New Home Construction in San Jose, CA
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Building a New Home in San Jose, Our Home City
Axiom Renovation is based in San Jose, at 4030 Moorpark Avenue. We build custom homes and teardown rebuilds across the city, from Willow Glen and Naglee Park to Almaden Valley, Cambrian and Evergreen. San Jose grew from about 95,000 residents in 1950 to more than 500,000 by 1975, much of it on former orchard land, so many lots now hold aging postwar houses that owners choose to replace.
Construction in Progress
Ask us about our current San Jose projects during your consultation.
Do You Need a Single-Family House Permit?
Most new San Jose homes go straight to building plan check. A Single-Family House Permit from Planning is required first when:
- The house is over 30 feet tall or over two stories.
- The floor area ratio is over 0.45 (garages, basements, accessory structures and ADUs do not count).
- The site is within 100 feet of a creek and the lot is half an acre or larger.
- The site is on the Historic Resources Inventory (City Landmarks and Landmark Districts need a Historic Preservation Permit instead).
- The project creates or alters 10,000 sq ft or more of impervious surface.
The Director of Planning decides administratively or after a public hearing with notice to neighbors within 300 feet, using the Single-Family Design Guidelines.
Geology, Fire Zones and Trees
- Geologic Hazard Clearance: sites in City geologic hazard zones or state earthquake-induced landslide zones need clearance from Public Works before any discretionary approval, grading or building permit; state liquefaction zones need a separate Geologic Clearance.
- Wildfire: the 2025 state maps added more high and Very High fire hazard acreage in San Jose than anywhere else in the Bay Area, about 7,200 acres Very High. The City has an address lookup, and new homes in mapped zones must meet wildfire construction standards.
- Trees: on single-family lots, an ordinance-size tree is 38 inches in circumference at 4½ feet (multiple trunks added together). Removal needs a permit even if the tree is dead.
- Historic areas: Landmark Districts include Hensley, Lakehouse, Reed, River Street, St. James Square and Schiele/Alameda Park; Conservation Areas include Naglee Park, North Willow Glen, Martha Gardens, Hanchett and Hester Park, and Palm Haven.
- Creeks: Council Policy 6-34 sets a 100-foot riparian setback for new residential buildings, though not for projects needing only a Single-Family House Permit.
Energy, Sprinklers and Utilities
- Reach code (applications from July 1, 2024): single-family homes over 1,200 sq ft must beat the state energy budget by a compliance margin of 8 and provide one EV-ready space. San Jose’s 2019 natural gas prohibition for new buildings is under an enforcement moratorium.
- Fire sprinklers are required in all new homes, with Fire Department review of access, hydrants and fire flow.
- Water comes from San Jose Water, Great Oaks Water or San Jose Municipal Water depending on the neighborhood; Municipal Water serves North San Jose, Alviso, Evergreen, Edenvale and Coyote Valley.
- School fees are paid to your school district using the City’s referral form.
City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, 1st Floor, San Jose, CA 95113 · (408) 535-3555 (Building, Planning, Fire and Public Works)
Walk-in service uses a ticket system with posted cutoffs, so arrive early or book ahead. Permits are applied for through SJPermits.org and plans reviewed electronically through SJePlans. Inspections are scheduled at sjpermits.org; inspection questions (408) 535-7641.
Explore More
Other San Jose services: ADU builder · Garage conversions · Home additions · Kitchen remodeling · Bathroom remodeling · Home remodeling
Same service nearby: Milpitas · Santa Clara · Morgan Hill
San Jose New Home Construction FAQ
When does a new San Jose home need a Single-Family House Permit?
When it is over 30 feet or two stories, over 0.45 FAR, near a creek on a large lot, on the Historic Resources Inventory, or creates 10,000 sq ft or more of impervious surface.
Is natural gas allowed in new San Jose homes?
San Jose’s 2019 gas prohibition is under an enforcement moratorium. New homes must still meet the City’s energy reach code.
Do I need a geologic clearance?
In City geologic hazard zones and state landslide or liquefaction zones, yes, before permits.
Where is your office?
4030 Moorpark Avenue, Suite 109, San Jose.