Permits that do not require plan check

Water heaters that are gas-to-electric, including heat pump water heaters, are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – electrical and plumbing
• Planning – location and noise level

Water heaters that are electric-to-gas are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – electrical (termination of existing conductors) and plumbing

Water heaters that are a like-for-like replacement but there is a change in location are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – plumbing and potentially electrical 
• Planning – location and potentially noise level

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Gas-to-gas or electric-to-electric
   • Water heater replacement; and
   • Exact existing location specified (no new location allowed)

   Example: Like for like replacement of 40-gallon gas water heater in garage

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications
4. Title 24 energy form with signatures
5. Contractor information, signature, and verification that license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work

Forced air units (FAU) that are gas-to-electric, including heat pump space heaters, are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – electrical and mechanical
• Planning – location and noise level

FAUs that are electric-to-gas are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – electrical (termination of existing conductors), mechanical, and plumbing

FAUs that are a like-for-like replacement but there is a change in location are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – plumbing, mechanical, and potentially electrical
• Planning – location

FAUs that are a like-for-like replacement but there is an added air conditioning unit are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the following plan checks:

• Building Division – electrical and mechanical
• Planning – location and noise level

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Gas-to-gas or electric-to-electric
   • FAU/Furnace/Space heater replacement; and
   • Exact existing location specified (no new location allowed)

   Example: Replace existing gas FAU with 80% efficient gas FAU in the same location.

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications
4. Title 24 energy form with signatures
5. Contractor information, signature and verification that license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work

Reroof permits that are eligible for no plan check issuance are reroofs where the roofing materials are the same, where there is no increase in weight of the roofing material or where the roofing material weight is being reduced.

The following are examples of roofing replacement with the same material:

• Composition roofing (comp) to composition roofing (i.e., asphalt shingles) that is made from either a fiberglass or cellulose mat, asphalt, and mineral granules
• Wood shake/shingle to wood shake/shingle
• Rolled roofing to rolled roofing (i.e., built up roofing)that is a roofing system where multiple layers of asphalt get applied between ply sheets (or felts) over the roof deck and insulation
• Single ply membrane roofing (TPO) to TPO
• Tar and gravel (T&G) to tar and gravel

The following are examples of roofing replacement where the new roofing material is the same weight or lighter:

• TPO - approximately 2 lbs./sq. ft. (includes insulating board substrate) to rolled roofing - approximately 7 lbs./sq. ft.
• T & G roofing - approximately 6.5 lbs./sq. ft. to TPO
• T & G to Rolled roofing
• Wood shake/shingle - approximately 4.5 lbs./sq. ft. to comp roofing - (approximately 3.5 lbs./sq. ft. (includes ½” plywood substrate)
• Tile to comp or wood shake/shingles

The following are examples of roofing replacement that are not eligible for no plan check issuance and require the Building Division to verify existing structure capacity to support proposed heavier roofing material weight:

• Tile to tile roofing
• Comp to wood shake/shingle roofing
• Wood shake/shingle to metal roofing

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Reroof or remove and replace:
   • The existing roofing material to be removed;
   • Project scope does not include adding a layer of roofing over the existing roofing;
   • The proposed roofing material to be installed; and
   • Whether or not a new substrate is to be installed.

   Example: Removal of a wood shake roof, install ½” plywood and presidential comp roofing on a single-family home.

3. Roofing worksheet
4. Manufacturer’s product specifications, and
5. Contractor information, signature, and verification that license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work.

Residential re-pipe permits that are eligible for no plan check issuance are one- and two- family homes and townhomes. The following materials are Residential Code approved for use:

• Copper type K and L
• Ductile-Iron
• Galvanized steel
• Malleable iron
• PEX
• Stainless steel

CPVC is not eligible for no plan check issuance and requires Building Division review.  CPVC is only allowed to be used for water distribution inside a residential building with approval by the Building Official per CPC section 604.1.1.

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Re-pipe;
   • Specify the area of the structure to be re-piped (all or a specific portion), and
   • Note the proposed material to be used.

   Example: Complete re-pipe of a single-family home with PEX.

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications (unless copper is being used), and
4. Contractor information, signature, and verification that license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work.

Residential water main replacement permits that are eligible for no plan check issuance are one- and two- family homes and townhomes. The following materials are Residential Code approved for use:

• Copper type K and L
• CPVC
• Ductile-iron
• Galvanized steel
• Malleable iron
• PE (Polyethylene)
• PVC
• Stainless steel

PEX is not eligible for “no plan check” issuance and requires Building Division review.  When placed in soil, PEX is required to be sleeved with a material that is approved for potable water or other material that is impermeable to solvents or petroleum products.

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Residential water main replacement, and
   • Note the proposed material to be used

   Example: Residential water main replacement with PVC.

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications (unless copper is being used), and
4. Contractor information, signature and verification license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work.

Residential sewer replacement permits that are eligible for no plan check issuance are one- and two- family homes and townhomes. The following materials are Residential Code approved for use:

• ABS (Schedule 40)
• Cast Iron
• PVC Schedule 40 (labeled DWV or sewer and Drain)
• Copper (labeled DWV)
• PE (Polyethylene)
• Stainless Steel 316L

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • Residential sewer main replacement
   • Specify the area to be replaced (all or a specific portion), and
   • Note the proposed material to be used

   Example: Complete residential sewer main replacement with SCH 40 ABS.

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications (unless copper is being used), and
4. Contractor information, signature and verification license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work

Residential main electric panel replacement/upgrade permits that are eligible for no plan check issuance are replacements/upgrades to existing panels that are:

• A maximum of 200 amps
• In the same location as the existing panel, and
• Do not include the addition of a subpanel or installation of another electrical device (car charger, battery energy storage system, etc.)

The following are required for verification prior to issuance:

1. Complete permit application
2. Detailed description shall include the following for the inspector’s reference:
   • New panel size in amperage
   • Specify exact location (no new location allowed), and
   • Shall not include the installation of  any other panels or electrical devices

   Example: Replace existing 100 amp electrical service with a 200 amp residential electrical service in the same location

3. Manufacturer’s product specifications (unless copper is being used), and
4. Contractor information, signature and verification license is valid and appropriate for the scope of work

Jom Sicat, Plan Check Engineer

650-330-6723

JSicat@menlopark.gov