Email the Right Plans, Clear Los Altos Review and Reach Final Inspection Without Guesswork
Los Altos does not accept hard-copy building-plan applications at City Hall. Most projects begin with a complete electronic package emailed to the Building Permits Division. eTRAKiT is then used for permit search, eligible simple permits, payment and every building-inspection request.
This guide separates the jobs that need Planning approval first, explains what must be inside the email, shows the current 2026–27 fee structure, and covers trees, ADUs, Fire, Engineering, green-building documents, corrections and closeout.
Choose the Los Altos Task You Need
Los Altos Permit Route Finder
Choose the project that most closely matches your work.
Los Altos Building Division Phone, Email, Address and Hours
City of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills or Santa Clara County?
City of Los Altos
Use this guide when the parcel is inside incorporated Los Altos and appears in the city GIS and eTRAKiT systems.
Town of Los Altos Hills
Los Altos Hills has a separate Building Department, eTRAKiT portal, address and inspection system.
Unincorporated county
Properties outside city boundaries use Santa Clara County Planning and Development for building or grading permits.
Email, eTRAKiT or Planning Application?
Task |
Correct starting route |
What to do |
|---|---|---|
New house, addition, major remodel or commercial project |
Email submission |
Email the completed application, plans and supplemental PDFs to bldpermit@losaltosca.gov. |
Eligible simple residential permit |
eTRAKiT |
Sign in and confirm that the exact permit type appears in Apply/New Permit. |
Residential reroof |
eTRAKiT eligible |
Contractors may use the online simple-permit workflow when the project qualifies. |
SolarAPP+ rooftop system |
SolarAPP+ + eTRAKiT |
Obtain SolarAPP+ approval, then enter the approval number and upload approved documents in eTRAKiT. |
New house or addition requiring design review |
Planning first |
Complete Planning approval and incorporate every condition into the building plans. |
Tree removal |
Planning application |
Obtain the required protected-tree approval before relying on the building-permit package. |
Inspection request |
eTRAKiT only |
Open the issued permit and schedule the exact inspection online. |
Engineering or Fire inspection |
Separate department |
Contact Engineering or Santa Clara County Fire directly; a building-inspection request does not schedule them. |
Which Los Altos Permit Path Fits Your Project?
Project |
Starting permit |
Important Los Altos dependency |
|---|---|---|
New single-family house |
Planning + building |
Single-family design review, trees, grading, Fire, utilities, CALGreen and Title 24 |
Residential addition or exterior alteration |
Design review may apply |
Neighborhood compatibility, setbacks, lot coverage, height and protected trees |
Kitchen or bathroom remodel |
Building and trades |
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, structural and energy scope |
Reroof |
Simple residential permit |
Contractor eTRAKiT registration and current roofing information |
Custom ADU |
ADU building permit |
ADU checklist, site-specific plans, utilities and protected-tree approval |
City permit-ready or pre-approved ADU |
Streamlined ADU route |
Designer authorization and site-specific adaptation remain required |
Solar photovoltaic system |
SolarAPP+ or standard solar |
Eligibility, active business license, equipment documents and electrical scope |
Commercial tenant improvement |
Planning + commercial building |
Use, accessibility, Fire, health, signage, grease control and business licensing |
Protected tree removal |
Tree Removal Permit |
Planning approval before removal; right-of-way trees use a different city process |
Driveway, sidewalk, utility or public-area work |
Engineering permit |
Encroachment, grading, drainage, sewer or transportation review |
Submit a Los Altos Building Permit in Six Clear Steps
Confirm jurisdiction and Planning requirements
Verify that the parcel is inside Los Altos. Check zoning, design review, historical status, trees, grading, drainage and Fire requirements before finalizing plans.
Download the exact application and checklist
Use the residential, commercial, ADU, demolition or project-specific submittal requirements from the current Forms and Handouts page.
Build one complete electronic package
Include the signed application, plan set and every supplemental calculation, report and checklist required for the scope.
Email the package to Building Permits
Send the complete electronic submission to bldpermit@losaltosca.gov. Hard-copy applications are not accepted.
Pay the plan-review invoice
Staff will send payment instructions after processing. The project is routed to the applicable departments after receipt and payment.
Respond to comments and wait for issuance
Submit a response letter and a complete revised plan set. Cloud and delta every change and use the same plan size and scale as the original.
What to Include Before Pressing Send
Core application files
- Completed permit application
- Clear project description
- Owner and applicant contacts
- Contractor license information
- Project valuation
- Planning approval reference
Plan and design files
- Cover and code sheet
- Site plan or survey
- Floor and roof plans
- Exterior elevations
- Building and wall sections
- Structural details
Supplemental files
- Structural calculations
- Title 24 calculations
- CALGreen checklist
- Geotechnical report
- Truss calculations
- Green-building documents
Name Documents So Reviewers Can Find Them
Initial submittal
- 01-Permit-Application.pdf
- 02-Architectural-Plans.pdf
- 03-Structural-Plans.pdf
- 04-Structural-Calculations.pdf
- 05-Title-24.pdf
- 06-CALGreen.pdf
Correction cycle
- Response-Letter-Cycle-1.pdf
- Revised-Plans-Cycle-1.pdf
- Revised-Calculations-Cycle-1.pdf
- Planning-Response-Cycle-1.pdf
Revision after issuance
- Revision-Form.pdf
- Revision-Narrative.pdf
- Revised-Sheets-Delta-1.pdf
- Supporting-Calculations.pdf
How Los Altos Building-Permit Fees Are Calculated
Minimum valuation
The city’s fee schedule lists a minimum construction valuation of $591.39 per square foot for residential and commercial construction.
This is a permit-fee valuation basis, not a contractor’s guaranteed construction price.
Building plan check
The published building plan-check charge is 135% of the building-permit fee.
Energy plan check
The published Title 24 energy plan-check charge is 25% of the building-permit fee.
Construction valuation |
FY 2026–27 building-permit calculation |
|---|---|
$1–$3,000 |
$251.87 |
$3,001–$25,000 |
$251.87 for the first $3,000 plus $32.49 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
$25,001–$50,000 |
$966.65 for the first $25,000 plus $33.46 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
$50,001–$100,000 |
$1,803.36 for the first $50,000 plus $18.19 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
$100,001–$500,000 |
$3,640.86 for the first $100,000 plus $7.95 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
$500,001–$1,000,000 |
$7,915.71 for the first $500,000 plus $12.92 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
More than $1,000,000 |
$14,970.27 for the first $1,000,000 plus $6.46 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
ADU building permit |
$0 city building-permit fee in the published schedule; other project costs and agency fees may remain |
Useful Published Los Altos Fees
Fee item |
FY 2026–27 amount |
Practical note |
|---|---|---|
Water-heater permit |
$157.28 |
Confirm whether electrical, gas or plumbing scope changes the route. |
Heat-pump HVAC permit |
$300 |
Equipment location and electrical capacity may require review. |
Water line or repipe |
$316.67 |
Building, plumbing or utility coordination may apply. |
Sewer or drain line |
$316.67 |
Engineering or sewer-agency fees can be separate. |
EV charging station |
$314.57 |
Confirm panel and electrical-service capacity. |
Energy-storage system |
$419.43 |
Fire and electrical requirements may apply. |
Single-family demolition permit |
$244.31 |
Separate demolition and debris requirements remain. |
Commercial/multifamily demolition |
$373.29 |
Hazardous materials, Fire and waste-diversion requirements may apply. |
Reinspection |
$260.04 |
Avoid requesting before the work and corrections are ready. |
Certificate of Occupancy |
$114.29 |
Issued only after required final approvals. |
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy |
$684.72 |
Requires city approval and life-safety readiness. |
Revision review |
$310.38 per hour |
Coordinate changes before submitting repeated revisions. |
Do Not Budget Only the Base Permit Fee
Construction tax
Single-family: $0.42 per square foot.
Commercial/multifamily: $0.70 per square foot.
General Plan fee
7% of the building-permit fee.
Technology fee
5% of the building-permit fee.
State seismic fee
Calculated from valuation using the residential or commercial SMIP rate.
Check the Permit Expiration Date Before It Becomes Expensive
Time after expiration |
Published penalty |
Next action |
|---|---|---|
0–30 days |
$0 daily penalty |
Contact the Building Division immediately about renewal and required inspections. |
31–60 days |
$205 per day |
Stop relying on the expired permit and obtain current instructions. |
61–120 days |
$410 per day |
Request a written fee and reactivation explanation before scheduling work. |
121 days and later |
$820 per day |
Expect significant renewal or reapplication consequences. |
2025 California Building Codes Apply in Los Altos
California codes
The city adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments effective January 1, 2026.
Energy and green building
Plans must address the 2025 California Energy Code and applicable 2025 CALGreen mandatory measures.
Property maintenance
The city’s 2025 adoption ordinance also references the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code.
Schedule Every Building Inspection Through eTRAKiT
Scheduling method
All building inspections must be requested online through eTRAKiT.
Morning window
8:30 AM–12:00 PM.
Afternoon window
12:30 PM–3:30 PM.
Inspector assignment
Check the city’s daily inspection schedule online.
Have on the job site
- Issued permit documents
- Job copy of approved plans
- Approved calculations
- Previous correction notices
- Inspection card or record
- Safe access instructions
Prepare the work
- Correct stage is complete
- Work remains exposed
- Previous corrections are fixed
- Required tests are ready
- Ladders and access are safe
- Approved plan changes are onsite
Building, Engineering and Fire Inspections Are Not the Same Request
Inspection |
How to schedule |
Common trigger |
|---|---|---|
Building inspection |
eTRAKiT |
Foundation, framing, trades, insulation and building final |
Engineering/stormwater |
Call 650-947-2780 |
Onsite grading, drainage, public improvements or encroachment work |
Fire inspection |
Call Santa Clara County Fire Prevention at 408-378-4010 |
Fire sprinklers, alarms, commercial life safety or Fire conditions |
Work Only During Los Altos Construction Hours
Residential construction
Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM–5:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Commercial construction
Monday–Friday: 7:00 AM–7:00 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
What the eTRAKiT Result Means
Design Review Can Be the Real First Permit
Single-family projects
Exterior alterations, additions and new construction in single-family districts are subject to the city’s design-review requirements.
Commercial and multifamily
Exterior alterations, additions and new construction in non-single-family districts require design approval before building-permit issuance.
Planning submittals
Planning applications are electronic. Physical Planning Division submittals are not accepted.
Resolve Tree Removal Before It Stops the Building Application
Private protected tree
A Tree Removal Permit is required before removing a protected tree on private property.
City right-of-way tree
Trees in the public right-of-way use a separate no-fee permit through the city’s Maintenance Division.
Building project coordination
Show protected trees, protection fencing and removal approvals consistently on the site, grading and landscape plans.
Tree-related fee |
FY 2026–27 amount |
|---|---|
First tree |
$314.57 |
Each additional tree |
$157.28 |
Verified invasive species |
$0 |
In-lieu tree replacement |
$1,258.29 |
Consulting arborist |
Actual cost |
Choose the Right Los Altos ADU Route
Custom ADU
Submit the general ADU checklist and site-specific architectural, structural and utility documents by email to the Building Division.
City permit-ready ADU
Use the city’s listed design and submit the required site-specific adaptation documents and liability form.
Pre-approved ADU
Contract with the plan designer, then add the property-specific information needed for building approval.
Track Construction and Demolition Waste Before Final Inspection
Covered projects
Los Altos requires construction-and-demolition diversion for demolition permits and building permits valued at $25,000 or more.
Minimum diversion
The city states that covered projects must achieve at least 65% diversion.
Final closeout
Track disposal and recycling throughout construction instead of attempting to recreate records at final inspection.
A Building Permit Alone Does Not Authorize a Business to Open
Zoning approval
Confirm the proposed business use and any parking, design or use-permit requirements.
Building permit
Complete structural, accessibility, electrical, plumbing and mechanical improvements.
Fire and health
Complete Santa Clara County Fire and County Environmental Health reviews when applicable.
Business license
Complete Los Altos business registration and zoning approval before operating.
Search Los Altos eTRAKiT Records
Open the public eTRAKiT dashboard
Public users can search permit and project information without relying on a contractor login.
Search the permit number first
Use the exact number when available. Otherwise, try the base street address with fewer optional fields.
Review more than the status label
Check fees, inspections, permit type, issue date, expiration information and related records.
Confirm final completion
An application or issued permit does not prove that the project passed final inspection or received occupancy approval.
Fix Common Los Altos Permit Problems
Problem |
Likely cause |
Best next action |
|---|---|---|
No intake confirmation |
Large attachment, wrong email, incomplete form or processing queue |
Verify the sent package, attachment size and receipt after the city’s stated intake period. |
Application is incomplete |
Missing checklist, signature, calculation, report or Planning approval |
Use the exact project checklist and resend one complete package. |
Planning approval missing |
Exterior residential or commercial work requires design review |
Contact Planning before continuing the building review. |
Tree conflict discovered |
Protected tree or roots are affected by construction |
Pause site work and obtain Planning or right-of-way tree instructions. |
Correction cycle repeats |
Response letter and revised drawings do not match |
Answer each comment by number and identify the exact revised sheet. |
Inspection refused |
Approved permit documents are not onsite |
Print the issued permit, approved plans and related documents before rescheduling. |
Engineering final remains open |
Grading, drainage or right-of-way work used a separate inspection process |
Call Engineering at 650-947-2780. |
Permit expired |
Required activity or renewal was not completed |
Contact the Building Division immediately because daily penalties escalate after 30 days. |
What to Say When You Contact Los Altos
“I am planning [exact work] at [address]. Does this require Planning approval before the building application, and should the permit be submitted by email or through eTRAKiT?”
“I emailed the permit package for [address] on [date]. The message contained [number] PDF files. Can you confirm whether it was accepted for processing or is missing an item?”
“Permit [number] has comments from [departments]. Which comments are still open, and should the response be sent as a complete plan set or only revised sheets?”
“Permit [number] has passed [listed inspections]. Which Building, Planning, Fire, Engineering or trade final remains before closeout?”
Do Not Finish Until Every Los Altos Approval Is Complete
- City jurisdiction confirmed
- Zoning district checked
- Planning approval completed
- Protected-tree approval completed
- Correct permit application used
- Complete electronic plans submitted
- Title 24 documents accepted
- CALGreen documents accepted
- Plan-review fees paid
- Permit formally issued
- Issued documents printed onsite
- Building inspections passed
- Engineering inspections passed
- Fire inspections passed
- Trade permits finalized
- CO, TCO or final record saved
Los Altos Development Services Location
Open the Correct Los Altos Permit Resource
Los Altos Building Permit FAQs
Where do I submit a Los Altos building-permit application?
Email the completed application, plans and supplemental documents to bldpermit@losaltosca.gov. The city does not accept hard-copy plan applications at City Hall.
What is eTRAKiT used for in Los Altos?
eTRAKiT is used for public permit searches, eligible simple residential permit applications, online payments, SolarAPP+ processing and all building-inspection requests.
How long does initial permit intake take?
Current Los Altos pages indicate approximately two to five business days for processing or verification of completeness. Plan review begins after the submission is accepted and required fees are paid.
How do I schedule a Los Altos building inspection?
Open the issued permit in eTRAKiT and request the correct inspection online. Morning inspections are generally between 8:30 AM and noon, and afternoon inspections are generally between 12:30 PM and 3:30 PM.
What are Los Altos Building Division office hours?
The Building Division public-service counter is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at 1 North San Antonio Road.
How are Los Altos building-permit fees calculated?
The base permit fee is valuation based. The FY 2026–27 schedule lists a $591.39-per-square-foot minimum valuation basis, a building plan-check fee equal to 135% of the permit fee, and a Title 24 plan-check fee equal to 25% of the permit fee.
Which construction codes apply in Los Altos in 2026?
The city adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments effective January 1, 2026. The current cycle includes the 2025 California Energy and CALGreen requirements.
Do residential additions need Planning approval?
Exterior alterations, additions and new construction in single-family districts are subject to Los Altos design-review requirements. Confirm Planning approval before submitting the building package.
Do I need approval to remove a tree?
Protected trees on private property require a Tree Removal Permit. Trees in the public right-of-way use a separate city Maintenance Division permit. Resolve tree requirements before demolition or site work.
How do I know whether the property is in Los Altos or Los Altos Hills?
Use the Los Altos Public GIS Viewer and Santa Clara County jurisdiction tools. The City of Los Altos, Town of Los Altos Hills and unincorporated Santa Clara County operate separate permit systems.
Official Information Used for This Guide
Building-Department.org is an independent informational guide and is not the City of Los Altos.
This page was checked against the Los Altos Building Division, electronic Permit Submittal Process, eTRAKiT, Building Inspections, FY 2026–27 fee schedule, Planning Division, Public GIS, ADU, Tree Removal, Green Building and Business Permit resources.
Last reviewed: July 22, 2026.
Forms, fee calculations, codes, staff, processing procedures and inspection schedules can change. Confirm time-sensitive information before submitting, paying or starting construction.
Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
Professional profile: View LinkedIn Profile
Check Permit Type, Estimate Fees, Prepare Inspections and Find Official Building Department Links
Use this free tool before applying for a building permit, booking an inspection, checking zoning rules, or searching permit records. It helps homeowners, contractors, landlords, buyers, and business owners understand the next step before visiting the official building department portal.
What building department task do you need help with?
Choose your goal. The tool will suggest the right next step, what to prepare, and which official page to check.
Before starting work, check whether your project needs building, zoning, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, right-of-way, or HOA approval.
Many portals require contractor registration, license details, insurance, plans, owner authorization, and inspection scheduling access.
Building Permit Type Finder
Select the project type to understand which permits or reviews are commonly required. Always confirm with the official local building department.
Permit Fee Estimate Calculator
Estimate a rough permit fee using project value and common percentage-based review assumptions. Local minimum fees, technology fees, impact fees, reinspection fees, and trade fees can change the final amount.
Inspection Readiness Checklist
Use this before scheduling framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, final, or certificate-related inspections.
Zoning and Setback Pre-check
Use this before applying for a permit when your project may affect land use, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, signs, fences, accessory structures, or business use.
Plan Review Timeline Estimator
Estimate how complex your review may be. Local staffing, incomplete plans, corrections, holidays, fire review, zoning review, and outside agency review can change timing.
Permit Records Search Helper
Use this if you are trying to find old permits, inspection history, certificate of occupancy details, open permits, or code-related records.
Official Building Department Resource Finder
Enter city/county and state to create safe searches for official permit portals, inspection scheduling, building codes, zoning maps, forms, fees, and contact pages.
Building Department vs Planning/Zoning
- Building Department: permits, plan review, inspections, code compliance, certificates.
- Planning/Zoning: land use, setbacks, height, lot coverage, signs, parking, variances.
Best sitewide placement
Place this tool after the first main guide section or before FAQs. It turns a normal article into a practical permit-preparation page.
Important note
This tool gives educational guidance only. Final permit requirements, fees, inspections, forms, and deadlines must be confirmed with the official local building department.