Frequently Asked Questions

Construction hours are limited by the noise ordinance (ORD 1011) to 7-30 AM - 6:00 PM excluding Sundays and legal holidays. For more information see Chapter 9.32 of the Healdsburg Municipal Code.

The Residential Plan Submittal Requirements can be found by following the link.

The Non-Residential Plan Submittal Requirements can be found by following the link.

Per California Building Code Chapter 1 and Chapter 15 of the Healdsburg Municipal Code some work can be done without a Building Permit, please see the brochure for more information.

Building permit inspections may be scheduled by calling the Building Department at 707/431-3348 during office hours. You will be greeted by a staff member who will schedule your inspection for the next day or up to one week in advance (no same day inspections). As the schedule allows you will be given a choice between early morning, late morning or afternoon.

Code Enforcement is handled through the Healdsburg Police Department, the link to their webpage can be found below.

Building Department staff cannot make such recommendations. However, there are many well qualified and reputable local builders and designers. Ask the builder or designer for several references and ask to see samples of previous work. Also check online at: Department of Consumers Affairs Contractors State License Board http://www.cslb.ca.gov/ Better Business Bureau http://www.bbb.org/greater-san-francisco/

Requests for refunds must be made in writing by the owner or the owner’s authorized agent and include a statement requesting that the application or permit be cancel or withdraw. California Building Code Section 109.6 authorizes the Building Official to establish a refund policy. The Building Official authorizes refunding not more than 80 percent of the plan review fee paid when an application is withdrawn or cancelled before any plan review is performed. The Building Official authorizes refunding not more than 80 percent of the; building, plumbing, electrical, and/or mechanical permit fee paid when no work has been performed under the permit.

Building permits which require plan review are given an initial three-week review time period, after which the project will either be approved or comments from the City will be sent out to the applicant for required changes to the construction documents. If a resubmittal is required, the turnaround time for the 2nd review is reduced to two-weeks. If you have questions regarding what stage of plan review your permit is at, please contact the Building Department for (707)431-3346.

If you want to build a fence over seven feet tall the Building Department requires a permit. The Planning Division administers the Healdsburg Land Use Code and has several additional restrictions on the location and height of fences. If you have questions and need additional information please contact the Planning Department at (707)431-3346.

A permit is active for a maximum of three years so long as the completion of the construction project is pursued in good faith. Additionally in order to keep the permit active, a periodic inspection not more than 180 days apart must be requested and a successful conclusion of an inspection category must be established (such as foundation, rough plumbing, insulation, etc.) . If within a period of 180 days after permit issuance, no inspection is satisfactorily completed or that work is suspended/ abandoned after work is commenced, the permit automatically expires and work cannot commence until the permit is reestablished. One extension of time for a period of 180 days may be granted on an active permit when written request is made to the Building Official and justifiable cause for the extension is demonstrated. Additional permit fees will be assessed to renew or reactive a permit after expiration.

The letter is a courtesy notice to remind you that your permit will expire because the 180 day time limit from the date of issuance, or date of your last successful inspection, is getting near. Follow the instructions on the letter to obtain an inspection, or request an extension if you are not ready for an inspection. Contact us at 707-431-3346 if you believe that you received the letter in error. We may need a copy of your Job Card so the inspection history can be confirmed and the issue resolved.

You can write the Building Official to request a onetime extension. You need to provide your permit number, name, address and phone number. Justifiable cause must be demonstrated in order for an extension request to be granted. You can send your request by email, mail, or drop off at the Building Division.

The Wildland Urban Interface fire areas (also referred to as WUI zones) are specific areas within the City of Healdsburg being identified as High and Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones, based on the requirements of the Wildland Urban Interface code adopted by the State of California. All new construction that is located in the WUI zone must be built using ignition resistant materials and methods in accordance with CBC 7A and/or CRC R337.

With few exceptions, all new construction requires the installation of automatic fire sprinklers. Administration of the fire sprinkler regulations are through the Healdsburg Fire Department. Please contact a Fire Prevention Officer at 707-431-3357 with questions. The threshold for additions and remodel projects with regard to when fire sprinklers will need to be included in your project differ between single family/duplex dwellings (R-3) and all other types of buildings or structures. The following definitions identify the thresholds: SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION. All existing buildings or structures not classified as Group R-3 occupancy, any addition of floor area that is greater than twenty-five percent (25%) of the existing gross floor area. SUBSTANTIAL ADDITION, Group R-3. In all existing Group R-3 buildings or structures, any addition of floor area that exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the existing gross floor area. SUBSTANTIAL REMODEL. In all existing buildings or structures, any alteration of floor area that is greater than fifty percent (50%) of the existing gross floor area or meets the definition of a substantial improvement as defined by the 2016 California Building Code. ALTERATION OF FLOOR AREA. For the purpose of this definition, the following criteria shall be considered in determining the percentage of “alteration of floor area.” The 50% referred to under “Substantial Remodel” applies to the entire building’s gross floor area in plan view. The entire room or space where the remodel is taking place will be considered in the calculation, either alone or in combination with any of the following: a. Removing wall finishes and exposing framing of; • Interior wall (where finishes are removed from one side only the room or space to which the framing is exposed will be included in the calculation). • Perimeter exterior wall (one or both sides). b. New wall construction, removing, or repositioning, either interior or perimeter exterior walls, the rooms or spaces on both sides of the wall will be included in the calculation. c. Removal of the ceiling in any room or space to expose rafters trusses, beams, purlins, or floor joists. The floor joists must be within a floor/ceiling assembly. d. Removal of the roof structure (only rooms or spaces that are directly below the removed roof structure will be included in the calculation). e. Other alterations considered substantial by the Fire Code Official (see DSA-AC definition of “Alteration” in the 2016 California Building Code). f. In the non-residential portion of multi-tenant buildings, individual tenant space improvements in which the space is reduced to a “shell” condition, shall require that the future tenant improvement comply with these fire sprinkler requirements. Items g, h, and i, are not to be included in the alteration of floor area calculation: g. Partial removal of wall finishes necessary for repair due to flooding. h. Removal of floor finishes which exposes floor framing and/or the removal of concrete slab, unless part of a floor/ceiling assembly. i. Relocating plumbing fixtures in bathrooms and/or kitchen.

Healdsburg has amended the Building Code to require that “Class A” fire resistive roof covering must be used when reroofing or on new buildings. Reroof inspections can be scheduled for “next day” and two inspections are typically required, roof tear-off/deck-nail and reroof final. Final approval will be withheld if any of the following are not satisfied: • Spark arrestor approved by the Building or Fire Official must be installed on all chimneys attached to any appliance or fireplace that burns solid fuel (R1003.9.2). • Address numbers for dwellings shall be placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property and shall not be obscured by parked vehicles or landscaping. Numbers shall not be less than four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half (0.5) inch. • Smoke alarms, battery operated type, located in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each additional story of the dwelling including basements and habitable attics.

Requests for deferred plan submittals must be approved by the Building Official and clearly listed on the plans. Plans must be submitted to the building department for review and approval must be granted prior to the installation of any deferred plan items. The following are typically allowed to be deferred plan submittals: • Roof truss calculations and plan. • Fire sprinkler calculations and plan. • Gas supply pipe sizing calculations and plan.

Smoke alarms must be located in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on each additional story of the dwelling including basements and habitable attics. Carbon monoxide alarms must be located outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms, and on every level of the dwelling including basements. In new construction and alteration projects, smoke and CO alarms must receive their primary power from the building wiring and shall be equipped with battery backup (alarms may be battery operated only where there is no removal of wall or ceiling finishes or there is no access by means of attic, basement or crawlspace). Similarly, alarms must be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all the alarms.

YES, a fence otherwise known as a “barrier” is required for private swimming pools. The barrier must be specifically designed to prevent unauthorized entry from adjacent private and/or public property. Every person who owns or is in possession of any land on which there is situated a private swimming pool must secure the pool from unauthorized entry by a barrier constructed as an enclosure that meets or exceeds the requirements of CBC 3109.4.4.3. The barrier shall be in addition to the "seven drowning prevention safety features" required by CBC 3109.4.4.2.

New buildings shall be provided with illuminated means of address identification. Existing buildings shall be provided with illuminated or other means of address identification approved by the Fire Code Official. Numbers for one and two-family dwellings shall be not less than four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half (0.5) inch. Numbers for other than one and two-family dwellings shall be not less than twelve (12) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one (1) inch. Suite and unit directional numbers shall be not less than six (6) inches high with a minimum stroke width of three-quarter (0.75) inch. Numbers shall be not less than four (4) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one-half (0.5) inch. The address must be placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property and shall not be obscured by parked vehicles or landscaping. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way or when determined by the Fire Code Official, a monument, pole, or other approved illuminated sign or other approved means shall be used to identify the structure. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabetic letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out.

The ultimate design wind speed is 110 mph.

Climate Zone is used by the State Energy Commission to specify the unique Energy Code requirements in the different climate regions of the State. Healdsburg is designated “Climate Zone 2.”

The California Green Building Standards Code requires construction waste reduction, disposal and recycling. All non-residential construction projects whenever a permit is required, must recycle and/or salvage for reuse a minimum of 65 percent of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste. Residential projects where the addition, alteration or substantial remodel increases the building’s area, volume, or size must recycle and/or salvage for reuse a minimum of 65 percent of the non-hazardous construction and demolition waste.

The Public Works Department administers the City’s erosion control program. Best management practices and Low Impact Development information can be obtained by contacting: Dirk Medema, Assoc Civil Eng. / Storm Water Manager 707-431-3344

Noise producing equipment is not allowed to be located within 5 feet of a side or rear property line.

Yes, demolition of structures or portions thereof requires a permit even if the structure was not originally built with a permit. Several other exceptions apply such as; structures which the construction was exempt from permit, and emergency life safety conditions caused by a disaster.