Palo Alto Building Permit Search & History
Look up 410 recent Palo Alto building permits — addresses, permit types, contractors, and valuations, updated multiple times a day from the city's official records, with history back to February 23, 2026. Free email alerts when new permits match your filters.
Recent Palo Alto Permits
Showing 20 of 410 recent permits.
Sign up to see all permits and set alertsPalo Alto Permit Filing Trends
Weekly filing volume from the last 12 weeks of Palo Alto permit data:
| Week | Permits filed | Declared value |
|---|---|---|
| July 20, 2026 | 20 | — |
| July 13, 2026 | 119 | — |
| July 6, 2026 | 115 | — |
| June 29, 2026 | 89 | — |
| June 22, 2026 | 66 | — |
| June 15, 2026 | 114 | — |
| June 8, 2026 | 94 | — |
| June 1, 2026 | 119 | — |
| May 25, 2026 | 84 | — |
| May 18, 2026 | 91 | — |
| May 11, 2026 | 127 | — |
| May 4, 2026 | 103 | — |
Most common permit types in the last 90 days: Project - Building Permit (598) · Revision-Building Permit (140) · Roof: Like for like re-roof, only one structure per permit (detached single-family and duplex only, non-historic property) (131) · Heat Pump Space Conditioning Systems: New, retrofit, or replacement of space conditioning system (heat pump, furnace/air handler) and associated ductwork (detached single-family, duplex, and ADUs) (124) · Kitchen and/or Bath Remodel: Within existing footprint, non-structural changes are allowed (detached single-family and duplex only) (87) · Water Heater (electric): One heat pump water heater (detached single-family and duplex only) (36)
Palo Alto Building Permit History
Building permits are public records: every filing leaves a permanent paper trail of what was built, altered, or repaired at an address. The Permit Sheet's Palo Alto feed currently covers 1,934 permits going back to February 23, 2026, refreshed multiple times a day from the city's official database.
No official start date published; the City states historical building permit records are available through Accela Citizen Access, and Permit View (launched Dec 2025, replacing BuildingEye) covers building, planning, and code-enforcement activity.
The City Clerk's City Records page states historical building permit records are available through Accela Citizen Access. For older records or plans not found online, submit a California Public Records Act request via the City's online portal (City Clerk, City.Clerk@PaloAlto.gov, 650-329-2571) with the property address and date range; requests are routed to Planning & Development Services.
To research a specific property, start with the address search on Palo Alto Permit View, then use our free permit lookup to see recent filings, contractors, and valuations side by side.
Each weekly Palo Alto digest also lists the biggest projects filed that week by address.
Palo Alto Building Department
City of Palo Alto Planning & Development Services Department (Development Services Division / Building Division)
Open Palo Alto Permit View (paloalto.gov/PermitView), accept the user agreement, then enter the street address or assessor's parcel number to pull up building, planning, and code-enforcement activity at that property, filterable by date and application type. You can also draw a custom area on the map and subscribe to email alerts for new applications in that area. For a permit's full status, inspections, or to pay fees, look the record up in Accela Citizen Access instead.
Which Palo Alto permit tool do I use?
The city runs several official tools; each answers a different question:
Weekly Palo Alto Permit Digests
Free weekly reports on the biggest Palo Alto projects filed, with addresses and valuations:
About Palo Alto Building Permits
Building permits in Palo Alto are public records administered by the City of Palo Alto Planning & Development Services Department (Development Services Division / Building Division). They cover new construction, renovations, demolitions, electrical work, plumbing, roofing, solar installations, and more. Every permit includes the property address, type of work, estimated valuation, and the applicant and contractor on record.
The Permit Sheet monitors Palo Alto's official permit records multiple times per day, so you can search recent filings on this page without paging through the city portal — and get an email the moment a new permit matches your trade, neighborhood, or valuation filters. Contractors use it to be first to new projects; investors and neighbors use it to see what's being built nearby.
How to search Palo Alto permits
- Browse the live feed above — the 20 newest filings with addresses, types, and valuations, refreshed all day.
- Look up a specific address — use the free permit lookup or the city's official Palo Alto Permit View to pull filings for one property.
- Set an alert — create a free account and get new Palo Alto permits matching your filters by email within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up building permits in Palo Alto?
Two ways: search the city's official portal, Palo Alto Permit View (Open Palo Alto Permit View (paloalto.gov/PermitView), accept the user agreement, then enter the street address or assessor's parcel number to pull up building, planning, and code-enforcement activity at that property, filterable by date and application type. You can also draw a custom area on the map and subscribe to email alerts for new applications in that area. For a permit's full status, inspections, or to pay fees, look the record up in Accela Citizen Access instead.) — or browse the live feed on this page, which tracks Palo Alto filings continuously and adds contractor and valuation details.
How do I find the permit history of a Palo Alto address?
Search the address on Palo Alto Permit View for the city's official record. The Permit Sheet's Palo Alto feed goes back to February 23, 2026 with 1,934 permits tracked — each weekly digest also lists the biggest filings by address. The City Clerk's City Records page states historical building permit records are available through Accela Citizen Access. For older records or plans not found online, submit a California Public Records Act request via the City's online portal (City Clerk, City.Clerk@PaloAlto.gov, 650-329-2571) with the property address and date range; requests are routed to Planning & Development Services.
How many building permits were filed in Palo Alto this month?
410 building permits appear in our Palo Alto feed for the last 30 days. The most common type is Project - Building Permit.
Can I get email alerts for new Palo Alto building permits?
Yes. The Permit Sheet sends real-time email alerts within minutes of new permits being filed. Filter by permit type (roofing, electrical, solar, HVAC), valuation range, and neighborhood. Free tier available.
Where is the Palo Alto building department?
City of Palo Alto Planning & Development Services Department (Development Services Division / Building Division), Development Center, 285 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94301, (650) 329-2496. Development Center: Mon-Thu 8:30am-4:30pm (closed 12:30-1:30pm); Fri 8:30am-4:30pm virtual only (Development Center closed; virtual service also pauses 12:30-1:30pm).