Building Permits

Do I Need a Building Permit?

Work Exempt from a Building Permit: Click here to review the handout on work exempt from a building permit or planning review

Work Exempt from Lafayette Planning Dept. Zoning Plan Check

Please note that exempt projects are no longer considered exempt when a Waste Management Plan is required. 

1. Termite or dry-rot repair where there is no increase in square footage of the area replaced, and no increase in the number of plumbing fixtures (including roughing in or stubbing for future use). 
2. Electrical or natural gas permits for repair or replacement where there is no increase in the number of meters. 
3. Mechanical permits for installation, repair or replacement or of new HVAC equipment for single-family residential property. 
4. Mechanical or plumbing permits for repair, replacement or installation of water heaters or pool or spa equipment for single-family residential property. 
5. Foundation repair or seismic upgrade where there is no increase in the square footage or bulk of the structure. 
6. Repairs to existing swimming pools and spas. 
7. Bathroom or other interior remodels where there is no increase in conditioned space, except for kitchens. Kitchens or areas with “kitchen like” plumbing such as wet bars are not exempt because the number of kitchens is critical to the number of dwelling units in an area zoned single-family residential.
8. Fire damage: Interior repairs from fire damage would also be exempt if there is no increase in building size or the installation of a second kitchen that wasn't existing prior to the fire. 
9. Window replacements in-kind (however new windows and skylights are not exempt).   
10. Residential re-roofs under 5,000 sq. ft. (50 roofing squares) are exempt and do not require a Construction & Demolition Debris Recycling Waste Management Plan.   
11. Small residential rooftop solar projects that are 10kW AC or 30 kW thermal or less, flush-mounted on the rooftop of a detached single-family dwelling or a duplex, and do not exceed the building height limit of the zoning district in which the project is located. 

How to Get a Building Permit in Lafayette 

Please closely review our How to Get a Building Permit in Lafayette to find detailed information on the permitting process.

STEP 1: Online Zoning Plan Check with the City of Lafayette Planning Dept.

What do I need to submit? A complete set of architectural plans, including a site plan, floor plans, and elevations. A Title Report prepared within the last 6 months is also required for ADU applications.

How do I submit for planning department review?

Register & submit your project here: https://lovelafayette.geocivix.com/secure/

• Click here for a step-by-step guide on creating an account: https://support.geocivix.com/support/solutions/articles/70000387698-how-to-register 
• Technical support for this process is provided by GeoCivix; for issues with account registration or application submittal, call 1 (844) 848-8667 or click here: https://bit.ly/3xpbQYe.

STEPS 2 & 3: Sanitary District & Fire District Review (if applicable)

Review the How to Get a Building Permit in Lafayette handout to determine whether approvals from the Central Contra Costa County Sanitary District and Contra Costa County Fire Protection District are required for your project. It is the applicant's responsibility to collect approvals from these agencies so the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (CCCFPD) may ensure their development standards are met.

STEP 4: Contra Costa County Building Department Plan Review

Lafayette contracts with the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department (CCCBID) to perform building permit plan-check and inspection services. 

How do I submit my materials to the County once the City has stamped off on my drawings? 

Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department (CCCBID) is also only accepting digital submittals for building permits via their ePermits Center.  The department is reopening its facilities to the public and you can make an appointment with staff here.  More information is also at this link.  

Fees

The Planning & Building Department collects two types of fees - processing fees and development impact fees. Processing fees accompany discretionary applications. Development impact fees are required prior to issuance of permits. The City accepts Visa, MasterCard, cash, and checks, made payable to the "City of Lafayette." For more information, including a fee calculator, click here.

Please note that other agencies, such as the Contra Costa County Building Inspection Department, have separate fee schedules. Please contact the other agencies directly to determine what fees may apply to your project. For a list of other agencies, please click here.

Building Permit Status & Records

Accela Citizen Access Portal

 The public can check on the status of permits by using the Department of Conservation and Development's Building Permit Database and select the "Building" tab. Permits issued during the 1980s to present can be searched for by entering any of the following information:

• General Search
• Property Address
• Permit Information
• Licensed Contractor Information

Records Research Request
Alternatively, you may download the "Records Research Request Form"  and fax the completed form to (925) 674-7238 or (925) 674-7239. Please note that all plans must have permission from the owner and any licensed professional before they may be reproduced.

Planning Project Checklist

The Planning Project Checklist is a brief form intended to provide a property owner or applicant with an overview of the rules and regulations that would be applicable to a given project. It is designed to be completed by a staff planner, however, it can be informative to an applicant as a blank form, which lists the triggers for discretionary review. It does not constitute an entitlement or thorough analysis of any project. Since regulations change over time, a project is subject to the regulations in effect when the application is submitted and deemed complete.

Post Entitlement Phase Processing for Housing Permits

A Post Entitlement permit is an optional type of building permit process only for new housing projects as part of California Assembly Bill AB 2234. The Post Entitlement permit process typically has shorter review times by the building department compared to a standard building permit. To be eligible, the applicant must NOT have any outstanding items holding permit issuance. It is the applicant’s responsibility to request post-entitlement streamlining review and shall work with staff to complete all required items before planning staff can stamp the Construction Drawings. For more information, please visit the Department of Conservation and Development's webpage on Post Entitlement Phase Processing. 

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