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About Building Permits
Administering Department: Planning & Inspection tel: (408) 615-2420 fax: (408) 241-3823

The Permit Center is offering minor permits by fax to provide a time-saving permit service for customers. The Minor Permit section of this website outlines the procedures and describes projects which can qualify for minor permits by fax. Building Permit information is also found on this website.

Currently, the City is accepting the Standardized Permit Application Form at the Permit Center. In the future, this form will be accepted online or by fax. The City of Santa Clara has adopted the Smart Permits Standardized Permit Application Form (PDF). Applicants may use the PDF version for regular building permit application, but not for fax permit application. Minor permits may be applied for by using the Minor (Fax) Permit form.

New Energy Standards Must Be Met In All Building Permit Applications
Beginning June 1, 2001, all building permit applications submitted to the City Building Department must comply with new emergency energy standards set by the California Energy Commission.

The goal is to ensure maximum reductions in wasteful, inefficient consumption of energy in residential and nonresidential buildings. It is more stringent than the previous standards set in 1998. Information of the new standards can be obtained from the Energy Commission website.

Some of the changes to the residential energy standards include:
Adds cool roofs as a compliance option Disallows use of building cavities as ducts; requires ducts to be installed; duct tape can be used only in conjunction with mastic and drawbands; mechanical fastening of duct joints required Disallows moving shading devices on to different orientations to obtain compliance credit Prescriptive packages A and B deleted Thermostatic expansion valves (TXV) required for split system air conditioners Duct sealing is mandatory
The California Energy Commission is offering training classes on the new emergency energy standards. More information can be obtained from the California Energy Commission staff at 916-653-7181.

[ More Links ]
Minor Permits
Building Permit Information
Standardized Permit Application (PDF)

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