Frequently
asked questions when applying for a permit:
Q2) Why do I have to create an account to
apply for a permit?
Q3) What happens if I forget my account
password?
Q4) What kinds of permits can I apply for
on-line?
Q5) Why does my address have to already
exist in the City’s permitting database?
Q7) Do I have to hire a
contractor to perform the work?
Q8) Why do I need to provide the “Estimated
Job Cost”?
Q9) Why do I need to provide “Green
Building Points”? What does the City do with this information?
Q10) What should I do with my Building
Permit after I have printed it?
Q11) What should I do with my Inspection
Card after I have printed it?
Q12) What other services can I perform
on-line?
A1) The City of Cupertino requires most all types of
construction within the City to be permitted. If you are found doing
un-permitted construction, a Building Inspector will stop the work in progress.
Work cannot continue until a proper permit has been obtained. In these cases,
permit fees are doubled. Work done without the benefit of inspections can pose
a health and safety hazard and potentially make it harder to sell your home.
Q2) Why do I have to create an account to apply for a
permit?
A2) All users to the City’s on-line services need to establish an account in order to access the database. As a first time user, you will need to register your account. After you have completed the permit process, you will use the information from your Building Permit to activate your account. Once your on-line account has been activated, you will only need to log in to manage your permits.
Q3) What happens if I forget my account password?
A3) You will be sent a reminder email. If that doesn’t help, please call the City. A Staff member can re-set your password for you.
Q4) What kinds of permits can I apply for on-line?
A4) Currently, there are 6 permits you can apply for on-line. They are all “minor” residential building permits. The homeowner or their contractor can apply for these permits on-line rather than coming in to City Hall.
Q5) Why does my address have to already exist in the
City’s permitting database?
A5) When you apply for a permit, our system will search for your address. If it does not already exist in the system you will get an error message (No Matching Records Found) and will not be able to apply for a permit. Please call the City and have a Staff member check if your address is in the database or have them add it for you. Once the address has been entered into the City’s database, you will able to apply for a building permit.
Q6) Why do I
need to call the City if, when applying for a building permit, my name is not
shown as the homeowner?
A6) If you are the new homeowner, the City will need to update the permitting database with your information. Otherwise, the permit will be printed with the incorrect homeowner’s name on it. Please call and have a Staff member update the records for your property with your new owner information. In order to update our database, the Staff member will ask you for the spelling of your name, phone number and when you purchased the property. It will only take a minute for a Staff member to make the update to the database. You can then continue with the on-line application process.
Q7) Do I have to hire a contractor to perform the work?
A7) No, you do not have to hire a contractor. Many homeowners do their own minor residential upgrades. However, if you do, please make sure your contractor has a City of Cupertino business license in addition to a State Contractor’s license. A final inspection cannot be scheduled until your contractor has obtained a business license from the City.
Q8) Why do I need to provide the “Estimated Job Cost”?
A8) The State of California requires the City to collect two types of fees with every building permit. These fees are calculated based upon the valuation or cost of the project.
Q9) Why do I need to provide “Green Building Points”?
What does the City do with this information?
A9) The City Council has asked the Building Department to track Green Building Points to indicate the trends in the City with regard to the utilization of green measures and the installation of sustainable products and energy efficient appliances. The City is encouraging all new construction projects to incorporate “green building measures”. Being energy efficient saves money, preserves natural resources and could even lead to higher building re-sale values! For more information about Green Building Points, visit Build It Green at www.Builditgreen.org.
If your project does not earn any green building points, please enter “GBP0” in this field.
Q10) What should I do with my Building Permit after I
have printed it?
A10) At the end of the permit application process, you will be asked to print your Building Permit and Inspection Card. You should read the Building Permit to check for errors and then sign it on the “Applicant Certification” line that applies to you. If you are a contractor, you should also enter your State Contractor’s license number in the space provided. Please show this permit to the Building Inspector when he comes to do the first inspection.
You will also use the information on the Building Permit to activate your on-line account.
Q11) What should I do with my Inspection Card after I
have printed it?
A11) The Inspection Card is the record of the inspections for your permit. This Card should be accessible to the Building Inspector every time he comes to make an inspection. The Building Inspector will mark the card with the results of the inspections. The permit will be deemed complete and closed once the final inspection has been marked as “passed” by the Inspector. Once this happens, you should keep the Inspection Card with your other important household records.
Q12) What other services can I perform on-line?
A12) After activating an account, you can apply for a building permit, schedule inspections, check on the issuance status of a building permit application, apply for and renew a business license and make payments to the City. You can also search permit records for any permit existing in our database.
If you did not get the answer you were looking for or
have additional questions, please call the Building Department at (408)
777-3228, Mondays through Thursdays between the hours of 7:00 am to 12:00 and
1:00 to 4:30 or on Fridays from 7:00 am to 12:00 and 1:00 to 3:30.