Apply for a Building Permit

Express Building Permits = No Plan Check and No Construction Drawings

Express Building Permits can be issued where work does not require any type of plan review or construction drawings. These formerly "over the counter" types of permits are now issued via our Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA). You will need an account to file a permit.

For Express Building Permit types listed below, you can apply for an Express permit in Accela Citizen Access.

• Like for like bath remodels.
• Like for like kitchen remodels.
• Electrical service meter main (250 AMP and 3-meter maximum)
• Electrical upgrades and repairs
• Subpanels, hot tubs, electric ranges, heat pump dryers
• EV chargers
• Plumbing upgrades and repairs
• Water services
• Water heaters (tankless – tanked – heat pump)
• Earthquake valves
• Heat pumps (mini-splits), air conditioners and furnaces
• Re-roofs
• Window replacements*
• Siding repairs and replacements*

*  - For projects that include new or replacement windows, please include the City’s standard window schedule, exterior photos of proposed windows, and a simple floor plan to indicate the location of the proposed windows. For projects that include new or replacement siding, please include exterior photos of the existing, as well as type (i.e., clapboard, channel, rustic, etc.) and exposure (in inches) of the proposed siding.

Apply for a building permit by accessing Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA).

You will need to register for an account and create a login in order to apply for a permit.

Contractors will need to have a current City of Alameda Business License. You can apply or renew online at the Finance Department Business License.

To begin, please review How to Register For An Account(PDF, 972KB) and How to Apply for an Express Building Permit(PDF, 650KB).

For information on Express Permit Processing Time.

SolarAPP+, short for Solar Automated Permit Processing, is an online web portal that automates the plan review and process for issuing permits to qualified businesses or individuals to install code-compliant residential photovoltaic (PV) systems. Before applying for an automated solar plan review and solar permit, projects must follow certain requirements, and register for an approved account by SolarAPP+.  SolarAPP+ is designed to provide a code-compliance check for the majority of residential, roof-mounted, retrofit photovoltaic systems. For solar installation projects that would like to apply using the SolarAPP+, please click on the link below for more information.

Continue to SolarAPP+ 

Building Pre-Application = Plan Review Required and Construction Drawings Required

All other permits will need to apply for a Building Pre-Application.  If your permit does not qualify for an Express Building Permit, then you will be required to file a Building Pre-application. Registered users can apply for a Building Pre-application to begin the application process for permits that require plan review and construction drawings, as well as Fire Permits, Certificate of Occupancies, and non-residential electric vehicle chargers. Please note that each building will need a separate building permit. We also recommend checking with the Planning Division if a Planning application is required for your project prior to submittal of building permits.

You will also be required to upload documents and plans for the application according to the submittal guidelines described in the document upload page. The plan set and each supporting document should be its own PDF file (Plans is one PDF, Structural Calcs is its own PDF, all photos should be combined into one PDF file, brochures combined into one PDF file).

Once you have completed the pre-application process, you will receive a PRE# application number. A Permit Technician will review the Pre-App for completeness to make sure your application contains the materials necessary for review. Once deemed complete, the Permit Tech will then create the actual building permit and add the required fees which you will then be instructed to pay online.

Please note that a filing fee will be collected up front for processing the Building Permit Pre-Application. You will later receive a notification to pay the remaining balance of the Building permit fees when the formal building permit is created. The balance due will need to be paid before plan check review can begin.

Apply for a building permit by accessing the Accela Citizen Access Portal at Alamedaca.gov/aca.

You will need to register for an account and create a login in order to apply for a permit.

Contractors will need to have a current City of Alameda Business License. You can apply or renew online at the Finance Department Business License.

To begin, please review How to Register For An Account(PDF, 972KB) and How to Apply for a Building Pre-Application(PDF, 573KB).

You can view the history and status of your permit any time by visiting Accela Citizen Access (ACA). Through ACA you can also pay your permits fees online, receive plan check comments, provide resubmissions, and other activities related to the review of your application. Click the link below for instructions on how to check the status of your permit.

Link to How to Check the status of your permit.

Attention Applicants: Beginning March 4, 2024, all resubmittals will be submitted through Accela Citizen Access. You will need to schedule an appointment with the Permit Technician assigned to your permit after you have completed uploading your response to plan check. The Permit Technician will need to review your resubmittal package during the appointment before it can be routed for plan review. For additional information on How to submit a Response to Plan Check comments please click the following link:

Link to How to Respond to Plan Check Comments. 

If you have an existing building permit that was filed with the City prior to March 4, 2024, please see the information below:

Response to Plan Check

Beginning March 4, 2024, all resubmittals will be submitted through Accela Citizen Access. Applicants will be required to schedule an appointment/call with a Permit Technician to review your resubmittal package for completeness and proper format after uploading the files into Accela.

If you do not have an Accela user account, you will need to create one to resubmit through Accela. Note that older permits that were initiated prior to March 4, 2024 through the former Camino submittal portal may not connect to new accounts. If you are not able to upload your response through Accela you may resubmit through Camino  
https://app.oncamino.com/alameda-ca/login. Please contact the Permit Center at 510-747-6800 or email to permits@alamedaca.gov if you have any questions or if you are not able to upload your response files.

Permit Issuance

If you have a permit in plan review that was established before March 4, 2024, and you received a notification directing you to Request for Permit Issuance, you may make a request through Camino, or you can email to the Permit Center directly at permits@alamedaca.gov.

Inspections

If you need to schedule an inspection you will need to call the Inspection Line at 510-747-6830 between 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM, Monday through Thursday.