The Application and Permit Center opened in August of 1990. Our purpose is to make permit processing easier for applicants. We do this by enhancing coordination of permitting services, presenting clear information and providing as many development-related services as possible in one office.

The Application and Permit Center processes over 10,000 permits per year and responds to over 150 calls for information every day. Making service coordination a priority reduces the telephone shuffle and the office-to-office shuffle that some applicants have experienced.

The service delivery team at the Center is made up of staff from Building Inspection, Community Development, Environmental Health and Public Works; a Receptionist, a Secretary, and a Customer Services Manager.

The Community Development counter staff take in applications for land entitlements such as applications for subdivisions, variances, and land use permits. They clear applications and plans for issuance of building permits and answer customer inquiries about land use history, zoning designations and General Plan land use designations.

The Public Works Permit Engineer issues permits for right-of-way encroachment, drainage, construction in high flood hazard areas, transportation of over-sized loads, and answers customer and staff questions about the role of Public Works in the development process.

The Environmental Health Representative recommends conditions of approval and works with building permit applicants toward satisfying the requirements of the Health Code.

The Building Inspection Representative takes in permit applications and checks for owner verifications, contractor licenses and Workers' Compensation Insurance. She issues minor permits. Applications requiring plan check are sent upstairs to the Building Inspection Department, where structural plan review takes place.

The Customer Services Manager is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the Center. As the Agency ombudsperson, the Customer Services Manager investigates complaints and proposes resolution strategies to both the complainant and to the departments within the Agency.

Staff from four different departments working together every day has resulted in a greater understanding of the effect that a single person's work has on the whole process. Staff at the Center have developed an appreciation for the difficulty each of us face in making the right decision for the County and for the difficulty the applicant faces when trying to complete a project within a tight timeframe and a restrictive budget.

With the help of customer and staff suggestions, the Application and Permit Center continues to bring a clearer understanding of the permit process to the applicant. Coordination of information systems, permit streamlining, cross-departmental staff meetings and meetings with representatives of the construction industry are examples of our continuing efforts to achieve efficiency, economy and clear communication of issues among those involved.

We are open continuously Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.  You may find answers to your questions by using The Index of Services and Programs link, but if you do not, please call us with your questions.