What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

Which cities do you cover?

We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

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Duct replacement permits in San Jose, CA

General California guidance last updated September 23, 2026 · San Jose data fully re-verified August 9, 2026

What HVAC contractors need to know about pulling a duct replacement permit in San Jose (Santa Clara County).

Short answer

In California, replacing or extending ductwork requires a mechanical permit, and the Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) treats it as an alteration: replacing a duct system entirely — or adding/replacing more than about 40 linear feet in unconditioned space — generally triggers duct sealing with third-party HERS leakage testing. Ducts must meet the insulation R-value for the climate zone. A C-20 (HVAC) licensed contractor generally pulls it.

San Jose accepts submittal through the SJPermits.org (San José Online Permit Center) and has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code. Fee details and sources are below.

San Jose permit data

Sourced from public City of San Jose documents — every field carries the source URL and verification date.

Permit portal

SJPermits.org (San José Online Permit Center)

verified Aug 9, 2026 · source · Online permit applications, payments, and status check via SJPermits; electronic plan review through SJePlans

Adopted code edition

2025 California Building Standards Code

verified Aug 9, 2026 · source · 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Codes; applicable to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026

Fee schedule

Building and Structure Permits Fee Schedule — FY 2026-27, effective August 10, 2026

verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · The document cover reads "Effective August 10, 2026"; the fees page describes the schedule as fees in effect as of August 11, 2026

San José Planning, Building & Code Enforcement →All verified San Jose data →

The general picture in California

Ductwork replacement is permitted mechanical work across California, and the review is mostly an Energy Code review. Title 24, Part 6 treats duct work as an alteration: replace the system, or add or replace more than about 40 linear feet in unconditioned space, and duct sealing with third-party HERS leakage verification generally follows — documented on a CF1R-ALT and registered before final. The materials layer is simple but strictly checked: insulation at the climate zone's required R-value (R-6 or R-8 in most cases), joints sealed with mastic or listed UL 181 tape — never cloth-backed duct tape — and flex duct supported so it isn't kinked or compressed. Because the HERS rater is independent, the schedule needs their test and registration between substantial completion and final inspection. Fees, forms, and inspection scheduling are set per city — confirm with the local building department.

For deeper background that isn't San Jose-specific, see the statewide duct replacement guide.

Typically needs a permit

Duct replacement itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, San Jose included. San Jose-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Maintenance sealing of accessible duct joints (verify locally)
Replacing registers and grilles
Repairing insulation on existing ducts

Documents & plans generally required

Mechanical permit application
Contractor license and city business registration
Duct layout with sizes, materials, and the equipment served
Insulation R-value spec meeting the climate zone (commonly R-6 or R-8)
Energy-compliance form (CF1R-ALT) and HERS registration where testing is triggered
Support/hanger spacing and connection method for flex duct

Common reasons duct replacement applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across California — not a San Jose-specific rejection rate.

Missing CF1R-ALT or HERS registration when the scope triggers duct testing
Insulation R-value below the climate-zone requirement
Cloth-backed duct tape as the sealing method — sealing must be mastic or listed (UL 181) tape
Leakage over the allowed percentage at the HERS test
Flex duct unsupported, kinked, or compressed to the point of choking airflow
Scope written as a 'repair' when most of the system is being replaced

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Rough inspection where ducts are concealed in framing before cover
2Final inspection with the system complete and the HERS duct-leakage results registered where required

Licensing — who can pull it

Duct replacement in California is generally C-20 (HVAC) licensed work; a B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger remodel under CSLB rules. The HERS duct test is performed by an independent third-party rater, not the installing contractor.

Other verified San Jose notes

Permit Center phone: (408) 535-3555, Monday–Friday 7 AM–4 PM.
verified Aug 9, 2026 · source
Hourly rates published in the FY 2026-27 Building Division Fee Schedule: $211/hr for permit issuance, $325/hr for plan review (15-minute minimum for over-the-counter; one-hour minimum for review intakes), $315/hr for building inspection — in each case the hourly amount or the amount in the schedule's fee tables, whichever is greater.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · FY 2026-27 schedule, effective August 10, 2026
SJePlans is the city's electronic-plan-review portal; project plans for building, planning, public works, and fire review are uploaded there once an SJPermits application is opened.
verified Aug 9, 2026 · source
Contractors applying online via SJPermits must have a current City of San José Business Tax Certificate in addition to their CSLB license; permits may be issued only for work within the contractor's license classification.
verified Aug 9, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Does a duct repair need a permit?

Small like-for-like repairs are often treated as maintenance, but replacement and extension are permitted mechanical work — and once the altered footage in unconditioned space passes roughly 40 linear feet, the Energy Code's sealing-and-testing requirements generally come with it. Describe the real scope; cities notice 'repairs' that replace half a system.

What leakage does the HERS test allow?

The allowed leakage is a percentage of system airflow set by the Energy Code, and it differs for new, entirely replaced, and altered duct systems. The practical version: mastic at every joint, tested by an independent HERS rater, results registered — an unregistered test doesn't close the permit.

What R-value do ducts need?

Title 24 sets duct insulation by climate zone — commonly R-6 or R-8 for ducts in unconditioned space, with R-8 required in many zones. The CF1R-ALT documents the value for the project's zone, and both the inspector and the HERS rater look at the duct label.

Do I need a separate permit if I'm also replacing the furnace or AC?

Usually one mechanical permit covers both scopes, but the energy paperwork compounds — the equipment changeout triggers its own measures and the duct replacement its own. The trap is pulling an equipment-only permit and 'discovering' the duct replacement at final.

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