Contra Costa County, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Ordinance Code § 72-6.202
- Enforcing agency
- County Building Official / DCD Building Inspection
- Unpermitted work penalty
- Double the permit fee
- Permit voids if unstarted
- 12 months after issuance
- Extension available
- Up to 180 days per request
- Owner-builder exception
- Owner-occupied one-family dwellings only
Summary
Unincorporated Contra Costa County bars anyone from erecting, altering, repairing, moving, converting or demolishing a building, or installing regulated equipment, without first getting a permit from the county building official. Ordinance Code § 72-6.202 sets the rule; Building Inspection at the Department of Conservation and Development issues permits and doubles fees on unpermitted work.
No person, firm, or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building or structure regulated by this title, or cause the same to be done, or install or connect any equipment regulated by this title, or perform any work regulated by this title, without first obtaining the necessary permits from the county building official.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Ordinance Code: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
202 makes it unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish a regulated building or structure, or to install or connect regulated equipment, without first obtaining the necessary permit from the county building official. 204(a) no application is accepted as complete until they are paid; a permit issued without full payment is invalid. 204(b), unless the county building official finds the work was urgent emergency work where getting a permit first was not practicable.
206(b) to an owner-occupant performing all the work on a one-family dwelling used exclusively for living purposes, including its accessory buildings. 212(a) voids a permit if work is not commenced within twelve months of issuance (shown by at least one approved inspection), or if work is suspended or abandoned for twelve consecutive months. 212(c) requires a brand-new permit and a new fee before any work resumes. 208.
Violations & Fines
Building, altering or demolishing without a permit exposes the owner to double the normal permit fee under § 72-6.204(b) once a permit is finally obtained. The county building official can issue a stop-work order (§ 72-6.404), a correction notice (§ 72-6.408), withhold future permits (§ 72-6.410), or pursue the abatement procedure (§ 72-6.402) for unpermitted or noncompliant work. Fraud or misrepresentation in an application is separate grounds for permit revocation under § 72-6.208.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remodel my home in unincorporated Contra Costa County?
Can I pull my own building permit instead of hiring a contractor?
What happens if I start construction without a permit?
How long is a Contra Costa County building permit good for?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Contra Costa County
California rules heatmap·Compare Contra Costa County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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