San Jose Building Permits

Complete guide to building permit requirements in San Jose. Find costs, timelines, and step-by-step application processes from PBCE.

Department: PBCE
Phone: (408) 535-3555
Online Portal: SJ Permits
Address: 200 E. Santa Clara Street

San Jose Permit Overview

San Jose's Planning, Building and Code Enforcement department serves the largest city in the Bay Area and tenth-largest in the United States, processing approximately 45,000 permit applications annually. PBCE operates from City Hall and offers both in-person and online services through the city's permit portal. As the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose sees significant construction activity ranging from tech campus expansions to residential infill development. The city has implemented progressive policies to encourage ADU construction and housing density near transit corridors.

How the San Jose Permit Process Works

San Jose uses a tiered permit review system based on project scope. Over-the-counter permits are available for simple mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work with same-day issuance. Express permits cover basic residential alterations with 1-3 day turnaround. Standard plan review for residential additions and remodels typically takes 4-8 weeks. The city operates on a checklist-based review system where applications are screened for completeness before entering the review queue. Projects requiring Planning approval (variances, conditional use permits) may add 2-4 months to the timeline.

San Jose Permit Costs

San Jose permit fees fall in the middle range for Bay Area cities. Building permit fees are based on project valuation using a formula that starts at approximately 2% for smaller projects and decreases incrementally for larger valuations. Plan check fees are 65% of the building permit fee. A typical $30,000 interior renovation might cost $700-1,100 in permits, while a full ADU project at $200,000 could incur $4,500-7,500 in total fees. Additional fees apply for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits when not included in the primary building permit. School impact fees apply to new residential square footage.

San Jose Permit Timelines

San Jose permit timelines are competitive with other South Bay cities. Counter permits for water heaters, electrical panels, and similar work are issued same-day. Express permits typically process within 3-5 business days. Standard residential plan review takes 4-8 weeks depending on project complexity and current backlog. ADU projects qualify for expedited 60-day processing under state law. New construction and major additions may take 3-6 months including Planning review. The city offers priority processing for qualifying affordable housing and ADU projects.

San Jose Permit Types

San Jose ADU Permit

Accessory Dwelling Unit permits and requirements

View costs & requirements