Contra Costa County Planning

There are three types of processes for submitting applications, with different submittal requirements:

There are three types of processes for submitting applications, with different submittal requirements:

The first step in determining who needs to review your project, is checking what jurisdiction the project is located. DCD is the County Planning Agency and only reviews projects in unincorporated Contra Costa County. Cities and towns have their own planning agency.

Minor applications are submitted through the ePermit Center and are often processed administratively, unless a public hearing is requested. Minor Applications are used for Home Occupation Permits or Property Use Verifications, Substandard Sized Lot Design Reviews, and Kensington Design Reviews.

Most planning permits are submitted as a General Application because they require additional review by a planner. The time to process a project varies significantly depending on the complexity. These projects often require significant backup documentation. Some projects may require a public hearing.

Some planning applications are not processed through the ePermit system and are processed administratively through the email application. Establishing a short-term rental, a parklet (PDF), or temporary event (PDF) are all email application. The links for these permit types provide the guidance for application submittal and processing.

General Application Checklist (PDF)