Permit Center

Welcome to the City of Alameda 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 pre-application meetings to inspections and final certificate of occupancy.  While we are open for in-person service to help answer your questions, the City of Alameda has moved to an all-digital application and plan review platform, and we no longer accept paper plan submittals.  We now require permit submittal, review, and receive payments online.

FRAUD ALERT

Beware of scammers who pretend to be calling you from the City. Staff will not ask for credit card information over the phone. If you aren’t sure, always hang up and call us directly at (510)747-6800. Thank you!

Attention: Low- and Moderate-income Homeowner. Click here(PDF, 223KB) for homeowner Residential Rehabilitation Programs.

Earthquake Soft-Story: The California Residential Mitigation Program has now opened registration for Earthquake Soft-Story (ESS)seismic retrofit grant program.  Click here for more information.

Effective July 1, 2023: FEMA SUSPENDS REVIEW OF CLOMR-F AND LOMR-F APPLICATIONS - FEMA will temporarily suspend processing applications for Letters of Map Revision based on Fill (LOMR-Fs) and Conditional Letters of map Revision based on Fill (CLOMR-Fs) in the City of Alameda. Click here more information.

FRAUD ALERT : Beware of scammers who pretend to be calling you from the City. Staff will not ask for credit card information over the phone. If you aren’t sure, always hang up and call us directly at (510)747-6800. Thank you!

 

Registered users can apply online for an Express Building Permit which are permits that do not require plan review or construction drawings. If your permit does not qualify for an Express Building Permit then you will be required to file 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. Click here

 

We now accept, review, receive payments, and issue Planning entitlements through our online Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA).

Click here for Planning & Zoning Applications

  • Certificate of Approval
  • Design Review
  • Development Plan/Amendment
  • Home Occupation Permit
  • Preliminary Review Application
  • Sign Permit
  • Subdivision/Parcel Maps
  • Use Permit
  • Work Live Permit
  • Zoning Clearance
  • Zoning Letter/Compliance Determinations

In Alameda, special event permits include permits for street fairs, races, block parties and other events, as well as permits for specific activities, such as filming, charitable solicitation, street banners, and bingo.

To find out more about Special Events Permits click the link provided below:

Continue to Special Events Permits

There are multiple Self-Help options to search for permit history on a property:

Permit History ACA.png

Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA). ACA is the public portal to the City's online permit system.  You can look up permit records for Building, Fire, Planning, and Public Works by address, assessor's parcel number (APN# in 9-digit format: 00-0000-000), permit number, or date range.  Use ACA for permit records issued after 1995.  

Click here(PDF, 266KB) for instructions

BuildingEye. BuildingEye displays permit info from ACA in a map display. Search by address, or use the filters on the left sidebar to filter by permit number, date, or permit type. 

Historical Permit Building Records.  Permits issued before 1995 are available on microfiche and are now available online. You can also view microfiche records in the Permit Center.  Further instructions here: How to Search for Historical Documents(PDF, 224KB)

CommunityView.  Use CommunityView to look up zoning and other information about a parcel.

Can't find it?  If you can't find the permit record in the methods above, then very likely the record does not exist in City archives.  If you believe the City has the record and that you can provide specific information to help the City locate it, you may submit a Public Records Request. 

 

In accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2234, the following information is provided for transparency for residential development post-entitlement processing. Click here to view the Post Entitlement Requirements, fees and sample documents.

 

 

Picture-3-HSS.png

           Click here for more information

Contact Us

Phone

(510) 747-6800

Email

permits@alamedaca.gov

Location

2263 Santa Clara Ave. Rm 190
Alameda
94501
View Map

Permit Center Hours

Monday - Thursday:

8:00am - 12:30pm*
1:30pm - 3:30pm*
FRIDAY - CLOSED
No appointments necessary

*Walk-in Customers must sign in at least 15 mins before each closure.

Quick Links

Accela Citizen Access

Forms & Handouts

How To Videos

ADU Permits

Tree Removal

 

To Schedule an Inspection

Call (510) 747- 6830
Mon - Thur 7:30-8:30 AM
FRIDAY - CLOSED

Construction Hours

Construction is allowed during the following hours:
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
and
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
on Saturday

Click AMC 4-10.5 for additional details. 

Back to top