Administrative overview · FIPS 06013
Contra Costa County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division
For a project in or near Contra Costa County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
925-655-2700 (Building and Planning); 925-646-4108 (automated inspections)
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Application and Permit Center, 30 Muir Road, Martinez, CA 94553
Operating hours
Building and Planning staff Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Front-counter service is by appointment.
Review expectation
The county's published process gives an initial completeness review of approximately 4-5 business days. Subsequent plan review depends on project scope, completeness, corrections, and payment; the county does not publish one universal final-issuance timeline.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Contra Costa County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Contra Costa County Department of Conservation and Development, Building Inspection Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 925-655-2700 (Building and Planning); 925-646-4108 (automated inspections).
How long might review take?
The county's published process gives an initial completeness review of approximately 4-5 business days. Subsequent plan review depends on project scope, completeness, corrections, and payment; the county does not publish one universal final-issuance timeline.
How are inspections scheduled?
Schedule building inspections through the ePermits Center or the automated system at 925-646-4108. The county posts the daily inspection schedule after 8:45 a.m. Monday-Friday; the permit card and approved plans must be on site.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
The county's current building-code guide, updated January 2, 2026, lists the 2025 California Building Standards Administrative Code; Building Code Volumes 1 and 2; Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Wildland-Urban Interface, Historical, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Reference Standards Codes; Contra Costa County Code Title VII; and applicable city ordinances in county-served cities. The county's official exemption sheet lists one-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet; fences up to 7 feet; qualifying retaining walls up to 3 feet; ground-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons meeting the 2:1 height-to-width limit; qualifying sidewalks and driveways; painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; qualifying shallow above-ground pools; agricultural shade-cloth structures; playground equipment; qualifying window awnings; movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions up to 5 feet 9 inches; and qualifying detached decks up to 200 square feet and 30 inches above grade. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, zoning, public-works, and other agency requirements can still apply.