Oakland Building Permit Made Easy

When you alter or newly construct a building, you need an Oakland building permit for the city to ensure proper safety and adherence to building codes. Which permits you might need is a complicated question determined by the scope of your project. Some common City of Oakland permits include:

Building permit
Mechanical, electrical plumbing permit (MEP)
Grading permit
PZ permit (for infrastructure)
Department of Transportation (DOT) permits

Which permit you will need in order to avoid fines and penalties depends on the type of construction project at hand. can be required for projects ranging from new windows to a complete, newly-constructed addition. New construction (above 120 square feet) always requires a permit.

Knowing where to access permits and which permits are required is complicated. Each city or county has different requirements. That is why DoNotPay is a helpful alternative to going through the permit process alone. We can help guide you through your building permit process and make sure you have proper permission to continue with your construction project.

We've helped landowners and homeowners to get their building permits across the country, including in places like:

People who use the services of DoNotPay avoid time and money expenses that can hold up their new home or home improvement project. DoNotPay makes it easy to avoid the hassles of permits and paperwork.

When Do You Need a Building Permit in Oakland?

Most people know that you need a building permit for new construction in Oakland. It is the alterations and add-ons to existing buildings that make building permits confusing.

5 Building Projects That Don't Require an Oakland Building Permit

Sometimes, it is easier to list the projects that don't require building permits than it is to list those that do.

Storage sheds and playhouses with a floor footprint of less than 120 square feet.
Fences under 7 feet high (with restrictions for fences made of concrete or with street frontage).
Retaining walls under 4 feet (with restrictions).
Interior and exterior finish work (painting, cabinetry, etc.).
Unattached decks with less than 200 square feet that are not more than 30 inches above grade.

Ultimately, listing projects that don't require an is also difficult because there are many details that can put it into the category of permit-required work.

How to Get a Building Permit in Oakland

In order to start the process of getting a building permit, it is helpful to visit the city's Planning and Building Forms webpage. This page will review options, such as the pre-application option that allows you to have access to a case planner who can help review your plans.

Experienced contractors may be adept at progressing through the permit process, as each project they manage requires a similar process. For the layman working on a relatively simple home improvement project, the simple act of learning the permit lingo can be a big barrier to progress.

Once the proper applications are submitted, the city will contact you to let you know your permit has been approved or denied. This can take up to 8 weeks!

The construction will have to be inspected upon completion, and the inspector will either issue a corrections notice or sign off on the project. This is how the city ensures that safety measures are upheld during construction.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Permit?

Getting a construction permit is not free, as there are fees associated with any level of permit. The price of a permit changes according to the valuation of your project, the size of the project, and the number of permits required. For example, a deck project isn't likely to require a plumbing permit, but a newly constructed home will definitely require one.

A schedule of fees is located on the City of Oakland webpage along with a fee estimator.

Next Steps for an Oakland Building Permit if You Can't Do It Yourself

Construction projects come in every shape and size, and the challenges each homeowner faces in regard to permits change in a similar fashion. Even with a fee estimator and a hefty amount of research, you might find yourself lost and confused about how to get started.

Solutions to getting an Oakland building permit(s) include getting the help of a contractor and using the pre-application process to get some oversight. Even then, things like HOAs, historic buildings, and neighborhood planning can present further obstacles to commencing your construction project.

Looking for information is only part of the battle. The applications and communication that are necessary to plan a construction project can get complicated.

Oakland Building Permits With the Help of DoNotPay

Using a resource like DoNotPay can answer many questions about the City of Oakland building permit requirements. It can help you to decide whether or not you need to get a permit to start your project. It can also help you to determine who you need to contact to get those permits.

Finally, DoNotPay is able to generate correspondence to get the ball rolling with HOAs or other associations with governing power over residential developments. Letters will ease the path from permit application to permission for your project to begin.

How to Apply for a Building Permit without a Hassle in Oakland, CA with DoNotPay:

If you want to apply for a building permit without a hassle in Oakland but don't know where to start, DoNotPay has you covered.

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
Choose one of the following options:
1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and the timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Why Use DoNotPay for Oakland Building Permits

There are multiple reasons to use DoNotPay. It's:

Fasy	You don't have to spend hours trying to apply for a building permit.
Easy	You don't have to struggle to fill out tedious forms or keep track of all the steps involved in applying for a permit.
Successful	You can rest assured knowing we'll make the best case for you.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do?

If you are impressed by the services offered by DoNotPay that help get the Oakland building permit process started, you should see what else it can do. It can offer help with situations such as: