Building Division FAQs

The property records are on file in the Community Development Department at 75 Rowland Way and are available for review to the public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the work week. If you purchased the home in Novato after 1988, then the seller was required to provide you with a Residential Resale Inspection Report completed by the City. A research of permits for the property is part of the resale report along with disclosure of work done with permits and without permits or safety violations.

Yes. Some of the older homes do not have the safety or tempered glazing in locations such as above a bathtub or shower or next to a door or walkway. The current code is more restricted due to hazardous locations not being protected with safety or tempered glazing. Other issues, such as restricting secondary emergency egress from bedrooms and proper flashing are also reviewed and inspected when a permit is obtained. Please see information bulletin on Bedroom Window Replacements and Emergency Escape and Rescue Windows for more details on this subject. NOTE: If your home is located in a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) zone see Policy for Remodels and Alterations to Existing Buildings.

A permit is good for a maximum of two years as long as you have periodic inspections within 180 days from date of issue and continuing for the life of the permit. If more than 180 days lapse between inspections, the permit automatically expires and the permit will need to be renewed before any more inspections can scheduled.

You can write the Building Official to request a onetime extension. You need to provide your permit number, name, address and phone number plus the reason for the extension request. If you send your request by email (email addresses on Building Division’s Home Page) then you will receive an approval or denial of your request.

If you send your request by US Mail you will not receive a confirmation that the request was approved. Only those requests that cannot be approved will receive a reply.

The objective is to establish minimum standards for materials and material assemblies and provide a reasonable level of exterior wildfire exposure protection for buildings in Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Areas. These standards also offer some protection from a fire in an adjacent structure and prevention of the spreading of fire to wildland vegetation.

The Wildland Urban Interface fire areas (also referred to as WUI zones) are specific areas within the City of Novato being identified as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones by the Novato Fire Protection District, based on the requirements of the Wildland Urban Interface code adopted by the State of California.

The ignition resistant construction standards required in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code (CBC) have been determined to provide the reasonable level of protection for buildings in a WUI zone. The application of these standards are covered in the POLICY FOR REMODELS AND ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING BUILDINGS

Yes. The Plumbing Code has always required a permit. The code changes reflect safety requirements to make the installation safer. Example: Elevating the gas water heater in the garage a minimum of 18 inches above the floor to avoid possible fire or explosion from gasoline fumes from a vehicle, lawnmower or other sources of gasoline. Additional seismic strapping is another example.

The minor permits for small projects (decks, kitchen or bathroom remodeling, window replacements, water heaters, furnaces, reroofing) can be handled during our “One Stop Shop” over the counter. Hours for “One Stop Shop” are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Other projects are placed in “Fast Track Plan Check” and we try to return plan check comments within 15 working days to the applicant. The more detailed the submittals, the faster the approval. Major projects, once through the Planning Division, are placed in the “Fast Track Plan Check” and we try to return the plan check comments within 20 working days to the applicant.