Building Codes and Enforcement

California Residential Code, Section R105.2 Work Exempt from permit:

Building:

• One-story detached accessory structures, provide that the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet.
• Fences not over 7 feet high.
• Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
• Water tanks, supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
• Sidewalks and driveways.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 
• Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep. 
• Swings and other playground equipment.
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project more than 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not require additional support. 
• Decks not exceeding 200 square feet in area, that are not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, are not attached to a dwelling and do not serve the exit door required by Section R311.4.

Electrical: 

• Listed cord-and-plug connected temporary decorative lighting.
• Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles but not the outlets therefor. 
• Replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of required capacity in the same location. 
• Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy. 
• Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles. 

Gas:

• Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances. 
• Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe. 
• Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid.

Mechanical:

• Portable heating appliances. 
• Portable ventilation appliances. 
• Portable cooling units.
• Steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code. 
• Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
• Portable evaporative coolers.
• Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less.
• Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid. 

Plumbing:

• The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drainpipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspection made as provided in this code. 
• The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, and the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valve, pipes or fixtures. 

• One-story detached accessory building provided the floor area does not exceed 120 s.f. (Planning Department Zoning regulations still apply)
• Patio slabs (where no patio cover is to be constructed).
• Sidewalks (MUST drain to front of property).
• Driveways. (Contact the Engineering Division)
• Painting (both interior and exterior)
• Papering and similar finish work.
• Removing and replacing carpeting, floor tile, or vinyl flooring (unless termite report or water damage is involved, or alterations to framing or sub-floor are proposed).
• Removing and replacing broken panes of glass.
• Fences not over six (6’) feet in height.
• Retaining walls not over four (4’) feet in height from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge (a cut in hillside creates a surcharge) or within an Engineered Grading Development such as Dougherty Valley.
• Platforms, patio slabs, or decks, walks, and driveways not more than thirty (30”) inches above grade and not over any basement or story below.
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of a residence or garage when projecting not more than fifty-four (54”) inches.
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a residence in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the water capacity does not exceed five thousand (5,000) gallons. (Electrical permit is required for ALL prefabricated pool equipment.)

• Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord and plug that have an attached plug and are to be connected to an approved existing receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by code. (Example: fish ponds, fountains)
• Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.
• Temporary decorative lighting.
• Repair or replacement of current carrying parts of any switch, contactor or control device.
• Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets (electrical boxes) therefore.
• Repair or replacement of any over-current device (fuse or breaker) of the required capacity in the same location.

• A portable heating appliance, portable ventilating equipment, portable cooling unit, or portable evaporative cooler.
• Replacement of any component, part, or assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of this code.
• A listed and labeled unit refrigeration system (i.e.: household refrigerator, wine cooler, etc.).

• The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste, and vent pipes, provided, however, that should any concealed trap drain pipe, soil, waste, and vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in this code.
• The clearing of stoppage or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures, nor for the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures.
• Removing and replacing faucets.