How to get a permit in Contra Costa County

A week later where am I at? About $2500 more poorer.

Soils report

I paid $3200 to the same Geotech who did my neighbor’s soil report for their stick built foundation. The county is requiring a soils report that specifically speaks to liquefaction. My $700 report did not speak to Liquefaction.  After paying $2500 more, I received 56 pages, some of which spoke to liquefaction, and some of which told me I could not use a rock pad. However his last recommendation, I believe (and hope) is my saving grace that will allow me to use a rock pad foundation under my home. He makes awful recommendations for a waffle mat, and engineered fill. Neither of which are cheap or quick. Basically 5 months more time and $30,000 more.

His last recommendation states this

To me it sounds like… “you should do x-y-z to ensure your home is safe! …however, there is nothing special about this land and it can be developed however is deemed appropriate.” As in, this is all a formality and a waste of time and money. At least I hope that is what he is saying. I told him many times “Write it so I can use a a/b gravel pad under my home” and he never said he wasn’t doing that… Here’s hoping.

I’d like to share the list that the county gave of what is necessary for a permit. I had someone circle the necessary items for my project. But I’d like to further break it down for all us “lay people”:

• • Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing drawings (3 sets)

  It goes into greater details:

  • Site plan

• • Floor Plan

• • Elevations

Mine needed to have a lighted sign so I added it

My General Contractor is covering the next 3 bullet points

• Title 24 (no idea)
• Cal Green Compliance (again no idea)
• Structural: Required Drawings
  • I believe this is the pier point plan that my GC provided me

So far this has been do-able and not too bad… but wait, it gets better (or much much worse)!

• Soil report

This has been the bane of my project since I ever heard it existed. It has kept me from getting a permit for at least 6 months. And it has cost and stressed me soooo much. Hopefully I finally have, as noted at the beginning, a report that will work.

• Plans must be approved and stamped by the Sanitary District serving the property
  • Properties with septic systems must also provide clearance from Contra Costa County Environmental Health

This is why I am driving all the way to Martinez to have them look at my plans and stamp them. I’ve heard it will take them 2 weeks to give approval. Ughhh… And my planner didn’t give me advance notice because he was unsure if my project would even progress.

• School District Fee

No biggy, just more money

• Plans must be approved by planning.

This has also really sucked. Planning put me through the ringer, and asked for ridiculous items like “Front Yard landscaping plan” Which I literally drew on graph paper, and have no intention of using. The soil report was required to speak to liquefaction. I have a building envelope area near the front of my property which is the only place I can put my house. Which does not allow me to build in the back of my property. It is as if the county became my HOA.

• Encroachment permit

This allows you to put a driveway that touches county roads… I have an encroachment permit (even though it wasn’t circled by my “friend” at the county)

• Drainage Plan

No idea what I’ll need to do for this one, so I better be prepared to have a problem 😊

• Grading permit:

No grading for me

• Fire District Approval

There are fire hydrants across the street from us, but it was a huge hassle for my neighbor to get the county fire Marshall to allow them to use it. But hopefully that battle has already been fought for me, so I can get an easy pass.

• Survey letter:

My house is close to where my plans say it is, but it isn’t 100%. I don’t know how they can check the “Foundation Forms” when they are attached to a house when it is already there. So hopefully this is a moot point.

• Homeowners / Proof of ownership

I have already provided this.

If you can find your way through that murky swamp of paperwork / regulations and conditions, they’ll gladly give you a permit after you’ve waited a customary 6 months or longer. I have no idea how anyone could get a permit easily these days. Welcome to the land of the free.

Tomorrow morning, I am hand delivering my soils report and $1750 check to the county ($1000 for police fee, $750 for the formality of having the geologist to look over my soils report). Then I’ll drive to Environmental health with all kinds of paperwork in hopes that I have all of it so they can put me in their two week line for a rubber stamp approval. Why two weeks…. Because they can.

I’m a bit jaded by this entire process (as noticed by the number of quotation marks). But I must say, whenever a cost has arisen, I’ve received a bunch of unexpected money two weeks prior. So, I still believe this is God’s will/work. Hopefully my faith holds out to the end. Thank you for being a part of my journey!