Kitchen and Bathroom Remodel Permits in South Bay and Peninsula Cities: How the Rules Differ
Each city runs its own building department, and the same remodel can take different paths. Moving a sink within a kitchen makes it a major remodel in San José, while Palo Alto’s instant permit can still apply if a licensed contractor applies and the walls, windows, doors, and structure stay as they are. Replacing lower cabinets needs no building permit in San José, but it does in Santa Clara.
This guide compares rules we confirmed on each city’s own website in November 2026. Details change, so confirm your project with the city that issues your permit.
When is no building permit needed?
- San José: cosmetic work, including painting, floor finishes, countertop replacement, and cabinet refacing or replacement
- Cupertino: a permit is required for all kitchen, bath, and laundry remodels unless the scope is only installing cabinets, replacing countertops, or both
- Sunnyvale: no permit for only replacing a kitchen countertop or only refacing existing cabinets, with no electrical work
- Santa Clara: no building permit for refacing existing cabinets, but one is required if lower cabinets, or more than 32 square feet of wall or ceiling finishes, are removed and replaced
Which cities have a faster path?
- San José: an online minor remodel permit when fixtures stay in the same places and no walls, windows, or framing change, and Over-the-Counter service for qualifying plans
- Palo Alto: an instant permit with no staff review, for licensed contractors only, on single-family, ADU, or duplex remodels within the existing footprint; fixtures can change placement, but it excludes added fixtures, changes to walls, windows, doors, or structure, and panel or subpanel upgrades
- Fremont: an express like-for-like kitchen and bath permit, issued automatically online, when no wall is removed or altered
- Los Gatos: an express check for residential kitchen and bathroom remodels that are non-structural
- Redwood City: One Stop plan review for residential interior remodels; it excludes changes of occupancy
Where does a remodel start with a pre-application or completeness review?
- Los Gatos: register on the Town portal and start with a building pre-application, a preliminary review of the permit
- Menlo Park: additions and alterations that need multiple plan reviews go through a Building Pre-Application
- Palo Alto: projects that change walls, windows, doors, or structure go through its Pre-Application Process
- Mountain View: the City says a completeness review of an additions and remodels application takes 3 weeks, and each further round takes another 3
How do you apply?
- San José: SJPermits.org for applications and SJePlans for uploaded plans
- Saratoga: the entire permit process is electronic, and inspections are scheduled through eTRAKiT
- Half Moon Bay: the whole permit process runs through Cloudpermit, and residential remodels pay a plan check fee
- Campbell: applications go through MyGovernmentOnline, and the City publishes a single-family remodel application guide
What extra paperwork can a city ask for?
- Palo Alto: a residential load calculation and equipment specifications to apply, then an SB 407 form and a smoke and carbon monoxide alarm self-certification before the final inspection
- Sunnyvale: a photo of all four kitchen walls, available at the first inspection
- Santa Clara: a Plumbing Fixtures Certificate of Compliance
- Cupertino: floor plans showing walls, windows, doors, cabinets, and adjacent rooms, plus energy documentation; existing plumbing fixtures may need replacing under SB 407
- San José: a completed smoke and carbon monoxide alarm affidavit for a minor remodel
Who can apply?
It differs here too. Palo Alto’s instant permit is only for licensed contractors. Los Gatos issues permits to the property owner or a properly licensed contractor. San José strongly recommends that a licensed contractor sign, because whoever signs is responsible for all activity under the permit. Our guide on choosing a contractor shows how to check a license.
What if the house is in an unincorporated pocket?
Then the city’s rules may not apply at all. Some neighborhoods surrounded by San José are unincorporated county land, and building permits there come from the County of Santa Clara. You can look up a property’s jurisdiction in the County’s Property Explorer. Our San José permit guide explains more.
Where has Landford Construction worked?
These are completed projects in cities on this list. Each service area page also has local permit notes.
- Palo Alto: a master bathroom, a kitchen, and a garage gym
- Cupertino: a kitchen and a garage
- Los Gatos: a kitchen with a patterned backsplash and two commercial renovations
- Campbell: a shower expansion
- Saratoga: a bathroom
- Menlo Park: a kitchen
- Half Moon Bay: a bathroom
- San Jose: kitchen and bathroom remodels
How Landford Construction handles permits
Landford Construction applies for the permits your kitchen or bathroom remodel needs, manages them, and schedules the inspections. You pay only the city’s permit fee, which isn’t part of the contract price.
Send photos of your space with your city and what you want to change, and Adam responds within one business day.
The bottom line
Don’t carry one city’s rule into another. Start with the city that issues your permit, and settle the scope before you apply.
Official resources
This guide summarizes official city and town pages as of November 2026. It is not a complete list of requirements, and rules change. Confirm your project with the agency that has jurisdiction over the property.
About the author
Adam Tamerlan Yagibekov owns Landford Construction, Inc., a licensed general building contractor based in San Jose, California (CSLB #1160801). With 9 years in construction and remodeling, Adam prepares each estimate and stays the client’s point of contact through the whole project.
See what this looks like in practice.
- Natural Wood Cabinetry & Island Cooktop — Palo Alto
- Shower, Bathtub & Double Vanity — Palo Alto
- White Cabinetry, Stone Surfaces & Wood Accents — Cupertino
- Light Wood Cabinetry & Marble-Look Surfaces — Menlo Park
Explore the construction scope and completed Landford projects for your type of remodel.
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