All Building Permits will be processed electronically.
The Building Department has shifted planning and building services to virtual appointments/submittals only or in person Tuesdays & Wednesdays 9am-12pm.
Building permits are the way the City of Sausalito regulates construction to ensure that it is safe for occupancy or use. This is done through the review of plans and periodic inspections to verify compliance with the current California Building Code and local regulations. Every permit requires a building inspection.
A separate Building Permit must be obtained for each building or structure before it can be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished.
A Building Permit is not required for the exempted work listed on this page.
This page includes information on submittal requirements, building permit fees, the concurrent plan check procedure, items that must be satisfied prior to issuance of a building permit, expiration of permits, inspection requests, holds, review by outside agencies, and applicable construction codes. There is also a list of useful phone numbers.
An Encroachment Permitis required by the Department of Public Works for site and frontage public improvements.
A Grading Permit is required by the Department of Public Works for projects disturbing 50 or more cubic yards of earth or more. Grading permit submittals & questions can be submitted via email to mlockett@sausalito.gov.
Application. The Building Permit Application must be filled out and submitted electronically in order to receive a building permit. All information must be legible and complete. Most building permits also require a Zoning Permit.
Scale and Size of Plans. All plans must be drawn on with a minimum scale of ¼” per foot, except for the site plan which may be drawn with a minimum scale of 1/8” per foot. All plan sheets must be the same size, with a maximum sheet size of 24” X 36” and minimum sheet size of 11” X 17”.
Information Required On Each Page of the Plans
Information Required On Permit Documents
The scope of the work must be shown in a clear and concise manner. Provide
only information that is pertinent to the scope of the project.
Floor plan of each level, label all rooms.
Site plan including:
Survey.
Erosion control plan (erosion control must be in place October 15 through April
15 or whenever it is raining).
Building elevations.
Complete structural drawings including foundations, floor, roof, deck, and wall
framing plans.
Roof/floor truss layout plan with calculations.
Cross sections and details to sufficiently clarify all construction.
Fireplace details or manufacturer’s installation instructions.
Stairway, handrail and guardrail details.
Size, opening and type of glass windows and skylights.
Location of electrical panels, switches, outlets and types of lights.
Plumbing fixtures.
Details of heating equipment (size, location and type of fuel).
Compliance with the California Energy Commission requirements (Energy
Calculations) CF-1R and MF-1R (from Energy Calculations) on plans and in
booklet form.
Fire sprinkler plans and calculations.
Any information necessary to describe the work and show that it will conform
to the provisions of the codes, ordinances, and regulations adopted by the City
of Sausalito.
Complete existing condition plan.
Specifications, Calculations, Reports, etc. (Minimum of 2 copies required)
Specifications, engineering calculations, Certified Accessibility Specialist (CASp) reports, soil investigation reports, special inspection and structural observation programs and other related data (as applicable)
The Southern Marin Fire Prevention District also maintains a fee schedule for fire prevention and fire protection services.
The fees for obtaining building permits are collected in two stages.
If work is started prior to the issuance of a Building Permit, an investigation fee is collected which is equal to the estimated Building Permit Fee. A penalty equal to twice the building permit may also be charged. An Administrative Citation may also be issued.
Concurrent Plan Check Procedure
Prior to submitting plans, Applicants are advised to:
Following submittal of the application forms, plans, permit documents, and fees to the Community Development Department.
Prior to Issuance
The following items must be satisfied prior to issuance of a Building Permit (some or all may apply to your project):
A sewer lateral video must be submitted for review by the Sewer Coordinator in
any of the following situations (See About Sewer Lateral Inspection for details)
Job Number (aka, J#) from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for
project involving:
Demolition of a structure load-bearing member;
Raising a structure to install a new foundation; or
Work involving a fire-damaged structure.
If construction activities may involve the release of asbestos, Applicants are advised to contact the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
Expiration of Permits
Permits expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized is not commenced within 180 days from the date of permit issuance, or if the work authorized is suspended or abandoned at any time for a period of 180 days after the work is commenced.
Building Permit Inspections
Inspection Requests can be made by calling the Inspection Line at (415) 289-4100, ext. 800
The request needs to contain the following information in order to be scheduled:
Preference for site inspection or virtual inspection
The desired day and date of the requested inspection
The permit number
The site address
Preference for AM or PM inspection (AM is 9AM to 12 noon; PM is 1PM to 4PM)
The type of inspection
A contact name and cell phone number
Inspection requests will be processed on a first come, first serve basis. If an inspection request needs to be altered due to the inspector’s schedule, or time constraints a phone call will be returned to the contact person. Otherwise, there will be no confirmation call returned and the inspection will be scheduled as requested.
Requests must be made by 4:00pm the day before inspection. Any inspections requested after 4:00pm will automatically be scheduled for the next inspection day.
Failed inspections or no-shows will be charged a re-inspection fee of $75.00.
For both in person and virtual inspections somebody must be onsite during the inspection with the job card and the approved set of plans.
Holds
Some permits may be issued with "Holds."
Holds are stipulated by different agencies and the holds must be met prior to various stages of construction.
Holds may be placed by the Planning Division, Building Division, Fire Prevention Officer, County Environmental Health Services, and the Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District.
A "Close-In Hold" means that the Building Division will not inspect the rough framing, plumbing, electrical, or mechanical component on a project until the requesting entity has released the hold.
It is the responsibility of the permit holder to be aware of all holds and to be sure that the holds are released prior to requested inspections.
Review by Outside Agencies
The Applicant is responsible for submitting plans to outside agencies (e.g., Southern Marin Fire Protection District, Marin Municipal Water District, County Environmental Health Services, Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District, Bay Conservation and Development Commission), which may require review and approval of the project.
Applicable Construction Codes
The California Building Standards Commission has adopted the following construction codes, which are effective in the City of Sausalito.
In addition, 2016 California Fire Code with local amendments adopted by Ordinance No. 1215 is effective in the City of Sausalito.
