Permit Services

Applying for a Building Permit

All building permit applications require the completion of an application form and submission of required information. The applications and plans, together with the plan check fee, should be submitted to the Building Department for plan check and to the Planning Department for a review of land use and development requirements.

Information regarding the land use and development requirements may be obtained from the Planning Department. In order to assist the Planning Department staff in locating the site, please provide the Assessor's Parcel Number, maps or plot plans showing the exact site location, property address, and name of the nearest cross street. Depending on the type of work proposed, normally required is submittal of construction plans. The Building Department as well as other departments such as Planning and the Ross Valley Fire Department (RVFD) performs a mandatory code compliance plan check for all submitted plans. Upon the approval of the plans by all departments, a building permit can be issued.

Plan Review

Building Permit Plan Check services are currently provided by both the Town of Ross Planning and Building Department and by CSG, Inc. Building Permit Plan Check services include performing residential and other plan checks for structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, Title-24 energy, Title-24 disabled access, and pertinent municipal code and state regulations governing the design and construction of buildings and other structures.

Submittal requirements
Architectural and Structural (A&S) drawings and Building permit checklists have been created to assist those seeking to submit building permit plans.

Forms, checklists, permits and applications, reports (available for download below)

• Architectural and Structural (A&S) drawings checklist
• Building permit checklist
• Residential building permit report

Over the counter permits

• Furnace replacement
• Reroofing
• Water heaters

Permit exemptions, permit not required
No building permit is required for the following work:

• One story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.
• Side fences and rear yard fences not over 6 feet high as long as they are not facing the street.
• Fences on street sides not over 4 feet high.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall unless supporting a surcharge.
• Painting, papering and similar finish work, unless it is part of a project that requires a permit. Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

Work without a permit will be red-tagged and a penalty will apply.

Time to get a permit
Generally it takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks.

Outside Agency plan check list
It is the applicant's responsibility to obtain permits or approvals from the following organizations where the proposed work requires the review and approval by, or payment of fees to, the organizations listed below. Permits will not be issued until the required approvals are obtained:

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD)
Marin County Environmental Health Services (MCEHS)
Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD)
PG&E energy efficiency
Ross Valley Fire Department (RVFD)
Ross Valley Sanitary District (RVSD)

Construction hours

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Construction is not permitted at any time on Saturday and Sunday or the following holidays:

Christmas Day
Independence Day
Juneteenth Day
Labor Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Memorial Day
New Year's Day
Presidents Day
Thanksgiving Day
Veterans Day

Exceptions (*)

• Work done solely in the interior of a building or structure, the performance of which does not create any noise audible from the exterior of the building or structure; or
• Work actually physically performed solely by the owner of the property, on Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m; and not at any time on Sundays or the holidays listed above.
• These rules do not apply if there is an active building permit on site.

(*) Some work may require Planning review process. Clear with the Planning Department.

Inspections

Inspections are provided by the Town's full time Senior Building Inspector Eric Robbe.  Inspections are Monday thru Thursday in the mornings only. To schedule an inspection, telephone the Building Department at 415.453.1453 x170.

Resale Inspections

Residents are required to complete a Resale Inspection Application Form to schedule a resale inspection prior to listing any residential building for sale or exchange. The inspection will encompass all of the information listed on the Report of Residential Building Record. The report is valid for up to 6 months and may be extended for an additional 6 month per Ross Municipal Code (RMC) 15.32. The report should be disclosed to property purchasers. Reference the municipal fee schedule for fees.

Resources

• California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)
• Contractors State Licensing Board (CSLB)
• International Code Council (ICC)

Time limits for construction
Construction must be completed between 12  and 20 months contingent on the project valuation per the Town's Time Limits for Completion of Construction regulations per Chapter 15.50 of the Ross Municipal Code as show in the table below.