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.

Attention Applicants: Beginning March 4, 2024, 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.

Coming Soon in 2024: Self-Start Building Permits with Plan Review through Accela Citizen Access Portal (ACA) will begin Spring 2024.  All applicants with projects that involve plan review must self-start their application via the online portal.  More information to be announced soon.

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!

 

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
  • Window replacements
  • Siding repairs and replacements
  • Re-roofs

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).

 

SolarAPP_logo.png

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 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 a Building Pre-Application(PDF, 696KB).

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.

 

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:

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.  

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