Building Department

Questions related to plan review, permit, inspection, and project close-out requirements.

Campus Building Department

The Campus Building Department reviews and inspects all construction and renovation at UC Berkeley. In addition to theCalifornia Building Codeand theUCOP Facilities Manual, we also work to ensure that projects follow theCampus Design Standardsand contribute to a safe, efficient and long-lasting built environment in...

Codes and Resources

Applicable codes and requirements

California Building Standards Code (online)
Division of the State Architect California Access Compliance Reference Materials(online)
Construction Waste Management Plan...

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Inspections

The Campus Building Department is closed for all Academic and Administrative holidays. You can find this year's holiday schedule on the Registrar's website located here: https://registrar.berkeley.edu/calendar/
 If you don't know your project number, find it from the list of active permitted projectshere You must provide contact...

Permits and Plan Reviews

All construction and renovation projects at UC Berkeley must adhere to the California Building Code and the UCOP Facilities Manual. Additionally, projects in university-owned and university-operated spaces must adhere to the Campus Design Standards

Projects must submit plans for review and...

Building Department Team

Building Department Team

Sean McNamara
Director and Campus Building Official
sean.mcnamara@berkeley.edu
510-847-2312 (C)

Bob Fox
Sr. Construction Inspector
redrider@berkeley.edu
510-529-5682 (C)

tim guichard
Sr. Construction Inspector
tguichar@berkeley.edu
510-685-...

Does my project require review for accessibility compliance?

Yes. All projects are reviewed for compliance with Chapter 11b - Accessibility to Public Buildings, Public Accommodations, Commercial Buildings and Public Housing.

Generally, large projects are reviewed by the Division of the State Architect. Small projects are reviewed in-house by Certified Access Specialist (CASp) certified plan reviewers.

I heard I need to submit a permit for painting. Is that true?

When we first instituted the permit process, we did require permits for paint in order to collect data on who was doing such work on campus. We have since changed our business process, and as such, permits for paint are no longer required.

How do I share documents with the Building Department?

Email is easy! Send your documents as attachments to: building@berkeley.edu. Make sure your email denotes your project details (Permit number if one has been issued, client reference number if not) so we know what the documents pertain to.

If your files are too big for email, you can use either of Berkeley's file sharing tools. We've created handy tutorials forcreating a download link...

Why do I need to submit for a permit for carpet and other finishes?

Carpet, drapery, acoustic panels and the like must be reviewed for compliance with the California Fire Code. Additionally, the university is obligated to collect and maintain data regarding these activities to demonstrate compliance with California and University bidding, purchasing and contracting rules.