Welcome to the Permit Service Center at the City of Berkeley, CA. We are part of the Department of Planning & Development.
Sharon Crosby is the Permit Center Coordinator and can be reached at (510) 981-7501, if your visit at the Permit Center is not what you expected, please call or email her at scrosby@cityofberkeley.info.
Location and Hours - The Permit Service Center (PSC) is located at 2120 Milvia Street (at the corner of Milvia and Center Streets), and provides direct customer service to those seeking building permits and zoning information. Applications for building and zoning permits are accepted at the PSC and building permits are issued here. The Permit Specialists at the PSC coordinate review of building permit applications with other city agencies as needed. [more...]
Holidays & VTOs - For specific dates, visit the City's Holiday and Reduced Service Days Schedule Page. [more...]
Appointments - Appointments are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to submit permit applications with plans (new, re-submittals and revisions). No applications with plans will be taken after these hours. [more...]
Business License Alert!!! - Generally, all business licenses expire on December 31st. Business license renewals are mailed to business owners the first week of December and most businesses have until February 28th to renew their business license. However, contractors must renew their license prior to applying for a building permit. Building permits will not be issued to contractors who do not possess a valid business license. [more...]
Fire Plans Via Mail or Drop Off - Effective January 2, 2013, the Permit Service Center will accept Fire Applications by mail or drop off. [more...]
Effective January 1, 2013, Revisions require an hourly fee at submission. - [more...]
On-Line Services -
Plan Check Status - You may use your web browser to check the status of a plan check for a building permit application that has been submitted for City review. [more...]
Permit Fee Estimator - The Permit Fee Estimator may be used to estimate building permit fees for your project by entering the address, selecting the appropriate scope of work and entering the valuation. [more...]
24 Hour Inspection Self-Scheduling - [more...]
Permit Stats - Active Building Permits - View all active Building Permits in the city in this new mapping application [more...]
Permits via Fax or Email - [more...]
Building Permit Triggers and Ordinances -
Triggers and Ordinances Required Before Permit Issuance
PSL - Sewer lines on private property must be inspected and replaced or repaired when the value of construction work exceeds $100,000 or costs more than $58,900. [more...]
Authorization To Obtain a Permit -
Owner Builder Declarations
Effective March 1, 2009, State law (Health and Safety Code Section 19825) requires certain forms be filed by owner-builders before obtaining a permit. If you are not using a licensed contractor to perform the work, you must fill out and return to the Permit Service Center the Owner Builder Verification & Limitation of Sale Forms before obtaining a permit. [more...]