model code from the building code and jurisdictions do still adopt it; this is a live adoption with a code section behind it, not a stale citation.THE BUILDING CODE LIVES IN TITLE 23 of the San Mateo Municipal Code, with zoning in Title 27. Title 23 was not opened for this record beyond the section cited above.SIX DESIGN CRITERIA ARE PUBLISHED, two of them as code references rather than values: "Seismic Design Category: CBC 1613.1"; "Basic Wind Speed: 85 mph - 3 second gust"; "Wind Exposure: CBC 1609.4"; "Climate Zone: 3"; "Soil Bearing Capacity: 1,500 psf max. or soils report required"; "Roof Drains: Designed to accommodate a minimum of 2 inches of rainfall per hour".Health & Safety Code 18938(b) provides that building standards in the California Building Standards Code "shall apply to all occupancies throughout the state and shall become effective 180 days after publication."

Permit types & fees

Building Permit

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San Mateo will not take a same-day inspection request, does not treat a submitted request as booked until an automated email says so, and runs virtual inspections that only the inspector can initiate.

Verified 2026-09-20 · Source

Requirements

WHAT NEEDS A PERMIT, BY TRADE. Building: "required to build, enlarge, alter, remove, demolish, or repair a structure... This includes everything from houses and garages to commercial construction, tenant improvements to signs." Electrical: "new electrical service equipment, existing service relocations, service upgrades as well as fixed appliances and equipment connections." Mechanical: "the installation and repair of heating, ventilating, cooling and refrigeration systems." Plumbing: "any plumbing, gas or drainage piping work or any fixture or water heating equipment."
THE APPLICATION IS THREE STEPS: "submit construction drawings, complete an application form, and pay necessary fees."
SOME WORK IS DONE WHILE YOU WAIT: "Simple alteration projects can often be approved while you wait."
TEN PROJECT TYPES QUALIFY FOR AN EXPRESS PERMIT: reroof; repair or replacement of stucco; repair or replacement of siding; small animals and fowl (chicken and bee hive keeping annual permits); electrical service upgrades; temporary power pole; furnace replacement; water heater replacement; sewer line replacement; and waterline replacement.

Required documents

Optional
Optional
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Optional

Fee schedule

Fee type	Amount	Notes
General building permit fees	Based on the valuation of the project.	"Building permit fees vary according to the type of construction. General building permit fees are based on the valuation of the project." No valuation table or multiplier was transcribed for this record.
Subcontract permits	Itemized rather than valuation-based.	"Itemized fee are charged for subcontract permits, such as plumbing, electrical, mechanical, sign and fire department life/safety permits." The city separates the two bases in one sentence, the same split Antioch spells out at greater length.
Re-inspection fees	Set by the City Council Adopted Comprehensive Fee Schedule.	Triggered two ways. If the site is not ready or the plans and permit card are absent, "contractors may be subject to re-inspection fees". Show full citationHide Triggered two ways. If the site is not ready or the plans and permit card are absent, "contractors may be subject to re-inspection fees". And "late cancellations of less than 24 hours prior or same day may be assessed a re-inspection fee". The schedule was not opened, so no amount is recorded.
After-hours inspections	Additional fees, payable in advance.	"Additional fees are applicable per the City Council Adopted Comprehensive Fee Schedule and must be paid prior to requesting the after-hours inspection." Payment comes before the request, not after the visit.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-20.

City of San Mateo Community Development Department, Building Division — official building department

Fee schedules

Codes & ordinances

Department & other records

San Mateo Express Building Permits (the ten express permit types)

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the San Mateo building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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