When is a permit needed?

In the City of Alameda, permits are required for the following:

Permit applications and more information about specific permits can be found on the Forms and Handouts page. Please visit the Permit Center with any questions, or to initiate the permitting process. If your work involves any changes to the exterior of your building (including windows) you will need both a permit and a Planning Design Review approval.

 

Note that Fire Permits are accepted by the Permit Center, and routed to the Fire Department for plan review.

There are some exceptions to the permit requirements, which are provided below.

 

Commercial Work Exempt from Permits

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building; or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, shall first file an application with the Community Development Department and obtain the required permit. As indicated in the 2013 California Building Code, Section 105.2, permits shall not be required for the following:

 

Building

  • One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet.
  • Fences not over 7 feet high.
  • Oil derricks.
  • Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or IlIA liquids.
  • Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity is not greater than 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width is not greater than 2: 1.
  • Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below and are not part of an accessible route.
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, counter tops and similar finish work.                                                                                     Exceptions: 1. The replacement of kitchen counter tops in buildings originally built prior to May 4, 1989 wherein the kitchen has not been legally remodeled since May 4, 1989, shall trigger a kitchen remodel permit requiring the upgrading of the kitchen electrical to current code.  2. Planning Division approval is required to repaint buildings that were subject to a City-approved color palette to ensure the color application remains consistent with the building design.
  • Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.
  • Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches deep, are not greater than 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above ground.
  • Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.
  • Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.
  • Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies, supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
  • Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height.

Electrical

  • Listed cord and plug connected temporary decorative lighting.
  • Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles.
  • Repair or replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location.
  • Installation or maintenance of communications wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment.

Gas

  • Portable heating appliance.
  • Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.

Mechanical

  • Portable heating appliance.
  • Portable ventilation equipment.
  • Portable cooling unit.
  • Steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code
  • Replacement of any part that does not alter its approval or make it unsafe.
  • Portable evaporative cooler.
  • Self-contained refrigeration system containing 10 pounds (5 kg) or less of refrigerant and actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less.

Plumbing

  • The stopping of leaks in drains, waste, or vent pipe, provided, however, that a trap, drain pipe, soil waste, or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be required.
  • The clearing of stoppages, including the removal and reinstallation of water closets, or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures.

 

Residential Work Exempt from Permits

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building; or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, shall first file an application with the Community Development Department and obtain the required permit. As indicated in the 2013 California Residential Code, Section 105.2, permits shall not be required for the following:

 

Building

  • One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.
  • Fences not over 7 feet high.
  • Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
  • Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
  • Sidewalks and driveways.
  • Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, counter tops and similar finish work.                                                                                   Exception: The replacement of kitchen counter tops in buildings originally built prior to May 4, 1989 wherein the kitchen has not been legally remodeled since May 4, 1989, shall trigger a kitchen remodel permit requiring the upgrading of the kitchen electrical to current code.
  • Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep.
  • Swings and other playground equipment.
  • Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.
  • Decks that are not more than 30” above grade at any point.

Electrical

  • Listed cord-and-plug connected temporary decorative lighting.
  • Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles but not the outlets therefore.
  • Replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location.
  • Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.
  • Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.

Gas

  • Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances.
  • Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
  • Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid.

Mechanical

  • Portable heating appliances.
  • Portable ventilation appliances.
  • Portable cooling units.
  • Steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.
  • Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
  • Portable evaporative coolers.
  • Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less.
  • Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid.

Plumbing

  • The stopping of leaks in drains, waste, or vent pipe, provided, however, that a trap, drain pipe, soil waste, or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be required.
  • The clearing of stoppages, including the removal and reinstallation of water closets, or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures.

 

Repairs and Maintenance

Such repairs and maintenance shall not include the cutting away of any wall, partition or portion thereof, the removal or cutting of any structural beam or load-bearing support, or the removal or change of any required means of egress, or rearrangement of parts of a structure affecting the egress requirements; nor shall ordinary repairs include addition to, alteration of, replacement or relocation of any water supply, sewer, drainage, drain leader, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping, electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety, will require permit.

 

Emergency Repairs

Where equipment replacements and repairs must be performed in an emergency situation, the permit application shall be submitted within the next working business day to the Community Development Department.