Frequently Asked Questions

Permits are issued by the Building & Safety Division at the Community Development Department which is located at 250 Main Street.  On some simple jobs, a permit can be obtained during the first visit. However, in most circumstances, more time will be needed to review the plans in detail prior to issuing any permits.

If you begin construction without the required permit(s), a "Stop Work" will immediately be issued by an Inspector. You will be required to apply for the permit(s) and pay fees (up to double the amount of the original fee).   After the permit has been properly issued, you will then be required to uncover any work which has been covered so that it may be inspected prior to the release of the Stop Work.  In some cases, regulations or codes may not permit the type of construction that has been done. In this case, you may be required to replace or restore the area to its original condition prior to your construction.

When applying for a permit, the following information is required to complete the permit submittal: 

• Description of the work,
• Location of the project (address),
• Legal owner's name, address and phone number,
• Valuation of the proposed work (Valuation includes all labor and materials, all lighting, heating, ventilation, water supply, plumbing, electrical, fire sprinklers, and elevator equipment.), The valuation will not determine the permit cost. 

Permits may be issued to: 

• Property owners (for work on owner-occupied single-family or otherwise allowed by state law).
• Licensed contractors.
• Certified Agents with a Letter of Authorization signed by the owner.

When a permit is issued, the signature and identity of the applicant must be verified. A California Driver's License, State of California Identification Card, or other positive identification will meet this requirement. Contractors are required to have a current City of Watsonville Business License and current State of California Contractor's License. If employees are to be used, Workers' Compensation Insurance Company and policy number must be supplied.

The cost of building permits is based upon the City's fee schedule.   Payment of fees may be made in the form of cash, personal checks, money orders, or Visa and Master card.  Contact the Development Center if you would like to have an estimate of the fees for your project.

Permits are issued between 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Most major projects will require permits of some kind (building permits and/or planning permits).  This is necessary to ensure that all buildings meet minimum standards which protect its occupants and neighbors in everyday living and in the case of emergencies or natural disasters. Some minor projects are allowed without obtaining building permits.   However, depending upon the project, other permits (planning permits, encroachment permits, special activities permits, etc.) may be required. In either case, the construction of such projects should be in conformance with all applicable codes. Some of the projects which do not require a building permit are: 

• Retaining walls or planter boxes which are no more than 4' in height (measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall) and do not support another structure, fence, or take on additional soil loads.
• Wood or chain link fences not greater than 6' high.
• Decks and platforms less than 30" above grade, and not attached to a structure.
• Exterior stairs that are within 30" of grade, have less than four risers (if residential) or less than two risers (if non-residential), and are not a part of an exiting system.
• Pools which are entirely above the adjacent grade and have a maximum capacity of 5,000 gallons.
• Single story detached buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, etc., as long as the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and does not have plumbing, electricity, or heating.

Minor improvements typically not needing a permit: 

• Interior or exterior painting,
• Installing draperies or blinds,
• Installing carpeting or resilient floor covering,
• Constructing store fixtures (display cases), and removable partitions under 5 feet-9 inches,
• Constructing uncovered concrete patios,
• Changing fixtures and utility outlets, such as lighting and light switches.

These examples are only some of the exempted projects which are listed in various code books. Not all exempted projects have been included. Contact the Building & Safety Division for additional information. 

Building construction hours are as follows: •Monday through Friday – 7 AM to 7 PM •Saturday – 10 AM to 4 PM Work is not allowed on Sundays and/or any other time without prior approval from the Community Development Director.

Please call our main office at (831) 768-3050 during business hours to report illegal construction activity. You may also file a complaint online 24 hours a day, seven days a week by visiting our website and filled out the

The public service counter hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The counter is closed during lunchtime from 12 to 1:30 p.m. Over the Counter permit processing is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Because construction and demolition materials are a significant and growing part of landfill waste in California, the City of Watsonville and the California Green Business Standards Code require recycling of at least 65% of materials generated at construction and demolition projects. The City has developed the Construction Waste Management Plan in order to help contractors meet the requirement. 

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