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.

 

Starting March 4, 2024, the City of Alameda Permit Center will begin migrating functions of the Permit Applications to the Accela Citizen Access Portal in order to phase out the use of the Camino portal. Permit Applications will only be accepted through the Accela Citizen Access Portal. 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. All resubmittals will be submitted through Accela Citizen Access. You will be required to schedule an appointment/call with your Permit Technician to review your resubmittal package for completeness and proper format. For additional information please see How to Respond to Plan Check Comments below.

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. 

 

Assembly Bill 2234

In accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 2234, the following information is provided for transparency for residential development post-entitlement processing. 

Post Entitlement Requirements:

Building Permits

Building Permits include Architectural, Structural, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Utilities, Landscape, Demolition, and Temporary Facilities.

Improvement Plans

Improvement Plans include grading, civil plans, site improvements, landscaping, utility, street improvements, stormwater management and erosion control for review by the Public Works Department.

Fire Permits

Fire Permits include sprinklers, fire alarms, and other fire suppression systems for review by the Fire Department.

Outside Agency Reviews

The following outside agencies may require review of plans and/or fees prior to the City being able to issue permits.

  • Bay Conservation Development Commission
  • Alameda County Environmental Health Department
  • U.S. Army Corp of Engineers
  • Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Alameda Municipal Power
  • Alameda Unified School District
  • Bay Area Air Quality Management District

Fees

City and links to know agency fees can be reviewed through the fee schedule online at https://www.alamedaca.gov/files/assets/public/v/1/departments/alameda/building-planning-transportation/building/exhibit-1-fiscal-year-2022-23-master-fee-schedule.pdf

Sample Documents:

Single Family Residential

Duplex

Accessory Dwelling Unit

Townhome

Multi-Family

Mixed-Use

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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:

8:30am - 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

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. 

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