General Guidelines in San Jose Home Remodeling
To have a successful home remodeling project in San Jose, follow safety, sustainability, and aesthetic regulations. Familiarize yourself with these rules to streamline the project and avoid complications.
Zip Codes We Serve in San Jose
95101, 95125, 95129, 95103, 95126, 95130, 95106, 95127, 95131, 95108, 95128, 95132, 95109, 95133, 95138, 95110, 95134, 95139, 95111, 95135, 95151, 95117, 95136, 95152, 95118, 95141, 95153, 95119, 95148, 95154, 95120, 95150, 95155, 95121, 95156, 95161, 95122, 95157, 95164, 95123, 95158, 95170, 95124, 95159, 95172, 95112, 95160, 95173, 95113, 95190, 95193, 95115, 95191, 95194, 95116, 95192, 95196
Local Zoning and Land Use Laws (Building Heights, Setbacks, and Land Coverage)
In San Jose, California, the local zoning and land use laws significantly shape the urban landscape and determine the parameters for home remodeling. These regulations dictate that each new development or modification aligns with the city's overarching land use goals and management policies.
- Height: A house shouldn’t exceed 30 feet in height or 2 stories. For projects with second-story additions, the total second-story floor area should be at most 60% of the first-floor area.
- Setbacks: The front yard setback requirement zone is 20 feet. The sideyard setback is 5 feet. However, the rear yard setback is increased to 20 feet. No fence should exceed three feet in height in any side setback area adjacent to a street between the lot line inside the sidewalk and five feet from the lot.
- Land Coverage: Any improvement to real property shall be considered separate from the main building if it does not meet certain criteria provided under Chapter 20.200 of the Code of Ordinances. Plan details must include parcel dimensions, public streets, easements, required setbacks, building distance from all property lines, distance between buildings, and more.
Required Documents
This includes design plans, engineering calculations, property surveys, and a detailed work description. The documents must demonstrate the proposed project's compliance with all applicable zoning and building regulations and clarify the project's scope and scale.
Costs and Fees
The cost of a remodeling project varies significantly depending on its scope, complexity, and the materials used. It's important to note that additional costs may arise due to unforeseen complications, custom requests, or changes to the project scope once construction has begun.
- Building Permit (Single-family/Duplex):
- Minor Kitchen/Bathroom Remodel: $250-$500
- Major Remodels (structural changes, roof framing): $500-$1,500+ (depending on complexity)
- Additions > 500 sq ft: $1,500+
- New Construction: $2,000+
- Planning Permit: $250-$1,000+ (required for major changes, historic districts, PD zoning)
- Electrical Permit: $100-$300+ (depending on scope)
- Plumbing Permit: $100-$200+ (depending on scope)
- Other Permits: May be required for landscaping, pools, HVAC systems, etc. (costs vary)
