New Home Construction in Redwood City, CA
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New Homes in Redwood City
Architectural Permit: required for new homes and for additions or exterior changes above the ground floor. Upper-floor additions of 100 sq ft or less, uncovered decks and balconies, and window changes are exempt. On sloping lots, it also applies to homes of 3,000 sq ft or more on slopes of 15% or more, and to any size on slopes of 30% or more. The Zoning Administrator usually decides without a hearing; homes over 3,000 sq ft and over 45% floor area ratio go to the Planning Commission. Two-story homes and second-story additions follow the citywide Residential Design Guide.
Older homes: a historic evaluation is required to demolish or substantially remodel a building built before 1940, reviewed by the Historic Resources Advisory Committee. This often applies in Edgewood Park and Mount Carmel.
Construction in Progress
Ask us about recent new-home and rebuild projects during your consultation.
Requirements
Plan check usually takes 6 to 24 weeks depending on scope; the One Stop same-day review is available for some simple projects but not additions. Additions need 3 plan sets and new homes 4, with a soils report for new buildings, basements and hillside work. Additions over 500 sq ft need a Sequoia Union High School District fee receipt before permit. At least 65% of construction debris must be recycled, with documentation due within 90 days of final.
Protected trees: private trees over 38 inches in circumference (about 12 inches in diameter) need a permit before any work, usually processed in about 10 working days.
Redwood Shores sits behind levees that FEMA no longer accredits, and the City is planning to raise them by 3.5 feet by 2034; we check flood requirements for bayside parcels.
1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063
Building (650) 780-7350, pe*****@*********ty.org · Inspections (650) 780-7361 · Planning (650) 780-7234, pl******@*********ty.org
In-person counter Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; virtual Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Permits are submitted through eTRAKiT, and a permit technician replies within about 5 business days. Inspections are booked by phone with two-hour arrival windows; a qualified person must be on site with the plans, permit and job card.
Explore More
Other Redwood City services: ADUs · Bathrooms · Kitchens · Additions · Redwood City overview
Same service nearby: San Carlos · Atherton · Menlo Park
See our custom home builder page.
Redwood City New Home Construction FAQ
Must new homes be all-electric?
The all-electric code is not currently enforced.
When does a new home go to the Planning Commission?
When it is over 3,000 sq ft and over 45% floor area ratio.
Is a soils report required?
Yes, for new buildings.
How many plan sets?
Four for a new home.