This page is a quick summary of resources a homeowner may want to investigate when considering a project that involves a contractor and a permit in the City of Cupertino
Cupertino Plumbing Services and Project Types
| Water | Sewer | Electrical Conduit | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Leak Repairs (typically no permit) Water Line Replacements and Upgrades Backflows | New Cleanouts Adding new connections to existing sewer line Backwater Valves New connections to the main | Installing new conduit, usually as part of an electrical upgrade | Includes septic systems, sewage pumps, water pumps, storm drains, French drains, foundation waterproof protection, water storage tanks, water wells |
| Permits: Building, Public Works when touching public assets, Utility when touching a private utility property | Permits: Building or no permit | ||
Permits
A permit is an official document issued by local governments and utility providers that grants permission to construct or alter a property. Its primary purpose is to ensure that construction projects comply with local building codes, zoning laws, and safety regulations.
As the property owner, you usually have the option to obtain a permit for projects solely on your private property. While getting a permit may add to the cost and timeline of your project, it also provides peace of mind, knowing that your project has been reviewed by an expert in local building codes.
Anytime your project involves a public or utility-owned asset, you must obtain a permit.
If you hire us to assist with your project, we will file for any necessary permits. Typically, our clients pay the cost of the permit directly to the issuer, but they save on the time and expense of filing, which is part of our service.
There are three types of permits we generally work with.
| Building | Public Works (aka Encroachment Permits) | Utility Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Generally easy to file for and not very expensive for the types of projects we do. They cover projects on private property. | Public Works Permits can be a lengthy and time-consuming task to obtain. We are experienced in filing for these types of permits and recommend you allow us to provide that service to you. | When the City/Town provides the utility service, it is included with a building or public works permit. If the utility is managed separately, the property owner must obtain permission and adhere to the utility’s building codes. |
As a licensed contractor in California with significant experience delivering projects in the local communities of the San Francisco Bay Area, our construction practices and materials comply with the California Building Code (CBC). We encourage our clients to get permits but doing so is not required.
City of Cupertino Links
| Cupertino Building Dept Cupertino’s Building Dept provides a comprehensive set of resources to navigate the permitting process. | https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/community-development/building |
| Cupertino Public Works Dept Cupertino’s Public Works Dept handles all public right-of-way projects which include all of the ones in the table above. Their page lists a contact for “planning” which is not the same scope. The page does not attempt to clarify when a planning vs encroachment permit is required. Planning is geared toward long-term land use. In any case, you can start with Public Works and they will direct you to Planning if necessary. | https://www.cupertino.org/our-city/departments/public-works/permitting-development-services/permit-applications |
| Water Utility Cupertino has two water providers, San Jose Water Company and Califonia Water Service. You can check this map to find which one you are in. San Jose Water serves most of Cupertino while California Water Service serves a part near the Sunnyvale border. California Water Service does not publish a permit-specific page so you will need to call them to initiate the process. In our experience, they are easy to work with. If you hire us, we will be happy to work with them directly. | San Jose Water https://www.sjwater.com/ California Water Service https://www.calwater.com/district-information/?dist=las (Los Altos Suburban District) |
| Sewer Utility Cupertino Sanitation District serves the majority of Cupertino. There are a few addresses that are served by neighboring Sunnyvale. | https://www.cupertinosanitarydistrict.org/sewer-permits |
Note that some homes may have a City address but are not serviced by Utilities in the above list. As a homeowner, you likely already know who you pay your water and sewer fees to but if you are not sure, you can check the above links and then check your County for sewer and www.calwater.com for water.