Gilroy, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Gilroy adopts the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Residential Code, along with the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, energy, historical, existing building, green building standards and fire codes, under City Code § 6.1, "as amended, to apply in the City of Gilroy" (Ord. No. 2025-06, § 3, 8-18-2025). Article II of Chapter 6 then layers the city's own amendments onto that base code. Section 6.7(a)(2) amends Building Code Section 105.7, Placement of Permit, to require that the building permit and all plans and documentation approved by the building official stay on the jobsite until the building official grants final approval.

Section 6.7(a)(3) amends Section 109.2, Schedule of permit fees, so that buildings, structures, electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing work all pay a fee under the current City of Gilroy Comprehensive Fee Schedule. Anyone who starts work before pulling the permit does not save money: Section 6.7(a)(4) amends Section 109.4, Work commencing before permit issuance, to double the permit fee that would otherwise apply. Section 6.7(a)(5) adds Section 109.7, letting the building official charge an additional hourly plan review fee when submittals are incomplete, changed, or involve deferred submittal items.

Section 6.7(a)(6) adds Section 110.7, requiring the permit holder to post or otherwise make available an inspection record card on the jobsite for the building official's entries, kept until final approval. The Community Development Department's building division administers these permits and inspections; disputes over a permit condition run through the building official before any further appeal.