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Do you need a permit to replace siding in San José?

Yes. The City of San José requires a building permit to replace the stucco or siding on the outside of an existing home. Small repairs of less than 10 square feet of wall area do not need one.1

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The short version

Replacing siding or stucco: permit

A building permit is required to replace the stucco or siding on the exterior of an existing home or building.1

A patch under 10 square feet: no permit

A permit is not required for small repairs of less than 10 square feet of wall area.1

Like for like: often same day

For qualifying properties, a like-for-like replacement may be permitted during a quick visit to the Permit Center. Other projects go through Standard Plan Review.1

How the siding permit works

The City's own steps, in order.1

  1. Check the property

    If the home is on the City's Historic Resources Inventory, it needs a Planning clearance first.

  2. Draw the floor plan

    At 1/4 inch to 1 foot on a sheet at least 18 by 24 inches: the whole exterior perimeter, every window, door and opening, the use of rooms on exterior walls, and where the siding work goes.

  3. Apply

    A Building Permit Application and the submittal checklist for your property type. If the owner applies, add the Owner-Builder form. The project may need a refundable Construction and Demolition Diversion Deposit.

  4. Build to code

    The California Residential Code requires a continuous water-resistive barrier behind the siding, with flashing.2 Follow the siding maker's installation instructions.

  5. Inspect

    The permit card lists the inspections. Schedule them at SJPermits.org or call 408-535-3555. See our inspection scheduling guide.

Why the permit matters

Water damage
The City warns that badly installed stucco can let in moisture and lead to cracking, mold, rot and termites, and an inspector checks the work against code.1
Insurance
The City notes that insurance companies may deny claims related to unpermitted work.1
Selling the house
Unpermitted exterior work can come up in a buyer's inspection. See our remodeling permits guide for how permits fit into a project.

Replacing siding? We handle the permit and the work.

Tell us about the house and the siding. We walk the job, draw the floor plan, pull the permit and schedule the inspections through final.

  • The city and the age of the house
  • What the siding is now and what you want
  • Which walls, or the whole house

Prefer to talk? Call (408) 667-4946 or send a text. Office hours: Monday to Friday, 7 am to 3 pm.

David and Tristan, the owners, stay involved from the first walkthrough to the final check. We reply the same business day, Monday to Friday.

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Siding permits: common questions
Do I need a permit to replace exterior siding in San Jose?
Yes. The City of San José requires a building permit to replace the stucco or siding on the exterior of an existing home or building. A permit is not required for small repairs of less than 10 square feet of wall area.
Can I get the siding permit the same day?
For qualifying properties, the City says a permit for like-for-like replacement may be obtained during a quick visit to the Permit Center, through its Over-the-Counter service. Projects that do not qualify go through Standard Plan Review.
What plans does the City want for a siding permit?
A Building Permit Application, the submittal checklist for your property type, and a floor plan drawn at 1/4 inch to 1 foot on a sheet at least 18 by 24 inches. The plan shows the whole exterior perimeter, every window, door and opening, the use of rooms on exterior walls, and where the siding work will be done.
What does the inspector check?
The City issues a permit card that lists the required inspections. Keep the card on site, have the plans and the manufacturer's installation instructions ready, and give the inspector access to all the work, including a ladder if one is needed. The California Residential Code requires a continuous water-resistive barrier behind the siding, with flashing.
What if the siding was replaced without a permit?
The City notes that insurance companies may deny claims related to unpermitted work. If siding went on without a permit, it can usually be permitted after the fact, and we handle that kind of permit work.

Sources

This page explains the City's published rules for siding permits. The City decides what applies to your property. Check the City page for current details.