Santa Cruz Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Santa Cruz Building & Safety page; sources are listed at the end.

The City of Santa Cruz says its Building & Safety Division issues construction permits and performs plan reviews and construction inspections. If you are selling a house with permit questions, or planning work before you list, here is what the city says about applying and inspections.

Santa Cruz building permits at a glance

How do I apply for a permit in Santa Cruz?

The city points applicants to its Access Santa Cruz portal for new applications, revisions and resubmittals, status tracking, inspection scheduling and fee payment. Residential rooftop solar and energy storage projects may qualify for SolarAPP+, and projects that do not qualify use a standard building permit application.

If your project needs a building permit, the addressing review is handled during the permit process and its fee is added to the permit cost.

Pre-approved ADU program

The city lists a pre-approved ADU program under state law AB 1332. Designers submit plans to permits@santacruzca.gov, and staff provide submittal instructions within 2 to 4 business days. The page states a 30-day review process for detached ADUs. Our Santa Cruz zoning and ADU guide covers the ADU rules in more detail.

How permits affect selling a house in Santa Cruz

Buyers and lenders often ask whether additions, garage conversions or remodels were permitted, and sellers generally have to disclose known issues. Unpermitted work can mean plans, fees and inspections to legalize. The city’s Code Compliance page lists work without permits and unpermitted units among the issues it handles, so see our Santa Cruz code enforcement guide.

How to sell a house in Santa Cruz with permit issues

1. Find out what is on record. Ask the city for the permit history of the address.
2. Check for open permits. Call the Building & Safety Division at (831) 420-5110.
3. Compare your options. Legalize and list, sell with a credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose.

We buy Santa Cruz houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Santa Cruz or read our Santa Cruz cash-offer process.

Santa Cruz permit details worth knowing before you sell

The Building and Safety Division is in the Community Development Department at 809 Center Street, Room 101.

The city lists its phone as (831) 420-5110 and its email as permits@santacruzca.gov. Applications, revisions and resubmittals go through the city’s Access Santa Cruz online portal, where you can also track permit status, schedule inspections and pay fees.

The city says every residential, commercial and industrial unit needs its own individual address, and that it does not assign addresses to vacant lots without a building permit application.

The city says all new building permit applications must follow the 2025 California Building Standards Codes, effective January 1, 2026, and Title 18 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code.

If you are buying out an old project or selling a house with a permit that was never finaled, ask the division which code year and which inspections still apply.

For detached ADUs, the city runs a pre-approved ADU program with a 30-day review, and it recommends talking with Current Planning before you apply to confirm zoning compliance.

California disclosure rules when permits are in question

Permit rules are local, but disclosure rules are statewide. Under Civil Code section 1102.1, delivery of the transfer disclosure statement cannot be waived in an as-is sale, and your duty to disclose material facts affecting value or desirability stays in place.

If you know of work done without a required permit, treat it as a material fact and raise it with your agent or escrow officer. Our California as-is and unpermitted work guide explains what as-is changes and what it does not.

Need to talk it through? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Santa Cruz building permits FAQ

Where do I apply for a building permit in Santa Cruz?

The city says to use its Access Santa Cruz portal, where you can submit applications, track status, schedule inspections and pay fees.

Which building codes apply in Santa Cruz?

The city says new applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes, effective January 1, 2026, and Title 18 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code.

How do I schedule an inspection?

The city says inspections can be scheduled through Access Santa Cruz.

Can I sell a Santa Cruz house with unpermitted work?

Yes. It does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house as it is.

Where do I apply for a building permit in Santa Cruz?

Through the city’s Access Santa Cruz online portal, where you can also schedule inspections and pay fees. The division is at 809 Center Street, Room 101, and the city lists (831) 420-5110.

Which code year applies to new Santa Cruz permit applications?

The city says all new building permit applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes, effective January 1, 2026, and Title 18 of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code.

How long does Santa Cruz take to review a pre-approved ADU?

The city describes a streamlined 30-day review process for detached pre-approved ADUs.

Sources

• City of Santa Cruz: Building & Safety

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm requirements with the City of Santa Cruz.