Permit Center

The Permit Center is the central location for obtaining Building, Fire, Planning, and Special Events permits. Permit Center staff assists customers through the permitting process from initial questions and preapplication meetings to inspections and final certificate of occupancy.

Please call (510) 747-6830 between 7:30 am - 8:30 am Monday through Thursday at least two business days in advance of the desired inspection date. During the summer months, it is advisable to schedule inspections at least 10 days in advance due to the busy construction season.

Code Compliance Complaint Form

Special Events play a vital role in building goodwill in our community, and engaging residents in meaningful activities. Depending on the nature of your event, you may need to obtain additional permits or approvals to ensure a well-planned, safe event. The page Special Events Permit outlines the types of special events that require permits. Most special events in Alameda require a $1,500 deposit. Certain permits require insurance and liability coverage naming the City of Alameda as an additional insured. Application packets for each permit type can be found here.

Explore a map of Alameda showing the location, status, and details of Building and Planning permits. Set up notifications for specific areas.
Explore Planning Applications
Explore Building Permits

Articles covering a variety of topics relating to building and permitting in Alameda.

• Why Do I Need to Get a Permit?(PDF, 78KB)
• The Permit Process(PDF, 80KB)
• ¿Por qué necesito obtener un permiso?(PDF, 10KB)
• The Inspection Process(PDF, 87KB)
• I Didn't Get a Permit, So Now What Do I Do?(PDF, 131KB)
• Hiring a Contractor or Doing it Yourself?(PDF, 84KB)
• Keeping Alameda Looking Good(PDF, 26KB)
• The History of Building Codes(PDF, 80KB)
• California Historical Building Code(PDF, 18KB)
• Soft Story Collapse(PDF, 25KB)
• Carbon Monoxide Device Requirements(PDF, 94KB)
•  Seismic Retrofit