Real Estate of Los Altos

The Permit Process

The process varies with each municipality or county, but they have many similarities. Often the first step is to simply schedule a meeting with a Building Department or Planning person who may be able to hand you a set of guidelines or design guides. Some of the cities even have the complete set of guidelines on their website.

Permit Analysis

Any project that involves electrical, plumbing, ductwork, framing, sheetrocking, relocation of walls, siding, or roofing will require a permit. The permit may be able to be obtained “over the counter” at the Building Department, or it may require complicated drawings submitted by qualified and licensed architects and engineers, and then waiting months for the permit process to work.

The procedure follows these stages:

1. A permit application must be submitted.
2. Existing property measurements and analysis must be performed.
3. Drawings must be prepared.
4. Engineering calculations must be performed.
5. Submit an Application for a Plan Check and pay the fees.
6. The drawings must be submitted to the Planning Department, Building Department, Fire Department, and Public Works Department.
7. Work with the City to complete the design to their satisfaction. Answer all plan check comments and revise the submittal.
8. Have a general contractor pull the permit.
9. Hold regular inspections with the Building Department during the construction.
10. Finalize the permit.