The Building Division protects the health, safety, and welfare of Cupertino’s residents, workers, and visitors by effectively administering and enforcing the city's building codes and ordinances. We provide plan reviews, issue permits, conduct field inspections, and offer public information services for new construction projects.
ALERT! NOTICE OF SERVICE CLOSURES
Holiday Schedule for Permit Center and City Hall Services
Permit Center:
The Permit Center will offer virtual services to members of the public on Monday, December 23rd, 2024.
City Hall Services:
In observance of the Winter Holiday, all City Hall services will be closed from Tuesday, December 24th, 2024, through Wednesday, January 1st, 2025. During this closure, the Virtual Permit Center will not accept permit submittals or inquiries. Submittals and inquiries will resume processing on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025. Normal operating schedule for counter services at the Permit Center will resume on Thursday, January 2nd, 2025.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Update to the all-electric construction requirements in new buildings. The adverse health and environmental impacts of natural gas in homes and other buildings continues to be a concern for the City. However, due to the recent Ninth Circuit’s decision, the Cupertino City Attorney and City Manager’s office have directed the Building Division to suspend the enforcement of Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 16.32 which required all-electric construction in new buildings. City staff will work to promptly bring an ordinance to the City Council for consideration that advances the City’s adopted policy of pursuing building electrification. More information on the 2022 Council-adopted Ordinance can be found under Cupertino Municipal Code Chapter 16.32.030.
OVER-THE-COUNTER PLAN REVIEW
Counter plan reviews are for small projects only. If plans are completed, a building permit can be issued the same day.
Building Division:
Over-the-counter plan reviews are available between 10am-12pm Monday through Thursday.
Fire Department:
Over-the-counter plan reviews are available between 11am-12pm Tuesday and Thursday.
2022 BUILDING CODE STANDARDS
Important Notice: The City of Cupertino has adopted the 2022 California Code of Regulations, Title 24 with certain amendments. These codes and amendments are effective on January 1, 2023. All projects submitted after January 1, 2023, must comply with the 2022 California Codes of Regulations and the City of Cupertino amendments. All projects under the 2019 California Codes of Regulations and amendments must be submitted prior to December 22, 2022.
The Current Codes adopted, as amended by the City of Cupertino, effective January 1, 2023, are:
- 2022 California Administrative Code
- 2022 California Building Code, Volumes 1 & 2
- 2022 California Residential Code
- 2022 California Electrical Code
- 2022 California Mechanical Code
- 2022 California Plumbing Code
- 2022 California Energy Code
- 2022 California Historical Building Code
- 2022 California Fire Code
- 2022 California Green Building Standards Code
- 2022 California Referenced Standards Code
The 2022 triennial edition of the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24 (California Building Standards Code) applies to all occupancies that applied for a building permit on or after January 1, 2023, and remains in effect until the effective date of the 2025 triennial edition.
The California Building Standards Commission website has information on where the codes can be purchased and Parts 6 and 11 can be downloaded for free. Please visit here for website links where other parts of the codes can be viewed online.
There are 12 parts to Title 24 and the applicable parts for most Building Division permit applications are listed below:
- Part 2: The 2022 California Building Code (CBC) is based on the 2021 IBC, but includes numerous State of California amendments.
- Part 2.5: The 2022 California Residential Code (CRC) is based on the 2021 IRC, but includes numerous State of California amendments and does not include the electrical, energy, mechanical, or, plumbing portions of the IRC, and instead parts 3 through 6 of Title 24 as listed below apply.
- Part 3: The 2022 California Electrical Code (CEC) is based on the 2020 NEC with State of California amendments.
- Part 4: The 2022 California Mechanical Code (CMC) is based on the 2021 UMC with State of California amendments.
- Part 5: The 2022 California Plumbing Code (CPC) is based on the 2021 UPC with State of California amendments.
- Part 6: The 2022 California Energy Code is currently based on the 2021 Building Energy Efficiency Standards, and please visit the California Energy Commission website where additional information can be found and Compliance manuals can be downloaded for free.
- Part 9: The 2022 California Fire Code (CFC) is based on the 2021 IFC with State of California amendments.
- Part 11: The 2022 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen Code) is known as the California Green Building Standards Code, and it is intended that it shall also be known as the CALGreen Code. Resources are available here.
This document tracks the History of Cupertino Code Adoptions(PDF, 217KB) .
2019 California Codes Significant Changes
NEW DISABILITY ACCESS NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Per state law, local agencies are required to provide the following notice(PDF, 121KB)(PDF, 121KB) to applicants for business licenses and commercial building permits regarding disability access laws.