Fairfax Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

The Town of Fairfax’s Planning and Building Services office is at 142 Bolinas Road and publishes a monthly list of issued building permits on its website. Fairfax is a small Marin County town, so a handful of staff handle planning, building permits and inspections.

This guide explains how to start a permit, how to reach the inspection line, what the Town charges for an ADU building permit, and what an open or missing permit means when you sell a Fairfax house. Hours and fees change, so confirm with the Town.

Fairfax permits at a glance

Office	Planning and Building Services, 142 Bolinas Road, Fairfax, CA
Phone	(415) 453-1584
Inspection line	(415) 453-2263
Hours	Monday through Thursday; the Town lists 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with building permit counter hours of 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Public records	Monthly lists of issued building permits posted on the Town website
ADU building permit fees	$997 for minor additions up to $1,511 for major additions, per the Town’s ADU page
ADU application fee	$250

When you need a permit in Fairfax

In general, work that changes a home’s structure, electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems, or that adds living area, needs a permit.

Typical examples include room additions, garage conversions, accessory dwelling units, new decks, retaining walls, water heater and furnace replacements, re-piping, panel upgrades, and kitchen or bathroom remodels that move plumbing or wiring. Cosmetic work such as painting or replacing flooring generally does not.

Fairfax is a hillside town with creeks, and the Town’s ADU code includes a stream buffer for new units, so projects near a creek can need extra review. Ask the office before you start.

How the Fairfax permit process works

Confirm the scope. Call Planning and Building Services at (415) 453-1584 or visit during counter hours to learn whether your project needs a permit and what plans are required.
Check planning requirements. Some projects need planning review before the building permit, for example for setbacks, floor area or creek buffers.
Prepare plans. Assemble drawings, structural details and contractor or owner-builder information.
Submit and pay fees. Building permit fees depend on the project. For ADUs the Town lists a $250 application fee and building permit fees from $997 to $1,511.
Respond to plan review. Answer any comments from Town staff promptly.
Schedule inspections. Call the building inspection line at (415) 453-2263 as work reaches each stage.
Finish with a final. A permit is closed after the final inspection is approved. That sign-off is what a buyer or title company will look for.

Inspections in Fairfax

Inspections are requested through the Town’s building inspection line at (415) 453-2263. Have your permit number and site address ready, make sure someone can give inspectors access, and keep the approved plans and inspection card on site. Common inspections include foundation, framing, rough electrical and plumbing, insulation and final.

Looking up permit history

The Town posts monthly lists of issued building permits, which helps if you want to see recent permit activity in town. For permits on your own address, ask the Planning and Building Services office for the record. If you are buying or selling an older Fairfax home, ask the office whether past permits were finaled and whether any additions or converted spaces were ever approved.

Open permits and unpermitted work when you sell

Many older Fairfax homes have a permit that was never finalized, or a converted garage, enclosed porch or in-law unit built without one. California sellers generally must disclose known unpermitted work, and buyers and lenders often ask about it. Our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the disclosure rules. A short checklist:

Ask the Town for the permit history on your address.
Note any permit issued but never closed with a final inspection.
List improvements you cannot find a permit for.
Ask a licensed contractor what it would cost to correct or finish each item.
Compare that cost and timeline with selling as-is to a cash buyer.

If the unpermitted work is an accessory dwelling unit built before 2020, the Town has a page on remedies for unpermitted ADUs, covered in our Fairfax zoning and ADU guide.

How to sell a house in Fairfax

Gather permits, finals and Town correspondence for the property.
List known open or missing permits so there are no surprises.
Request a no-obligation cash offer for the home as it stands.
Choose your closing date.
Close without repairs, corrections or showings.

Our local pages cover related situations in Fairfax, including selling as-is, selling fast, relocating and selling an inherited house. See also our Fairfax page and the Marin County hub.

Have an open permit or unpermitted work on a Fairfax home? Sell as-is for cash.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is the Fairfax Planning and Building Services office?

At 142 Bolinas Road, Fairfax. The phone number is (415) 453-1584.

How do I schedule a building inspection?

Call the Town’s building inspection line at (415) 453-2263.

What are the counter hours?

The Town lists Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. for building permits. Confirm before you visit.

What does an ADU building permit cost?

The Town’s ADU page lists a $250 application fee and building permit fees from $997 for minor additions to $1,511 for major additions.

Do I have to disclose unpermitted work when I sell?

California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work. Our statewide guide explains the rules.

Can I sell a Fairfax house with an open permit?

Yes. You can sell as-is, including to a cash buyer, and the buyer takes on closing out the permit.

More guides

Sources

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.