City of Millbrae’s Building Permit FAQ

Press release from the City of Millbrae:

September 24, 2020

The City of Millbrae Building Division issues building permits for a variety of construction and remodeling projects such as building a new structure on your property, making changes to your plumbing lines, adding electrical subpanels, and installing a new heater / air conditioner.

Specifically, a building permit is required anytime a building or structure, or any electrical, plumbing, or mechanical system, is constructed, repaired or altered.

This FAQ serves as a guide to help people better understand the City of Millbrae’s building permit process and how to apply for one.

What do I need a building permit for?

Property owners wishing to build upon or remodel existing structures any property within the City of Millbrae must acquire a building permit from the City’s Building Division.

When is a building permit NOT required?

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.
• Residential wood fences not over 7 feet in height.
• 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.
• Replacement of existing sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over any basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar finish work.
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery.
• Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.
• Window awnings of Group R-3 and U occupancies supported by an exterior wall, do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall, and do not require additional support.
• Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet - 9 inches in height.

When is an electrical permit NOT required?

An Electrical Permit shall not be required for the following:

1. Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when the Electrical Code permits that cord or cable.
2. Repair or replacement of motors, transformers, and controls within fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.
3. Temporary decorative lighting.
4. Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, contactor, or control device.
5. Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets, therefore.
6. Replacement of any overcurrent device less than 1200 amps of the same capacity in the same location.
7. Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems.
8. Taping joints.
9. Removal of electrical wiring.
10. Temporary wiring for experimental purposed in suitable experimental laboratories.
11. The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets.
12. Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus, or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.
13. Low-energy power, control, and signal circuits of class II and III as defined in the Electrical Code.

When is a mechanical permit NOT required?

A Mechanical Permit shall not be required for the following excepting that a permit is required for vertical and structural support and anchoring of permanent equipment and overhead pipes:

1. Any portable heating appliance.
2. Any portable ventilating equipment.
3. Any portable cooling unit.
4. Any portable evaporative cooler.
5. Any closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by the Mechanical Code.
6. Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance, which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the technical codes.

When is a plumbing permit not required?

A plumbing permit shall not be required for the following:

1. The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipes, provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in this title.
2. The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, nor for the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

Since City Hall is closed due to COVID-19, how do I apply for a building permit?

To apply for a building permit, please visit https://millbrae.ca.eprocess360.com/login/link/dashboard. New applicants must first register before submitting their application. Applying for a building permit may require a project plan and other construction documents to be submitted. Project plans must be submitted in PDF format.

What is a project plan?

A project plan includes an architectural floor plan and an itemized list of work to be completed. Specific projects have different needs, so please contact the Building Division at (650) 259-2330 to find out what specific documentation is needed for your permit application to be approved.

How much does a permit cost?

To get an estimate of your project permit cost, please check the City of Millbrae’s Fee Schedule at https://www.ci.millbrae.ca.us/home/showdocument?id=23199. There are additional fees for school districts, encroachment permits, and sewer and water connection fees. These are not included in the 2-3% building permit fee.

The plan check fee is due at the time of plan submittal. Building permit fees are due at the time of permit issuance. The City accepts payments with debit and credit cards.

What is included in the project valuation?

The project valuation is the fair market cost for the project including all labor, fixtures, appliances, flooring, finishes, etc. In total, it is the cost for everything that is part of the project regardless if the owner or the contractor provided it. An itemized list of all costs may be required for the City to verify project construction valuations.

How long does it take to get a permit?

If your project does not require prepared plans, you typically will be issued a permit that same day. Such types of “over-the-counter” permits are: re-roofs, electrical service upgrades, furnace & water heater replacement, and window replacements.

If your project requires plans to be prepared and submitted, it may take up to 20 business days for the first review to be completed. If your plans need corrections, it may take 7-10 additional business days for the second review to be completed once corrected drawings are resubmitted. Certain smaller project such as simple bath or kitchen remodels may be reviewed at the counter, depending upon staff availability.

During the plan check process, Building Division staff will route your plans to other City departments for their review and comments. Once the plan check is completed, you will receive a written letter containing the corrections or additional information that need to be changed or added to the plans. This will usually take up to 14 business days from submittal.

What do I do after my building permit has been approved?

After your building permit has been approved, please print your permit and keep it for your records. After your work is complete, you will need to call and request a building inspection to ensure your work complies with all application California and local building codes. At the time of the inspection, you will need to show the building inspector your building permit. To request a building inspection, please call (650) 259-2330, Monday - Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon.

This press release was produced by the City of Millbrae. The views expressed here are the author’s own.