This directory identifies official permit-research starting points. It does not determine whether a permit is required, interpret code, replace agency instructions, or confirm that Avila serves every listed jurisdiction.
Identify the authority from the work address
Use the physical work address, not the owner's mailing address or the contractor's office, to identify the permitting authority. A city address, an unincorporated county address, and a utility or sanitary-district boundary can lead to different agencies.
Confirm the jurisdiction directly when an address is near a city boundary. A city name used by a postal service does not by itself establish which department reviews the work.
Write the project scope before opening a permit portal
Describe the proposed work in plain language without choosing a permit type in advance. State what exists, what may be repaired, replaced, added, or relocated, and whether the work could extend outside the building or onto a public right-of-way.
The authority can then identify the current application path, required documents, related-agency review, and inspection process. The directory does not determine those requirements for a property.
Scope details to organize
- Home, duplex, multifamily, commercial, or another property type
- Fixture, water heater, interior piping, water service, sewer, gas, or other system involved
- Repair, direct replacement, relocation, expansion, or new installation
- Interior, exterior, property-line, or public-right-of-way location
- Known plans, prior permits, notices, or agency correspondence
Confirm every agency that owns part of the answer
A building department may control the plumbing permit while Public Works, a water utility, a sanitary district, a fire department, Planning, or another agency controls a related approval. Ask the primary jurisdiction whether another agency must review the same scope.
Do not assume that a neighboring city uses the same permit category, portal, exception, document set, or inspection sequence. Follow the current instructions for the exact work address.
Ask the jurisdiction four specific questions
Give the work address and scope, then ask whether a permit is required, which application type applies, which documents or related approvals are needed, and which inspections close the permit. Save the answer with the agency, contact channel, and date.
For a changed scope, expired application, prior unpermitted work, property-line question, or conflicting record, ask the authority for property-specific direction rather than relying on a general web page.
Keep one dated permit record with the plumbing project
Store the official source link, application or record number, submitted scope, issued documents, correction notices, inspection results, and final status together. Keep customer, payment, access, and account information in the approved private project system rather than a public website or analytics event.
When the work or schedule changes, check whether the agency needs an amendment, revision, additional approval, or new inspection. Do not treat an older download or a different property's permit as the current instruction for the project.
Use this directory as a maintained starting point
The links below lead to official city sources reviewed on the date shown. Agency pages, portals, codes, forms, fees, and processes can change. Confirm the current requirement directly before relying on it.
A jurisdiction's presence in this directory does not state that Avila serves every address there. Service-area fit and project fit are confirmed separately from permit research.
Official permit starting points
Open the official page for the work jurisdiction. Confirm the current project path with that agency before relying on a form, fee, exception, portal, or process.
San José
City of San José Development Services Permit Center
Dedicated plumbing-project guidance with online-permit and plan-submittal starting points.
Santa Clara
City of Santa Clara Building Division
Building-permit information, current code references, electronic application path, and process links.
Sunnyvale
City of Sunnyvale Planning and Building
Permit Center entry point for applications, forms, inspections, project guidance, and current codes.
Mountain View
City of Mountain View Building Division
Current Permit Center entry point for applications, inspections, project guidance, contacts, and related fee or permit-status links.
Palo Alto
City of Palo Alto Development Services
Building plan-review, permit, inspection, and city or private-utility jurisdiction starting point.
Fremont
City of Fremont Planning, Building & Permit Services
Permit-type directory covering residential plumbing and related outside-agency boundaries.
Oakland
City of Oakland Planning & Building Department
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permit scope, application paths, and plan-review information.
San Mateo
City of San Mateo Building Division
Building, plumbing, application, inspection, and permit-contact starting points.
Hayward
City of Hayward Building Division
Current code, permit-process, document, e-permit, and Building Division contact links.
San Francisco
San Francisco Department of Building Inspection
Official plumbing permit application worksheet and Department of Building Inspection contact path.