Building Safety in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)
8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Contra Costa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Federal Title X and California Health & Safety Code require lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 rental units in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Landlords must provide EPA pamphlet and disclosure form before lease signing.
Rental Property: Lead Paint Disclosure
Some RestrictionsEPA Guidance
Provide a "Lead Warning Statement" to buyers or renters explaining, among other things, that lead from paint can pose health hazards if not managed properly. This can be an attachment to or as language inserted into the contract or lease. This should be in the same language as the rest of the contract. It should include confirmation that the seller or landlord has complied with all requirements...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Contra Costa County requires automatic fire sprinklers in existing Group R-3 (single-family) dwellings whenever a substantial addition or alteration occurs, under a local amendment to the California Fire Code adopted by Ordinance No. 2025-14. A substantial addition means new floor area exceeding 50% of the existing structure and totaling 5,000 square feet or more; a substantial alteration means 50% of exterior/interior wall length and roof replaced within one year.
Contra Costa County Residential Fire Sprinkler Rule
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14, §§ 902.1, 903.2.8.1.1 (2025 CA Fire Code Local Amendments, Ch. 9 Fire Protection Systems)
Substantial Addition. The addition of new gross floor area exceeds fifty percent of the existing gross floor area and the total new gross floor area is 5,000 square feet or greater. Substantial Alteration. Where fifty percent or greater of the linear length of the wall of the building (exterior and interior) and fifty percent of the roof are removed or replaced within a one-year period. ... 903...
Childcare Center Rules
Child care centers licensed for more than 12 children are classified as Group E occupancies under the county's amended California Fire Code, and Section 903.2.3 requires an automatic sprinkler system once the facility's fire area exceeds 2,000 square feet. A carve-out exempts day care facilities under 5,000 square feet, and another exempts ground-floor classrooms with an exterior exit door.
Contra Costa County Child Care Center Sprinklers
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance No. 2025-14, § 903.2.3 (2025 CA Fire Code Local Amendments, Group E Occupancies)
903.2.3. Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group E occupancies as follows: 1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 2,000 square feet in area. Exception: An automatic sprinkler system is not required in any Group E Day Care Facility less than 5,000 square feet 2. The Group E fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such occ...
Green Building Code
Contra Costa County's local amendments to the California Green Building Standards Code require permitted residential additions, alterations and demolitions to recycle or salvage at least 65 percent of nonhazardous construction and demolition debris, and to file a construction waste management plan before the county issues a building permit.
Contra Costa Green Building Waste Rule
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 74-4.006(d)-(e) (Amendments to CGBSC)
(d)Section 4.408.1 (Construction waste management) of CGBSC Chapter 4 (Residential Mandatory Measures) is amended to read: Section 4.408.1 Construction waste management. Recycle and/or salvage for reuse a minimum of 65 percent of the nonhazardous construction and demolition waste in accordance with Section 4.408.2. (e)Section 4.408.2 (Construction waste management plan) ... is amended to read: ...
Building Permits
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.
Contra Costa Building Permit Requirement
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 72-6.202 (Permits)
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.
Electrical Permits
Contra Costa County has adopted the 2025 California Electrical Code with local amendments as its controlling and enforceable electrical code countywide. No one may connect power to, or supply electric service to, electrical equipment requiring a permit without the county building official's written authorization first.
Contra Costa Electrical Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 76-2.002 (Adoption)
(a)The electrical code of this county is the 2025 California Electrical Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 3) ("CEC"), as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in this division and Division 72.(b)The 2025 California Electrical Code, with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Chapter 76-4 and Division 72, is adopted by this reference as though ...
Plumbing Permits
Contra Costa County has adopted the 2025 California Plumbing Code, with local amendments, as its controlling plumbing code countywide. Plumbing work otherwise regulated by the county's building title needs a permit from the county building official before work begins, issued only to a licensed contractor or a qualifying owner-builder.
Contra Costa Plumbing Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 78-2.002 (Adoption)
(a)The plumbing code of this county is the 2025 California Plumbing Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 5), as amended by the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Division 72.(b)The 2025 California Plumbing Code, with the changes, additions, and deletions set forth in Division 72, is adopted by this reference as though fully set forth in this division. ... (d)As of th...
Building Inspections
Grading work under a Contra Costa County permit is checked at three defined stages under Section 716-6.006: initial, once the site is cleared and prepped before fill goes in; rough, once elevations and drainage devices are graded; and final, once all drainage facilities are installed and slope planting is established. The county building official approves or rejects each stage before work proceeds.
Contra Costa County Grading Inspection Stages
Some RestrictionsContra Costa County Ordinance Code § 716-6.006(a)
(a)The county building official, upon notification from the permittee or his agent, shall inspect the work at the following stages of the work and shall either approve the portion then completed or shall notify the permittee or his agent wherein it fails to comply with the requirements of this division:(1)Initial. When the site has been cleared of vegetation and unapproved fill and has been sca...
Building Safety by City in Contra Costa County
3 cities in Contra Costa County have their own building safety rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Contra Costa County ordinances
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