Building Permits in Berkeley
Berkeley's Permit Service Center administers building permits. Applications can be submitted through Permits Online, which also supports status tracking, document uploads and inspection scheduling.
Current codes
California's 2025 Building Standards Code (Title 24) is effective for applications on or after January 1, 2026. Berkeley applies its own local construction requirements and amendments in addition to the statewide standards.
When permits are required
The City states that all construction work and most repairs require permits unless specifically exempted, including new structures, alterations, regulated trade work, demolition and changes of use or occupancy. Berkeley publishes a separate official list of exempt work and warns that zoning approval may still be required even where a building permit is not.
Plan review and fees
Berkeley says certain minor projects can receive an over-the-counter plan check in about 30 minutes, while other projects may take 1–6 weeks; these are City-published processing estimates for the applicable categories, not statutory guarantees. Fees are determined during review, and the City provides a permit-fee estimator rather than a universal percentage.
Design professionals
Berkeley states that a California-licensed architect or engineer is required where a project is more than two stories plus a basement, uses construction other than conventional wood framing, or exceeds four dwelling units on a property. Project-specific state-law exceptions and scope should still be verified.
Official sources
- Berkeley Building Permits: https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/permits-design-parameters/permit-types/building-permits
- Berkeley Permits Online: https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/permits-design-parameters/permit-process/permits-online
- Berkeley Work Exempt from Building Permits: https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/permits-design-parameters/permit-types/work-exempt-building-permits
- Berkeley Licensed Contractors and Design Professionals: https://berkeleyca.gov/construction-development/permits-design-parameters/permit-process/licensed-contractors-and-design
- California Building Standards Commission — Codes: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/codes
Disclaimer: Verify current Berkeley amendments, fees and project-specific requirements before starting work.