Permit Center
The City Permit Center is located at 1960 Tate Street. The Permit Center is where residents, builders, and developers interested in improving or maintaining their properties within the City can get assistance with their permit needs, and other planning, building, housing, and engineering issues. The Permit Center accepts and processes all development applications and coordinates review with other City departments and outside agencies. View City Office Hours, here.
Weekday |
Counter Hours (1) |
Monday | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (2) |
Tuesday | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (2) |
Wednesday | By Appointment or Virtual Only 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
Thursday | 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (2) |
Friday | By Appointment or Virtual Only 9:00 am to 4:00 pm |
(1) Offices are closed during the lunch hour from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
(2) Please note in order to allow for processing time, the last walk-ins for service are at 11:45 am and 3:45 pm.
The City Permit Center continues to offer virtual appointments as an alternative to in-person meetings. For inquiries or to request a virtual or in-person appointment, please call 650-853-3100 or email:
• Building and Code Enforcement – building@cityofepa.org and codeenforcement@cityofepa.org; inquiries and appointment requests can also be accepted online. To book an appointment, click: Building Appointment
• Planning – planning@cityofepa.org; inquiries and appointment requests can also be accepted online. To book an appointment, click: Planning Appointment
• Housing – housing@cityofepa.org; inquiries and appointment requests can also be accepted online. To book an appointment, click: Housing Appointment
• Engineering – engineering@cityofepa.org; inquiries and appointment requests can also be accepted online. To book an appointment, click: Engineering Appointment.
The Permit Center is staffed by professionals with expertise in these technical areas:
Building handles the enforcement of local and state building, housing, zoning, and related codes = provides plan check services = issues permits = conducts inspections.
Planning and Housing is responsible for current and long range planning within the City. This includes the General Plan zoning regulations, development of the Cooley Landing Park and Education Center, CEQA compliance, "Specific Plans” for defined areas of the City = housing issues = review of private development projects, capital improvements projects, and other physical projects involving City property, creating and maintaining the City's mapping database, City Planning policies and standards, and assistance to residents on property issues.
Engineering oversees the design, management, and construction of infrastructure programs and capital improvement projects, including roadways, water supply, and storm drainage. Engineering is also responsible for providing private developments with engineering review to ensure compliance with City standards = issuing permits for any work to be performed on City property or within city rights of way, such as public streets = traffic and transportation analysis and planning = participating in regional transportation discussions and projects.
Public Works/Maintenance is responsible for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of City infrastructure including streets, traffic signals, sidewalks, street trees, landscape medians, parks, open spaces, drainage facilities, street lights, and City buildings. This division also coordinates graffiti removal from public areas, and street sweeping.
How may we be of service?
- When Do I Need to Seek City Approval for a Project?
- Click on the link before starting work to find out about any required permits
- Application Forms and Information
- On this page, you’ll find information about the City’s requirements for various kinds of building and construction, and you can print and fill out permit and building application forms
- Drainage and Improvement Requirements
- Because of our community’s location near the Bay and San Francisquito Creek, it is very important to be aware of the City’s requirements for drainage and improvements, for the safety of our neighborhoods.
- Master Fee Schedule
- The Master Fee Schedule provides a listing of all fees which may be involved in a building or development. City staff will provide you with an estimate of the actual fees for your project.
- Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance
- Please note that there may be a delay in updating the online version of these documents with any adopted revisions; please check with Community Development staff before relying on the content of the online versions of the Municipal Code and Zoning Ordinance.