The short version
Most Concord permits are filed through the city's online permit portal. Simple trade permits (water heaters, HVAC swaps, electrical) are often issued over the counter or within days. Anything structural or involving plans goes through full plan review. Always check the City of Concord site for current forms and fees.
What needs a permit in Concord
Concord follows the California Building Code, so the triggers are familiar: structural work, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, additions, ADUs, decks over 30", and most remodels beyond cosmetic finishes. Unsure about your project? Run our free permit checker — 60 seconds, city-specific answer.
What you'll need to submit
- Completed permit application — owner or contractor info, project description, valuation
- Site plan — property lines, setbacks, existing and proposed structures
- Construction plans — floor plans, elevations, sections, details (for plan-reviewed work)
- Structural calculations — when framing is modified or loads change
- Title 24 energy documentation — for additions, ADUs, and major remodels
- Contractor license + workers' comp — CSLB license must be current; the city verifies it
Completeness is everything. Most Concord delays come from incomplete submittals bouncing back, not from slow reviewers. Every missing sheet costs you a review cycle.
The process, step by step
- Prepare your package. Gather the application, plans, and supporting docs above. For trade-only work, the application plus equipment specs often suffice.
- Submit online. Upload through the city's permit portal and pay the plan-check fee. You'll get a permit number for tracking.
- Plan review. Simple permits may clear in days. Plan-reviewed projects go through building, and sometimes planning and engineering — respond to correction comments with complete revised sheets.
- Permit issuance. Pay remaining fees, receive your permit and inspection card.
- Inspections. Schedule each required inspection as work progresses — don't cover work before its inspection. Final inspection closes the permit.
Common Concord gotchas
- Expired contractor licenses stall everything. Keep the CSLB license and any city business license current — filings bounce on expired credentials.
- Setbacks bite on additions and ADUs. Verify zoning setbacks before drawing plans, not after.
- Encroachment permits are separate. Driveway aprons, sidewalk, or curb work in the public right-of-way needs its own encroachment permit.
Owner-builders: you can pull your own permits in Concord, but you're on the hook for code compliance, inspections, and hiring licensed trades where required. If the project outgrows DIY, our
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We assemble the full package, verify every sheet against Concord's checklist, and file it — you never touch the portal.
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Based on publicly available City of Concord information and our filing experience. Forms, fees, and processes change — confirm current requirements at cityofconcord.org. Not legal advice.