Corte Madera Building Permits, Inspections & Official Services
If you are planning a remodel, addition, re-roof, electrical upgrade, new construction, solar installation or other building work in Corte Madera, the Town of Corte Madera Community Development Department’s Building Division is the local office that handles building permit review, plan checking, permit issuance and building inspections.
The process became more digital in 2026. New applications are still commonly started by sending the required permit documents electronically to the Building Division, while Corte Madera’s Accela Online Permit Center now handles services such as permit searches, online payments, inspections, re-roof permits, resale reports, plan-check resubmittals and revisions to approved plans.
| Official office | Town of Corte Madera – Community Development, Building Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925 |
| Building Division phone | 415-927-5062 |
| buildingpermit@cortemadera.gov | |
| General public hours | Monday–Thursday: 8:30 AM–4:00 PM; Friday: 8:30 AM–12:00 PM |
| Enhanced permit counter | Tuesday and Thursday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM |
| Planning Division | 415-927-5064 · plcounter@cortemadera.gov |
| Code Enforcement | 415-927-5193 · codeenforcement@cortemadera.gov |
What the Corte Madera Building Division Handles
The Building Division reviews construction for compliance with building, residential, structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, energy-efficiency and related local requirements. It also performs building inspections and works with other Town departments when a project needs zoning, engineering, floodplain, fire or other approvals.
Common permit categories shown on Corte Madera’s building permit application include:
- New residential or commercial construction
- Home additions and remodels
- Accessory dwelling units and junior ADUs
- Electrical work and service-panel upgrades
- Plumbing and mechanical work
- Water-heater and HVAC replacement
- Re-roofing
- Solar and energy-storage systems
- Patios, decks and certain sheds
- Retaining walls and regulated fences
- Swimming pools and spas
- Demolition
- Signs
- Grading and related site work
- Disabled-access improvements
How to Apply for a Corte Madera Building Permit
For most new building-permit applications, the Town instructs applicants to begin electronically rather than arriving with a paper plan set. The exact documents depend on the project, but the following workflow covers the normal process.
Step 1: Confirm the project address and permit scope
Write down the complete property address and clearly describe the work. Identify whether the project involves structural work, electrical, plumbing, mechanical equipment, roofing, grading, demolition, solar, an ADU, a pool or another permit category.
Step 2: Check Planning, flood and site conditions first
A building permit does not automatically satisfy zoning rules. Larger additions, new structures, second stories, certain fences, signs and exterior changes may need Planning review. Properties in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area can also require a Floodplain Development Permit through Public Works.
If the property may be affected by zoning, design review or flood requirements, resolving that issue before preparing a full building-plan package can save a lot of rework.
Step 3: Complete the official building permit application
Download the official Corte Madera Building Permit Application. Complete the project information, construction valuation, description of work, applicant, owner, contractor and inspection-contact sections that apply to your project.
Step 4: Add the correct authorization documents
Depending on who is submitting, the Town may require:
- Licensed contractor: residential or commercial property-owner authorization.
- Contractor’s representative: contractor-agent authorization if the applicant is not the license holder.
- Owner-builder: owner-builder acknowledgement and related declarations.
- Architect, engineer or designer: owner-agent authorization when submitting for the owner.
- Town Center or Village at Corte Madera projects: property-management approval may also be required.
Step 5: Prepare the PDFs correctly
Corte Madera’s January 2026 electronic document guidelines are unusually specific. Following them before submission can prevent an avoidable rejection.
- Submit digital documents as PDF files.
- Export plans directly from the source file when possible rather than scanning them.
- Make PDFs text-searchable.
- Flatten drawing layers.
- Leave files unsecured so reviewers can mark them up.
- Use landscape orientation consistently for drawing sheets.
- Keep plans to scale and fully dimensioned.
- Use legible text, generally at least 10-point equivalent.
- Use grayscale rather than relying on color to distinguish plan information.
- Bookmark and index plan sheets.
- Keep supporting calculations, reports, cut sheets and similar documents in separate PDF files.
- Keep individual files reasonably sized; Town guidance recommends limiting a PDF to about 400 MB.
Review the Town’s 2026 document submittal guidelines before sending a large plan set.
Step 6: Email the initial permit package
Send the completed initial application documents as PDF attachments to buildingpermit@cortemadera.gov. The Town instructs applicants to use the project address as the email subject line.
Staff reviews the intake documents first. When the package is accepted, you will receive instructions for uploading construction plans and other documents if plan review is required.
Use the Town’s current building-permit submittal instructions before emailing the application.
Step 7: Pay the required deposit or permit fees
Once the Town calculates the applicable plan-check deposit or permit amount, the applicant is normally provided with instructions or a link for online payment. Keep the payment confirmation with the project records.
What Happens After You Submit?
Corte Madera separates relatively simple permits from projects requiring full plan review.
| Permit situation | What normally happens |
|---|---|
| Basic permit without comprehensive plans | The Town says permits such as certain electrical service changes, water heaters and re-roofs may be processed in approximately two business days. |
| Permit requiring plan review | Building and any other reviewing departments examine the plans and issue comments or corrections. |
| Corrections required | The applicant receives review comments and instructions for resubmittal. |
| Plans approved | The Town sends permit-issuance requirements and the balance due. |
| Permit issued | Approved permit documents are transmitted electronically. Keep a full-size hard copy of approved plans at the job site when required. |
Before issuance, applicants may be asked to complete declarations and acknowledgements through DocuSign. A current Corte Madera business license is also required for a contractor when applicable.
The current building application states that an application can expire if a permit has not been issued within 180 days of the application date. If your project is moving slowly, contact the Building Division before the deadline rather than assuming the application will remain open.
Corte Madera Building Permit Fees
Permit cost depends on the type of work, construction valuation, plan review and involvement of other Town departments. The Building Division continues to publish the Town’s adopted FY 2025-2026 Building and Planning Fee Schedule as its linked fee resource. Because fees can be amended, treat the figures below as a planning reference and use the actual Town invoice as the final amount.
| Common residential permit | Published base fee |
|---|---|
| Electric HVAC change-out | $96 |
| Gas HVAC change-out | $144 |
| Electric water-heater change-out | $96 |
| Gas water-heater change-out | $144 |
| Sewer/water/gas line repair or repipe | $288 |
| Residential re-roof without calculations | $288 |
| Residential siding | $288 |
| Residential service-panel upgrade | $288 |
| Residential battery storage | $96 |
| Residential EV charger | $96 |
| Residential generator | $192 |
| Residential rooftop solar, 15 kW or less | $216 |
| Window/door retrofit or repair | $192 |
For new buildings, additions, tenant improvements and many remodels, the permit fee is valuation-based rather than a single flat amount. The published schedule starts at $192 for projects valued from $1 to $2,000 and increases through graduated valuation brackets.
Other published charges that may affect a project include:
- Plan-review fee, when applicable: generally 75% of the permit fee.
- Expedited plan review, when available: 1.5 times the standard plan-check fee.
- Permit processing fee: $80.
- Revision review: $192 per hour, one-hour minimum.
- Reinspection fee: $144 when applicable.
- Missed inspection fee: $96.
- Residential building record/resale report: $130.
- Credit-card transaction fee: 3%.
- Technology and other Town or state surcharges may also apply.
The current building application also states that projects exceeding $10,000 in valuation may be assessed a Street Impact Fee equal to 1% of project valuation at permit issuance.
View the official published fee schedule before budgeting a project.
How to Schedule a Building Inspection
Corte Madera no longer accepts ordinary building-inspection requests by phone. Building inspections are scheduled through the Town’s Accela Citizen Access system.
- Open the official Building Inspection page.
- Follow the link to the Accela inspection portal.
- Sign in or register if the inspection workflow asks you to do so.
- Find the permit record.
- Select the required inspection type and preferred available date.
- Add the job-site contact person and phone number.
- Add useful access notes, such as gate information, when necessary.
- Submit the request and check the portal for the scheduled inspection.
The portal also allows users to reschedule or cancel inspection requests. According to the Town’s inspection instructions, field inspections are generally performed Monday through Friday during the 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:00 PM–4:00 PM inspection windows.
Search Permit History, Pay Fees or View Inspection Results
Corte Madera’s Online Permit Center provides access to several useful services.
Public-facing functions include:
- Search permit history
- Pay permit fees
- Schedule supported inspections
- View inspection results
For a permit record search, begin with the property address, permit number, parcel number or other information supported by Accela. Older records may not contain every document online, so contact staff if the information you need is not visible.
New Online Permit Features Available in 2026
Corte Madera expanded its Accela permitting services beginning in February 2026. Registered users can access additional workflows, including:
- Instant residential re-roof permits
- Residential resale-report applications
- Revisions to approved plans
- Plan-check resubmittals
The Town has also indicated that additional instant residential permit types are being developed. Use the portal itself to confirm what is actually available on the day you apply rather than relying on an older list.
Revisions to Approved Building Plans
If construction changes after the plans have been approved, do not simply make the change in the field.
Corte Madera’s revision process generally requires you to:
- Prepare revised plan sheets.
- Cloud the changed portions of the drawings.
- Prepare a short narrative explaining the changes.
- Complete the revision application.
- Upload the revision package to the existing permit record through the Online Permit Center.
If an architect or engineer prepared the approved plans, revised sheets may also need the appropriate professional stamp and signature. Major additional work can require a separate permit rather than being accepted as a revision.
2026 Building Codes Used in Corte Madera
Building plans submitted on or after January 1, 2026 are reviewed under the 2025 California Building Standards Code cycle together with Corte Madera’s applicable local requirements.
The Town identifies the following 2025 codes:
- California Building Code
- California Residential Code
- California Electrical Code
- California Mechanical Code
- California Plumbing Code
- California Energy Code
- California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
- California Historic Building Code
- California Existing Building Code
- California Green Building Standards Code
- California Referenced Standards Code
For a plain-English explanation of the statewide code cycle, see our 2026 California Building Code and Title 24 guide.
Corte Madera also warns that some older handouts on its website may not yet reflect the newest adopted code cycle. For a new 2026 application, start with the Town’s current code page rather than assuming an older PDF is still controlling.
Planning and Design Review Can Come Before the Building Permit
One of the easiest mistakes is preparing a complete building plan set before confirming the property’s zoning and design-review requirements.
Corte Madera’s Planning guidance identifies new residential or commercial structures, second-story additions, large additions, certain exterior changes, signs and some other projects as potential design-review projects. Smaller projects may qualify for minor review or no design review depending on their size, height, location and scope.
If your project changes the building footprint, height, exterior appearance, parking, setbacks or use, contact the Planning Division at plcounter@cortemadera.gov before finalizing construction drawings.
Flood-Zone Properties Need Extra Attention
Floodplain rules matter in Corte Madera because portions of the Town are within FEMA-designated Special Flood Hazard Areas.
Public Works states that new development and additions or renovations within the Special Flood Hazard Area can require a Floodplain Development Permit. Flood-related review may also examine the cost of improvements relative to the value of the existing structure.
If the property is in or near a mapped flood zone, review the Town’s Flood Protection guidance before assuming a kitchen remodel, addition or similar project will qualify for simple over-the-counter treatment.
Public Works, Grading and Right-of-Way Permits
A building permit is not the only approval that may apply. Corte Madera Public Works separately handles permits involving public streets, grading, drainage, floodplain development, erosion control, trenching and certain work in the public right-of-way.
Projects involving driveways, utility work, sidewalk impacts, substantial grading, drainage changes or floodplain work should also be checked against the Public Works permit requirements.
Solar and Battery Permits
Corte Madera offers an automated Symbium permitting path for qualifying residential rooftop solar and energy-storage systems. Contractors can use the automated platform for projects that meet eligibility requirements.
Projects that do not qualify for automated review can still be submitted through the Building Division under the applicable solar or energy-storage permit type.
Start with the Town’s Solar Photovoltaic Permitting page and verify the project address before beginning the automated application.
Electric Vehicle Charger Permits
Corte Madera has an expedited process for qualifying electric-vehicle charging stations. Depending on the installation, applicants may need an electrical permit application, load information and the Town’s EV charging checklist.
Use the official EV charging permit instructions before purchasing equipment that depends on a specific service-panel capacity or installation method.
Residential Resale Reports
Corte Madera requires a Report of Residential Building Record before the sale or exchange of residential property under the Town’s rules. The Town’s published application lists a $130 fee, and the service is now available through the online permitting system.
The report provides information about authorized use, occupancy, zoning and other relevant property records. Properties within designated Wildland-Urban Interface areas may also have related fire requirements.
Construction Hours in Corte Madera
The Town’s published general construction hours are:
| Monday–Friday | 7:00 AM–5:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Saturday–Sunday | 10:00 AM–5:00 PM |
Project-specific Planning or Design Review conditions can impose stricter hours, so check the conditions of approval for your project before scheduling noisy work.
Working Without a Permit Can Become Expensive
Corte Madera has repeatedly reminded property owners that the owner remains responsible for obtaining required permits even when a contractor, friend or previous owner says a permit is unnecessary.
Work started without required approval can result in a stop-work order, investigation, retroactive plan review, corrections and additional fees. The Town’s published fee schedule includes an investigation fee for work performed without permits that can equal the otherwise applicable permit fee, in addition to the regular permit costs.
A five-minute email to the Building Division before demolition starts is much easier than trying to legalize hidden work later.
2026 Permit Payment Scam Warning
Before paying a permit invoice, verify that the website is an official cortemadera.gov page or the Town’s authorized Accela portal. If an email unexpectedly changes payment instructions or asks for an unusual transfer method, contact the Building Division directly using the phone number or email published in the Town directory.
Best Time to Visit the Building Counter
General Building and Planning public hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday from 8:30 AM to noon.
For permit questions that involve more than one department, Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to noon are especially useful. During this enhanced counter period, staff from Building, Planning, Public Works and Sanitary District No. 2 are available for streamlined review and smaller over-the-counter matters.
For a complicated addition, flood-zone property or unusual commercial project, arranging an appointment before traveling to Town Hall is sensible.
Useful California Building Guides
Building rules change by jurisdiction even within the Bay Area. If you are working on properties in more than one city, these related guides may help:
- California Building Code 2026 and Title 24
- San Francisco building permits and inspections
- Berkeley building permit and inspection guide
- Benicia building permits and inspections
Corte Madera Building Department FAQs
1. Where is the Corte Madera Building Department?
The Building Division is part of the Town of Corte Madera Community Development Department at 300 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera, CA 94925.
2. What is the Corte Madera Building Division phone number?
The Town’s current staff directory lists the Building Division main number as 415-927-5062. Building permit questions can also be sent to buildingpermit@cortemadera.gov.
3. How do I apply for a building permit in Corte Madera?
Complete the official building permit application and required owner, contractor or agent authorization documents, prepare the required PDFs, and email the initial package to buildingpermit@cortemadera.gov with the project address in the subject line. Staff will provide the next upload and payment instructions.
4. Can I apply for a Corte Madera building permit online?
Many parts of the process are electronic. Initial new-permit documents are commonly submitted by email, while Accela handles services including permit searches, payments, inspections, residential re-roof permits, resale reports, revisions and plan-check resubmittals.
5. How do I schedule a Corte Madera building inspection?
Building inspections are requested through the Town’s Accela online inspection system. Phone inspection requests were discontinued. Use the official inspection page to reach the correct portal.
6. What building code does Corte Madera use in 2026?
New building plans submitted on or after January 1, 2026 are reviewed under the 2025 California Building Standards Code cycle and applicable Corte Madera local requirements.
7. How much is a building permit in Corte Madera?
Fees depend on project type, construction valuation and required reviews. Some minor permits use flat published amounts while additions, new construction, tenant improvements and larger remodels generally use valuation-based fees plus applicable plan-review and other charges.
8. Does a remodel in Corte Madera need Planning approval?
Some projects do. New structures, second stories, larger additions, certain exterior alterations, signs and projects affecting zoning standards may need Planning or Design Review before building-permit issuance. Contact Planning when the scope changes building size, height, setbacks, exterior design or property use.
9. Do flood-zone properties need an additional permit?
They may. Public Works states that new development and additions or renovations within Corte Madera’s FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area can require a Floodplain Development Permit in addition to building approval.
10. Can I start work while my permit is under review?
Do not begin work that requires a permit until the required permit has been issued. Starting early can lead to stop-work action, retroactive review, delays and additional fees.
Information reviewed for 2026. USBuilding.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with the Town of Corte Madera. Building procedures, fees, staffing, portal features and code interpretations can change. The Town of Corte Madera and other authorities make final permit and inspection decisions.