Bill Kelley, Deputy Director
Phone: (415) 499-6550 - Fax: (415) 499-7432 - TDD: (415) 499-6368

The Building and Safety Division serves the public by enforcing State and County building codes and ordinances to ensure buildings are safe for occupancy. This is accomplished through issuance of building permits, plan review, and inspections.

Effective January 1, 2008 important code changes will affect the submittal of plans for obtaining building permits, plan checking, and inspections. Click here for more information.

Our Stream Conservation Areas (SCA) Moratorium in the San Geronimo Valley

Our General Information Document is available online.

New Information: Building Inspection Procedures

Information on the Lead-Safe Work Practices Quiz

NOTICE: Updated Energy Efficiency Requirements. As of July 3, 2008, New Homes, Additions and Substantial Remodels 1,500 Square Feet and Larger will be REQUIRED to Exceed Title 24 by a minimum of 15%. Click here for more information.

Location and Hours of Business:

The Marin County Community Development Agency, Building and Safety Division is located in the Marin County Civic Center at the following address:

3501 Civic Center Drive, #308
San Rafael, CA 94903-4157
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
(Permits can not be applied for or issued after 3:30 p.m.)

Staff Directory:

Permit Fees:

The fees for obtaining building permits are collected in two stages. Processing fees are collected at the time of submittal. Processing fees include Building Division Plan Check Fees and Planning Review Fees of Building Permits. Issuance fees include the Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Permit Fees, and a State Fee. Other fees may include a Planning Division surcharge on new structures, Site and Encroachment Permit Fees by the Department of Public Works, and Environmental Health Services Review Fee of Building Permits. School Fees are collected by the local school district prior to issuance of a permit. When the work is started prior to issuance of a Building Permit, an investigation fee shall be collected which is equal to the Building Permit Fee.

Scheduling an Inspection:

Inspection requests should be made on the 24-Hour Inspection Request Line at (415) 499-6560. Requests made prior to 4:00 p.m. can normally be scheduled for the following business day. Weekends, County Holidays and scheduled staff training sessions will delay inspections to the next available business day. The recorder operates 24 hours a day with minimal shut downs in the morning between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. All instructions for calling the inspection are recited to the caller in the recorder's message. Be sure to have the permit number and project address available when you call.

The recorder will not make or take specific time appointments for inspections. Callers must contact the individual inspector between 8:15 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on the day of the inspection to confirm or request a specific time.

Other factors to consider when calling for inspections are as follows:

• The site must be accessible to the inspector to perform the inspection.
• If the site is secured by a locked gate, a key or combination should be provided to the inspector.
• If the site is protected by a dog, the dog should be locked up or the owner should be on site to control the dog.
• If the site is difficult to find, the builder should call the inspector with specific directions to the site.
• All buildings and construction sites are required by Code to be identified by an address number visible from the street, posted either at the entrance to the site or on the building.
• The approved plans (including approved revisions), specifications, and jobsite inspection card must be on the site at the time of inspection.