San Benito County Residential Permit Checklist (2026)
Complete checklist of required documents and plan details for residential building permits in San Benito County, California.
What you need before submitting
This checklist covers the documents and plan details required for a residential building permit in San Benito County. It applies to new construction, additions, and major remodels for one- and two-family dwellings in the unincorporated county area.
For projects within the City of Hollister or City of San Juan Bautista, contact the respective city planning department — requirements may differ.
Plan sheet requirements
Every sheet in your plan set should include:
- Scale — 1/4" = 1'-0" minimum for floor plans and elevations
- Sheet title and number — clearly labeled
- Date and revision tracking
- Designer/architect name and contact information
- Professional stamp and signature (if applicable)
- North arrow on all plan views
Cover sheet and site plan
| Item | Required |
|---|---|
| Project address and APN | Yes |
| Owner name and contact | Yes |
| Scope of work description | Yes |
| Sheet index | Yes |
| Applicable codes listed (CBC, CRC, Title 24) | Yes |
| Building footprint on site plan | Yes |
| Property boundaries with dimensions | Yes |
| Setback dimensions to all structures | Yes |
| North arrow and scale | Yes |
| Driveway and access shown | Yes |
| Existing and proposed structures labeled | Yes |
| Utility connections (sewer/water/electric) | Yes |
| Septic and well locations (if applicable) | Yes |
| Easements shown | If applicable |
| Flood zone designation | If applicable |
Design criteria (required on plans)
San Benito County falls in Seismic Design Category D. The following design criteria must be stated on the plans:
- Floor and roof live loads
- Ground snow load (if applicable by elevation)
- Basic wind speed
- Wind exposure category
- Seismic design category
- Site class
- Climate zone
Floor plan
- All rooms labeled with use and dimensions
- Door and window sizes with schedule
- Ceiling heights noted
- Smoke and CO detector locations
- GFCI and AFCI protection noted for applicable circuits
- Stairway dimensions (if applicable): width, riser height, tread depth, headroom
- Egress windows in all sleeping rooms (minimum 5.7 sq ft clear opening)
Elevations
- All four sides of the building
- Overall building height
- Finish floor to plate heights
- Roof pitch noted
- Exterior materials and finishes labeled
- Window and door locations matching floor plan
Structural
- Foundation plan with footing sizes and reinforcement
- Floor framing plan with member sizes and spacing
- Roof framing plan with member sizes, spacing, and connection details
- Lateral force-resisting system (shear walls, hold-downs, anchor bolts)
- Connection details (post-to-beam, beam-to-foundation, roof-to-wall)
- Point load paths identified
Energy compliance (Title 24)
- CF1R compliance forms (or equivalent)
- Insulation R-values for walls, ceiling, floor
- Window U-factor and SHGC schedules
- HVAC equipment specifications
- Duct sealing requirements
- Lighting power allowance (if applicable)
CalGreen (mandatory green building)
- Water-efficient fixtures specified
- Construction waste management plan
- Stormwater management (if applicable)
- EV-ready parking (new construction)
Top reasons plans get returned
The most common correction items from San Benito County plan reviews:
- Missing setback dimensions — site plan must show distances from all structures to property lines
- Construction type and occupancy not stated — must be on the cover sheet
- Title 24 energy forms not included — CF1R is mandatory, not optional
- No code edition reference — state which edition of CBC/CRC the plans are designed to
- GFCI/AFCI protection not shown — electrical plan must call out protected circuits
- Incomplete structural details — missing hold-down schedule, anchor bolt spacing, or shear wall details
A pre-check catches these before you submit.
Sources
Frequently asked questions
San Benito County enforces the 2022 California Building Code (CBC), which is based on the 2021 International Building Code with California amendments. For one- and two-family dwellings, the California Residential Code (CRC) applies. Title 24 energy standards (2022 edition) are mandatory for all new construction and additions.
In California, a licensed architect is generally not required for single-family wood-frame dwellings under two stories. However, engineered plans may be required for structural elements like retaining walls, unusual spans, or hillside construction. Projects in Seismic Design Category D (which includes San Benito County) often require engineering for foundations and lateral force resistance.
Review timelines depend on project complexity and plan completeness. Simple residential projects with complete plans can be reviewed in 2-4 weeks. Incomplete plans will be returned with a correction letter, adding weeks to the timeline. Using a pre-check before submitting can significantly reduce back-and-forth.
San Benito County accepts digital plan submittals. Check with the Building Division for current file format requirements (typically PDF). Digital submittals should be at a readable scale with all text legible when printed at the specified sheet size.
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