San Jose building permits

Requirements

• Know who carries the liability before signing. San Jose warns that 'Whoever signs the permit application - also called "pulling a permit" - is responsible for all activities conducted under that permit and holds the liability for the project.'
• The City's own recommendation: 'We strongly recommend that the application be completed and signed by a licensed contractor or, where allowed, their authorized representative.'
• Plans are submitted through SJePlans; the City notes 'Our SJePlans portal allows anyone' to submit where a design professional is involved.

Required documents

• RequiredPlan set submitted via SJePlansSan Jose's electronic plan submittal and review portal. Projects entailing plan review sometimes involve a design professional.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Check eligibility first - 'The ADU Universal Checklist will help you identify if your property qualifies for an ADU.'
• A JADU is a separate, smaller category: 'Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADUs) are less than 500 square feet and located within the footprint of a single-family home.'
• A JADU 'may be converted from the existing square footage of a single-family home and this can include an attached garage.'
• Tiny homes on wheels are permitted here as an ADU type: 'Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are a type of ADU; they are allowed only on single-family properties and have different requirements and a simpler, lower-cost permit process.'

Required documents

• RequiredADU Universal ChecklistSan Jose's eligibility checklist for an ADU.
• OptionalBulletin 291 - Tiny Home on Wheels Permit ChecklistRequired instead where the unit is a THOW; the City directs readers to it by name.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• 'Only property owners and qualified contractors may apply for an online building permit.'
• 'Contractors must be licensed and have a valid City of San José Tax Certificate ; contractors are restricted to applying for building permits that align with their California Contractor's License classification type.'
• Some online permits still get a field review: 'Some, such as solar installations and earthquake retrofits, require plans that the City Inspector will review in the field during inspection of the project.'
• Stay inside the permit you pulled - 'Do not attempt more work than is allowed under a specific online permit. Work must be limited to the type of permit that is pulled.'

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgThe permit is issued online and downloaded by the applicant.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Eligible online scopes include 'Air Conditioning', 'Rewire', 'Subpanel - New' and 'Temporary Power Pole'.
• A service change is tightly bounded: 'Service Change/Survey up to 400 Amps Only like-for-like replacements in the same location, with no alterations to exterior finishes.'
• EV charging is available on multifamily only in a narrowed form - the table's multifamily cell for 'Electric Vehicle Charging Station' reads 'Yes Assigned Parking Only'.
• Most electrical scopes are single-family/duplex only; the commercial column is largely 'No'.

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgIssued on download for eligible scopes; the City's table states per property type whether the online route is available.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Eligible scopes include 'Furnace Replacement', 'Heat Pump including condensate' and 'Evaporative Cooler'.
• Gas work appears as 'Gas Line (Rough & Final)' and 'Gas Line Re-test'.
• 'Duct/Flue Alteration' and 'Decorative Gas Appliance' are listed separately from appliance replacement.
• Several scopes are single-family/duplex only; 'Gas Line Re-test' is the one listed 'Yes' across all three property types.

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgIssued on download for eligible scopes; the City's table states per property type whether the online route is available.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Eligible scopes include 'Repipe', 'Property Line Cleanout', 'Backflow / Vacuum Breaker' and 'Dry Well/French Drains'.
• Two gas entries state the bundling in their own names: 'Gas Line Rough & Final (includes mechanical and plumbing permits)' and 'Gas Line Retest (includes mechanical & plumbing permits)'.
• 'DWV (Drain-Waste-Vent) / Water Alteration' and 'Fixture - New' are single-family/duplex only; 'Fixture Replacement' extends to multifamily.
• 'Gas Earthquake Valve' and 'Property Line Cleanout' are listed 'Yes' across all three property types.

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgIssued on download for eligible scopes; the City's table states per property type whether the online route is available.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• 'Solar Photovoltaic System' is listed 'Yes' for single-family/duplex and 'No' for multifamily and commercial/industrial.
• The plans are reviewed at inspection rather than at plan check: 'Some, such as solar installations and earthquake retrofits, require plans that the City Inspector will review in the field during inspection of the project.'
• A 'Stationary Storage Battery System' is listed separately and only as 'Limited' for single-family/duplex.

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgIssued on download for eligible scopes; the City's table states per property type whether the online route is available.

Fee schedule

Requirements

• 'Reroof' is listed 'Yes' for single-family/duplex, multifamily and commercial/industrial alike.
• It sits in the Building-Structural Permit table rather than with the trades.
• The general online-permit scope rule still applies: 'Do not attempt more work than is allowed under a specific online permit. Work must be limited to the type of permit that is pulled.'

Required documents

• RequiredOnline application at SJPermits.orgIssued on download for eligible scopes; the City's table states per property type whether the online route is available.

Fee schedule