Santa Rosa, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 18-08.010
- Permit form
- Single combined form, all trades
- Issuing office
- Building and Code Compliance Division
- Application expires
- 1 year if no permit issued
- Issued permit expires
- 365 days if work not started
- Work without permit
- Investigation fee equals full permit fee
Summary
Santa Rosa requires a permit for any work regulated by the currently adopted California Codes, Title 24, before construction begins. The Building and Code Compliance Division, under the Building Official, issues building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits together on a single combined form based on the cumulative value of the work.
Any person desiring to perform work regulated by currently adopted editions of the California Codes, Title 24, or any laws, amendments, ordinances or other regulations administered by the Building and Code Compliance Division, or that may be adopted and administered in the future, shall secure permits and pay fees as set forth in this chapter.
Full Breakdown
010 requires anyone performing work regulated by the currently adopted editions of the California Codes, Title 24, or any related City regulation, to secure a permit and pay fees before starting. The Building Official sets the project valuation, which includes construction work plus finish work, painting, roofing, electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, elevators, fire extinguishing systems and paving, and that valuation drives the permit and plan review fees. 020 directs the Department of Planning and Economic Development to issue building, grading, plumbing, mechanical and electrical permits on one combined form, with the fee based on the cumulative value of all work covered. 040). 050). 060). 030, and building permits are administered by the Director of Building and Code Compliance.
Violations & Fines
Starting work without the required permit triggers a mandatory special investigation before any permit can issue, plus an investigation fee equal to the full permit fee, on top of the permit fee itself (Section 18-08.170). Paying the investigation fee does not excuse compliance with the code or shield the violator from any other penalty. Emergency work is exempt from the investigation-fee rule only if the applicant proves to the Building Official's satisfaction that the work was urgently necessary and getting a permit first was impractical (Section 18-08.180). General violations of Title 18 are subject to the penalty provisions of Section 1-28.010.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Santa Rosa require a building permit?
Can one permit cover building, electrical and plumbing work on the same project?
How long is a Santa Rosa building permit valid once issued?
What happens if I start construction without a permit in Santa Rosa?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Rosa
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Rosa to another location·View the California building safety overview
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