Contra Costa County plan check and resubmittal guide

What we could verify about Contra Costa County’s permit office from government and permit portal pages, what California law says about plan check there, and how to answer a correction letter. Each fact links to its source.

Contra Costa County permit office

• ePermits Center (Accela Citizen Access)
• Building department page

Links and facts checked on October 31, 2026.

Codes its letters cite

Building code named on the city’s pages: 2025 California Building Standard Codes.

Source: ceqanet.lci.ca.gov

Local amendments to the building code

Filed local amendments with the California Building Standards Commission (ordinance 2025-19).

Source: dgs.ca.gov

Sections Contra Costa County changes from the state code (summaries in our words; read the ordinance for the exact text):

• CBC 103: Section deleted from Chapter 1 administration.
• CBC 113: Section deleted from Chapter 1 administration.
• CBC 105.2: Amended; see the ordinance
• CBC 107.2.1: Construction documents must include dimensions and be drawn to scale; references allowed instead of detailed specifications.
• CBC 110.1: Adds requirement for licensed surveyor or civil engineer certifying placement at first inspection, with alteration exception.
• CBC 907.2.11.2.5.1: Requires smoke detector in existing flat roof buildings when pitched roof added over unremoved solid sheathing.
• CBC 1405.2: Wood shakes or shingles used for exterior wall covering must be fire treated.
• CBC 1705.3: Amended; see the ordinance
• CBC 1809.8: Plain concrete footings section deleted.
• CBC 1810.3.9.3: Deletes Exception 3 to reinforcement placement requirements.
• CBC 1905.6.2: Structural plain concrete prohibited in Seismic Design Categories C through F, with listed exceptions.
• CBC 1906: Footings for light-frame construction section deleted.

The ordinance amends more sections than these.

The amendments: contra-costa.legistar.com

Contra Costa County and California

Guides for places in Contra Costa County:

• City of Martinez
• Town of Moraga
• City of Oakley
• City of Orinda
• City of Pinole

California rules every plan check here follows

These come from California law and state agencies, so they apply in Contra Costa County as well. Each links to its source.

Building code in force

The 2025 edition of Title 24, the California Building Standards Code, has been in effect since January 1, 2026.

Source: California Building Standards Commission, checked October 31, 2026

Energy code

If your permit application was filed on or after January 1, 2026, the project has to meet the 2025 Energy Code.

Source: California Energy Commission, checked October 31, 2026

Energy forms with the application

A building permit application covered by the energy code (Part 6) must include at least one copy of the required energy compliance documents.

Source: California Energy Commission, 2025 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, checked October 31, 2026

Green building code (CALGreen)

The 2025 edition of CALGreen, the state green building code (Part 11), took effect on January 1, 2026.

Source: California Building Standards Commission, checked October 31, 2026

ADU decision deadline

If the city or county has not approved or denied a complete application for an ADU or junior ADU within 60 days, the application is treated as approved (Gov. Code § 66317).

Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook, checked October 31, 2026

ADU denials must explain the fix

When a city or county denies an ADU or junior ADU application, it must send written comments within 60 days that list each problem and explain how you can correct it.

Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, ADU Handbook, checked October 31, 2026

Building permits for approved housing projects

For housing projects that already have planning approval, the city or county has 15 business days to say whether a building permit application is complete, then 30 or 60 days, depending on how many units are proposed, to decide whether it meets the standards.

Source: California Department of Housing and Community Development, Housing Law Fact Sheets, checked October 31, 2026

What a good response to plan check corrections has

General guidance, not Contra Costa County’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.

• Answer every comment, in the reviewer’s order and numbering, so nothing is missed.
• Say plainly what you changed for each comment, or why no change is needed.
• Name the sheet and detail where each change is, so the reviewer can find it fast.
• Mark changes on the drawings (clouds or deltas are common) and keep sheet numbers the same.
• Send the response letter, the revised drawings and any new calculations together.

Other California city guides

• City of Brentwood
• City of Clayton
• City of Concord
• Town of Danville
• City of El Cerrito

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