County Permit SearchU.S. compliance directory
CaliforniaSan Benito County

Administrative overview · FIPS 06069

San Benito 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

San Benito County Resource Management Agency, Building and Code Enforcement Division

For a project in or near San Benito 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

Building and Code Enforcement (831) 637-5313; 24-hour inspection line (831) 637-1041; permit technicians (831) 902-2298 and (831) 902-2295

Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.

Permit counter

2301 Technology Parkway, 1st Floor, Hollister, CA 95023-9174

Operating hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; permit-fee credit-card payments are accepted 8:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-4:00 p.m., with a noon-1:00 p.m. closure.

Review expectation

N/A; no typical county building-plan review timeline was published in the reviewed current materials. Complete applications and electronic plans are submitted through Accela/email workflow, and corrections or missing information can extend processing.

Compliance workbench

Choose the next project decision.

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 San Benito County

Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?

San Benito County Resource Management Agency, Building and Code Enforcement 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 Building and Code Enforcement (831) 637-5313; 24-hour inspection line (831) 637-1041; permit technicians (831) 902-2298 and (831) 902-2295.

How long might review take?

N/A; no typical county building-plan review timeline was published in the reviewed current materials. Complete applications and electronic plans are submitted through Accela/email workflow, and corrections or missing information can extend processing.

How are inspections scheduled?

Request inspections through the Accela portal or call the 24-hour inspection request line at (831) 637-1041. Requests should be received by 4:00 p.m. on the day before the requested inspection; provide the permit number, job address, inspection type, contact name, and phone number. Approved plans and the permit card must be available and work must remain exposed and accessible.

Which codes and exemptions should I review?

N/A for a verified 2026-specific code edition. The county states that Building Services enforces the California Building Code, ICC, National Electrical Code, and state/local amendments; publicly indexed county plan materials located during review still reference 2022 California Residential, Building, Green, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, and Energy codes. The county says building codes are updated as required by state law. The county's CBC 105.2 work-exempt handout lists one-story detached tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar structures up to 120 sq. ft.; fences up to 7 ft.; oil derricks; retaining walls up to 4 ft. measured from footing bottom to wall top unless supporting a surcharge or certain liquids; grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons at no more than a 2:1 height-to-diameter ratio; and other standard minor-work exemptions such as finish work, sidewalks/driveways, qualifying awnings, shallow prefabricated pools, and limited decks and trade repairs. These exemptions do not waive planning, zoning, fire, environmental, or other department requirements.

Before contacting the permit counter

Have the project facts ready.

A productive call starts with a clear description of the property and proposed work. Keep the site address, parcel or assessor number, project valuation, existing occupancy, approximate square footage, structural scope, contractor information, and desired start date in front of you. Those facts help the Authority Having Jurisdiction route the question to building, planning, fire, environmental health, or another reviewing discipline.

Questions worth asking

  • • Is the parcel inside an incorporated city or county service area?
  • • Does this scope require building, trade, zoning, fire, or site permits?
  • • What plans and supporting documents make the submittal complete?
  • • How much lead time is needed for each inspection?