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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Whole-house repipe permits in San Ramon, CA

General California guidance last updated May 22, 2026 · San Ramon data verified May 22, 2026

What plumbing contractors need to know about pulling a whole-house repipe permit in San Ramon (Contra Costa County).

Short answer

In California, a whole-house repipe needs a plumbing permit, pulled by a licensed C-36 contractor under the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5). The permit covers replacing existing supply (and sometimes drain/waste/vent) piping; common drivers include failing galvanized or polybutylene supply, slab leaks, low-pressure complaints, and pinhole leaks in copper.

San Ramon accepts submittal through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal and has adopted the California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — current edition adopted by the San Ramon Municipal Code. Fee details and sources are below.

San Ramon permit data

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

Permit portal

Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal

verified May 22, 2026 · source · EnerGov-based portal for permit application submittal, fee estimation, payment, and inspection scheduling. Operational endpoint: https://srch-munis-web.sanramon.ca.gov/EnerGov_Prod/SelfService

Adopted code edition

California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — current edition adopted by the San Ramon Municipal Code

verified May 22, 2026 · source · San Ramon adopts and enforces the California Building Standards Code via the San Ramon Municipal Code; confirm the specific year adopted with Building & Safety before filing

Fee schedule

Permit-fee estimation through the CSS portal (city does not publish a single consolidated PDF schedule — estimates are project-specific)

verified May 22, 2026 · source · Building & Safety provides project-specific fee estimates via the CSS portal's fee estimator and at the Permit Center counter

City of San Ramon Building & Safety Services →All verified San Ramon data →

The general picture in California

A repipe replaces the hot/cold supply distribution throughout a structure — most commonly converting galvanized or polybutylene to PEX or copper. The permit covers pipe material, sizing, routing, fastening, insulation, manifold or trunk-and-branch layout, and pressure testing. Drain/waste/vent repipes add slope, venting, and cleanout requirements. Drywall and finish repairs are out of scope of the plumbing permit but may require their own permits if structural framing is altered.

For deeper background that isn't San Ramon-specific, see the statewide whole-house repipe guide.

Typically needs a permit

Whole-house repipe itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, San Ramon included. San Ramon-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Replacing an exposed section of supply pipe with the same material and routing (repair)
Replacing a fixture supply line, angle stop, or stop valve
Tightening or replacing a single fitting on existing pipe

Documents & plans generally required

Plumbing permit application
Contractor license and city business registration
Pipe material, size, and manufacturer (PEX-A vs. PEX-B, copper type, fitting system)
Routing plan — trunk-and-branch vs. manifold, with pipe sizes per fixture group
Pressure-test procedure and the test pressure to be held
Penetration and fire-stopping details where lines pass through rated assemblies
Listing/approval for any non-traditional pipe (specific PEX listings, fitting systems)

Common reasons whole-house repipe applications get bounced

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

Pipe sizing not matching the fixture-unit load (undersized branches feeding multiple fixtures)
Pipe material or fitting system not listed for potable water use in California
No pressure-test procedure or insufficient hold pressure shown
Missing penetration / fire-stopping detail at rated walls and floor assemblies
Hot-water line insulation not specified per Title 24 Part 6
DWV scope missing slope, cleanouts, or venting where the repipe includes drainage

The inspection sequence

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

1Rough/cover inspection with new piping exposed, pressure-tested, and supported
2Insulation inspection for Title 24 hot-water-line insulation where applicable
3Final inspection with fixtures reconnected, pressure restored, and the system tested

Licensing — who can pull it

Repipes in California are performed by a C-36 (Plumbing) licensed contractor; a B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger project under CSLB rules. The licensed contractor doing the work typically pulls the permit.

Other verified San Ramon notes

Building & Safety Services contact: (925) 973-2580 (Option #2) · PermitCenter@SanRamon.ca.gov
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Permit and plan submittal procedures, required forms, and approval workflow are documented at the city's Permit and Plan Submittal Instructions page.
verified May 22, 2026 · source
Application processing timelines and the review workflow (intake → plan check → correction cycle → issuance) are published at the Building Permit Review Process page.
verified May 22, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit for a whole-house repipe in California?

Yes — replacing supply (and/or DWV) piping throughout a structure is permitted plumbing work in every California jurisdiction. The permit covers material, sizing, routing, and pressure testing; the inspector typically signs off at rough (pre-cover) and at final.

Is PEX allowed throughout California?

Yes — PEX has been approved statewide for potable water under the California Plumbing Code for over a decade. Some jurisdictions still require specific listings or limit certain fitting types; the listing should be shown on the permit submittal.

Do I need a separate permit for drywall repair?

The plumbing permit covers the pipe work only. Drywall and finish repair are typically follow-up work and don't require a separate permit unless structural framing is altered. Inspectors will require pipe access (open walls or strategic cuts) at the rough inspection.

Can a repipe be done in an occupied home?

Generally yes — most residential repipes are done with the occupants in place, with water shut off for short periods. The permit doesn't restrict occupancy; sequencing is a contractor/owner decision.

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