Short answer: In San Jose, permits are issued by City of San José Planning, Building and Code Enforcement (Building Division); of the 16 common projects we checked, 7 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 7 depend on the details (2 unverified).
Depends on your project No permit for a freestanding deck up to 200 sq ft, 30 in or less above grade, not attached and not serving a required exit door.
Depends on your project New driveways and walkways up to 30 in above grade (not over a basement, not an ADA route) are exempt, but San José says repairs or replacem…
Permit required Yes. Electrical work needs a permit (including replacing a main disconnect); like-for-like service changes up to 400 amps can be done as an …
Depends on your project No permit for fences up to 7 ft along side and rear yards and up to 3 ft along the front yard on single-family and duplex lots.
Depends on your project Surface work (cabinets, countertops, floor finishes, tile with no structural change, painting) needs no permit. Plumbing, electrical or wall…
Depends on your project Only prefabricated above-ground pools less than 24 in deep and up to 5,000 gallons at a single-family home are exempt. Other pools need a pe…
Permit required Yes. Installing or replacing a water heater needs a plumbing permit, and some types also need an electrical permit. Like-for-like gas tank s…
Depends on your project Window replacements that do not alter the framing, flashing or exterior wall need no permit. We did not find a specific rule for doors.
Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.
PlainPermit