Danville Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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

Danville is a Town, not a city, and its Permit Center in Development Services handles permit processing and plan review for projects inside Town limits; permit fees vary by application type and are set once the application is reviewed. This guide walks Danville homeowners through how permits work: where to go, how to apply, how inspections are scheduled, and how permit history affects the sale of a house.

The Town’s pages and the Danville Municipal Code are the final word, so confirm details with the Building Division before you start work.

Danville permits at a glance

Office	Permit Center, Development Services, Town of Danville
Address	500 La Gonda Way, Danville, CA 94526
Building Division phone	(925) 314-3330
Building phone hours	Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The page lists a periodic Thursday closure, so check the date you plan to call
Permit Center counter hours	Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:30 p.m.; Fridays 8:00 a.m. to noon. The Town lists an additional monthly window, so confirm before you drive over
Planning Division	(925) 314-3310, planning@danville.ca.gov
Fees	Vary by application type; determined after the application is reviewed
Inspections	Scheduled online through a Town online permit account or by phone
Code basis	Danville Municipal Code, published online through American Legal

What needs a permit in Danville

The Town describes the Permit Center as the place that provides permit processing information and assistance and that conducts building and development plan reviews for projects in Danville.

Across California, building permits are generally required for additions, structural changes, new or relocated electrical and plumbing, water heater and furnace replacements, re-roofing in many cases, decks, retaining walls and conversions of a garage, patio or storage space into living area.

Cosmetic work such as interior painting or replacing flooring is generally outside the permit system, but the line between cosmetic and structural is not always obvious.

When a project is borderline, ask the Building Division before you buy materials, because a short phone call costs far less than correcting unpermitted work later.

Danville homes also sit inside planning and zoning rules that sit alongside the building code. A project that changes the footprint, height or use of a structure may need Planning Division review in addition to a building permit, and that is why the Town’s Permit Center brings the Building and Planning divisions together. The Planning Division can be reached at (925) 314-3310.

Step by step: a Danville building permit

1. Describe the project to the Town

Call the Building Division at (925) 314-3330 or visit the Permit Center at 500 La Gonda Way. Explain what you plan to do and ask whether it needs a permit, whether plan review applies and whether Planning must weigh in.

2. Gather forms and plans

The Permit Center page links application forms, quick reference documents and guidelines. Complete the forms that match your project and prepare plans if the work calls for them. Ask staff what a complete package looks like for your project, because an incomplete submittal is the most common reason a review stalls.

3. Submit and pay

The Town says permit fees vary based on the application type and are determined after the application is reviewed. Expect to pay when staff contact you to issue the permit. Some permit-ready ADU designs offered by the Town can receive expedited review, and the Town’s guide says plans for that expedited path must be submitted in person by appointment, which you can book through the Building Division.

4. Build and schedule inspections

Danville lets you schedule a building inspection online or by phone. To schedule online you first register for an account on the Town’s online permit center, then select your project’s permit number from your list of permits and choose the inspection you need. Keep every inspection record. A signed final is the document a buyer, lender or title company will want to see later.

5. Final inspection and close-out

A permit is not finished until the final inspection is approved. For an ADU or an addition that also means the Town issues a Certificate of Occupancy at the Permit Center. If you inherited a house with an old open permit, ask the Building Division whether it is still active before you assume it can be finaled.

Common permit trouble spots in Danville homes

Many Danville homes were built decades ago and have been remodeled by several owners.

The gaps that turn up most often are a garage converted into a bedroom or office, an enclosed patio or sunroom, a room added without plans, a replaced water heater or furnace, an upgraded electrical panel, a deck or retaining wall built without review and a backyard cottage.

None of these automatically blocks a sale, and none is unusual. What matters is that you know about it before a buyer’s inspector or an appraiser does.

If you bought the house recently, your own inspection report and the seller’s disclosure packet are a good place to start looking for unpermitted work.

If you inherited it, ask relatives or the prior owner’s contractor for permit cards and invoices, and ask the Town for the permit history on the address instead of guessing.

Keep the answers together in one folder so you can hand them to a buyer, an agent or a title officer.

Permits and selling a Danville house

A house with permit gaps is not unsellable, but the gap changes who bears the risk. Under California practice, a seller who knows about unpermitted work should disclose it, and the buyer decides whether to accept it. Our guides on selling as-is with unpermitted work and seller closing costs explain how that plays out, and the tenant-occupied sale guide covers homes with renters.

For a Danville property the practical question is whether legalizing the work is worth the time. Some owners close the permit first. Others sell as-is so the buyer handles it. A short review helps:

• Request your permit history from the city before you list.
• Walk the property and flag anything built after the home was originally permitted.
• Collect any plans, engineering letters or final approvals you already have.
• Get a realistic estimate of correction costs if the city were to inspect.
• Weigh that against a cash offer that does not depend on repairs or sign-offs.

How to sell a house in Danville

1. Check which additions, conversions and structures on the property have Town permits.
2. Collect permits, plans and any Town notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

Our local pages cover related situations in Danville, including selling as-is, selling an inherited house and selling during a divorce. See also our Danville page and the Contra Costa County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for a building permit in Danville?

At the Town’s Permit Center, 500 La Gonda Way. The Building Division can be reached at (925) 314-3330 and the Planning Division at (925) 314-3310.

How much does a Danville building permit cost?

The Town says permit fees vary based on application type and are determined after the application is reviewed. Ask the Building Division for an estimate for your project.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Danville?

The Town lets you schedule inspections online or by phone. To schedule online you first register for an account on the Town’s online permit center and then pick your permit number.

What are the Danville Permit Center hours?

The Town lists Monday to Thursday 8:00 to 11:30 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:30 p.m., and Fridays 8:00 a.m. to noon, with an additional monthly window. Confirm on the Town’s page before you visit.

Is Danville a city or a town?

Danville is incorporated as a Town, so its government pages are branded the Town of Danville and its code is the Danville Municipal Code.

Can I sell my Danville house with an open or unpermitted project?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Danville
• We Buy Houses in Contra Costa County
• Contra Costa County Property Tax Guide
• Danville Code Enforcement Guide
• Danville Zoning and ADU Guide
• Walnut Creek Zoning and ADU Guide
• Concord Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• Town of Danville: Permit Center
• Town of Danville: Building Division
• Town of Danville: Schedule an Inspection
• Danville Municipal Code (American Legal)

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