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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We're onboarding a first set of California contractors. Join the waitlist with your city and trade so we can prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in.

Reroofing permits in San Jose, CA

General California guidance last updated August 2, 2026 · San Jose data verified May 22, 2026

What roofing contractors need to know about pulling a reroofing permit in San Jose (Santa Clara County).

Short answer

In California, a reroof — full tear-off or overlay — requires a building permit in nearly every jurisdiction. Reroofing is governed by the California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5, Section R908) and the California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2), with cool-roof requirements from the Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) and fire-rated assembly rules in high fire-hazard areas. A C-39 (Roofing) 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 May 22, 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 May 22, 2026 · source · 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing Codes; applicable to permit applications filed on or after January 1, 2026

Fee schedule

FY 2025-26 Building Division Fee Schedule (effective August 11, 2025)

verified May 22, 2026 · source

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

The general picture in California

A reroof is treated as permitted work in nearly every California jurisdiction, whether it is a full tear-off or an overlay. The review runs on a few well-defined rails: the reroofing provisions of the California Residential Code (R908) and Building Code, which cap roofing at two applications and prohibit covering over wood shakes; the Energy Code's cool-roof requirements, which apply to certain climate zones, slopes, and product types and are documented through CRRC-rated values; and fire-rated assembly requirements in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and WUI areas. Replacing sheathing brings a nailing inspection into play, and moving to a heavier covering raises a structural question the city will expect answered. Permit fees, whether the city wants an in-progress inspection, and how the pre-roof inspection is scheduled are all set per city — confirm with the local building department.

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

Typically needs a permit

Reroofing 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)

Replacing a few damaged shingles or tiles like-for-like without touching the sheathing
Patching a small area of roof covering in kind — many cities exempt minor repairs below a size threshold they define (verify locally)
Gutter and downspout replacement
Maintenance recoating of an existing membrane or coating system in many jurisdictions (verify locally)

Documents & plans generally required

Building permit application stating tear-off vs. overlay, roof area, and slope
Contractor license and city business registration
Manufacturer listing/spec for the new covering, including its fire classification
Cool-roof product documentation (CRRC-rated aged reflectance and emittance) where the Energy Code requires it for the climate zone and slope
Residential energy-compliance form (CF1R-ALT) where the cool-roof or insulation measures are triggered
Sheathing and re-nailing detail when decking is replaced or the covering changes
Structural verification when changing to a heavier covering (e.g., composition to concrete tile)
Smoke- and CO-alarm self-certification — state law ties alarm compliance to permitted alterations

Common reasons reroofing applications get bounced

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

Proposing an overlay where one isn't allowed — over wood shakes, or where two applications of roofing already exist (CRC R908.3 makes that a mandatory tear-off)
Missing cool-roof documentation in climate zones where Title 24, Part 6 requires it for the product type and slope
A non-Class-A assembly proposed in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone or WUI area
Switching to a heavier covering without structural verification of the framing
No sheathing/nailing schedule when decking is being replaced
Scope understated as a 'repair' when the area involved makes it a reroof

The inspection sequence

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

1Pre-roof/sheathing inspection after tear-off — decking condition, re-nailing, and underlayment verified before covering (some cities accept photo documentation)
2In-progress inspection for special assemblies (fire-rated or low-slope membrane systems) where the city requires one
3Final inspection with the covering complete and flashings, vents, and penetrations finished

Licensing — who can pull it

Reroofing in California is generally performed by a C-39 (Roofing) licensed contractor. A B (General Building) contractor may reroof within a larger project involving two or more unrelated trades under CSLB rules. The contractor doing the work typically pulls the permit.

Other verified San Jose notes

Permit Center phone: (408) 535-3555, Monday–Friday 7 AM–4 PM.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Hourly rates published in the FY 2025-26 Building Division Fee Schedule: $227/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. Many permit types have a flat-fee table; hourly rates apply when no table entry covers the work.
verified May 22, 2026 · source · FY 2025-26 schedule — fee tables in the same document take precedence where applicable
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 May 22, 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 May 22, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for an overlay (going over the existing shingles)?

Generally yes — an overlay is still a reroof and is permitted work. California also limits when an overlay is allowed at all: no new covering over wood shakes, and no more than two applications of any roofing material. Beyond that, it's a mandatory tear-off, and the inspector will verify the existing roof qualifies.

What is the cool-roof requirement?

The California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) requires roofing products with minimum aged solar reflectance and thermal emittance — 'cool roofs' — for certain reroofs, depending on climate zone, roof slope, and building type. Compliance is documented through the product's CRRC rating on the energy form. Where it applies, plan check looks for the rated values, not marketing claims.

When does a repair become a reroof?

Each city draws that line, commonly by area or percentage of the roof surface. Small like-for-like patches are often exempt or handled over the counter; replacing the covering across a slope or the whole roof is a permitted reroof. Describe the true scope on the application — understating it is a common correction.

Do fire-hazard zones change what I can install?

Yes. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and Wildland-Urban Interface areas, California requires fire-rated roof assemblies (generally Class A) and ignition-resistant details. Plan check in those zones reviews the listed assembly — covering plus underlayment plus deck — not just the shingle brand.

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