Kitchen remodeling
Cabinets, plumbing and appliance circuits all require a permit, so the kitchen design and permit set are done together. Design, drawings and the CSS submittal are included.
R&B Master Construction Inc. / San Carlos
Remodeling in San Carlos, From Permit to Final
Here is how a San Carlos remodel moves through City Hall, and the part we take on at each step.
CSLB #1158657Serving San Carlos from our San Mateo officeDesign, drawings & permits included
Nearly every remodel in San Carlos needs a permit. The City's own FAQ says it is "much easier to list things that do not require a permit." That's why this page starts with the process. R&B Master Construction Inc. (CSLB #1158657), working from our nearby San Mateo office, handles design, drawings and permits as part of every kitchen, bathroom, flooring, painting, whole-home and driveway project here.
San Carlos / Permit steps
The San Carlos permit path in seven steps
Confirm the work needs a permit (it almost always does).
The City exempts painting and wallpapering, short fences and walls, and small sheds. Cabinets, doors, windows, sinks, water heaters, appliances and similar work all need a building permit.
Decide whether Planning gets a look.
The Planning Division reviews height, size and neighborhood impact. Single-family additions get staff-level design review. They go to the Residential Design Review Committee (RDRC) if the project removes 50% or more of the exterior walls, or (on lots under 7,500 sq ft) brings the home to 3,000 sq ft or more. Interior kitchens and baths usually skip this step.
Prepare the drawing set.
We prepare the plans, Title 24 energy forms and any structural calculations. Architectural services for additions come from our in-house licensed architect.
Submit on Civic Access.
Since June 3, 2025, San Carlos takes all applications through its Tyler EPL "Civic Access" Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal, and an account is required. The City publishes its own review targets:
Permit type (City table) Plan review turnaround Kitchen and bath remodel 3–5 days Interior remodel 1–3 weeks Single-story addition 2–4 weeks Second-story addition 3–5 weeks Residential reconstruction 4–6 weeks Recheck for plan review 10 days–2 weeks Answer comments and pay through the dashboard. Corrections, invoices and resubmittals all go through the CSS portal.
Build within the City's noise hours: 8 AM–5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM–5 PM on Saturdays, with no work on Sundays or listed holidays. Inspections are booked through the same account.
Final inspection. This closes the permit, and the record stays attached to the property.
Building Division: City Hall, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos, CA 94070 · (650) 802-4261. Planning: (650) 802-4263.
Turnaround times are the City's published targets as of October 2026, not guarantees.
San Carlos / Services
How the process applies to each service
Bathroom remodeling
The City's 3–5 day target for kitchen and bath plan review rewards a complete set. We include fixture, waterproofing and fan details from the start. Layout and permit package included.
Flooring installation
Flooring that's part of a permitted kitchen or bath goes into that drawing set. For flooring-only jobs, we confirm the permit question with the Building Division before scheduling. Finish plans included.
Interior & exterior painting
Painting is one of the few things San Carlos lists as needing no permit, so this is usually the quickest service to schedule. We still give you a written scope and color schedule.
Whole-home remodeling
If the work removes half or more of the exterior walls, RDRC review applies, and that changes the schedule. We check this early. Design, drawings and Planning/Building filings included.
Home additions
Staff-level design review or RDRC review, depending on the size thresholds. Plans from our in-house licensed architect; we handle the filings.
Plans and permits handled in San Carlos
San Carlos moved all permit applications online in June 2025, to a Customer Self-Service (CSS) portal on Tyler's EPL system. R&B uploads your drawings and the signed application there for the Building Division, then tracks review and inspections in the same dashboard. Read about permits in San Carlos.
San Carlos / Homes
San Carlos homes at a glance
The City's Housing Element needs assessment says San Carlos "was developed as a community of single-family dwelling units and has primarily remained as such." Single-family homes make up 72% of the housing stock (68% detached). About 73% of homes were built between 1940 and 1979. The same report notes that homes over 30 years old commonly need major work such as a new roof, foundation repair or plumbing. For most San Carlos owners, a kitchen or bath remodel is also an opportunity to replace aging supply lines, drains and wiring.
San Carlos / Local guide
Hillside lots, fire areas and protected trees
- Hillside overlay: San Carlos applies its Hillside (H) Overlay to lots with an average slope of 20% or more. It requires grading with "minimal disturbance feasible" and the preservation of ridgelines, drainage courses and rock outcrops.
- Wildfire: The City states that no part of San Carlos is mapped as a very high fire hazard severity zone, but it treats all properties west of Alameda de las Pulgas as high risk. The Building Division's WUI checklist covers ember-resistant vents, roofing and other construction details for projects it designates.
- Trees: Under the Protected Trees Administrative Guidelines, any tree 11 inches or more in diameter is a "significant" tree. Coast live, valley, blue and interior live oaks are heritage trees at 9 inches. Diameter is measured 54 inches above grade. Fruit trees, eucalyptus, acacias, Monterey pine and palms are excluded.
- AC placement: Planning requires residential air conditioners in the rear half of the lot, set back to meet the noise limits (generally 25 feet from property lines).
San Carlos / Energy code
Energy code changes for 2026 permits
California's 2025 Energy Code applies to permits from January 1, 2026, and covers alterations and additions as well as new homes. The Energy Commission notes that most HVAC alterations prescriptively require field verification by an Energy Code Compliance (ECC) rater, and that any required tests are listed on the CF1R certificate. In San Carlos, combine that with the City's rule on AC location: if a remodel adds a heat pump, its outdoor unit placement is both a Planning question and an energy-code one, so we settle it in the drawings.
San Carlos / Roofing
Roofing in San Carlos
San Carlos's Housing Element notes that homes over 30 years old commonly need major work such as a new roof, and about 73% of the City's homes were built between 1940 and 1979. On lots in the Hillside (H) Overlay, the zoning code calls for earth-tone colors on building walls and roofs. For projects the Building Division designates under its WUI checklist, roofing is one of the construction details it covers. A re-roof is not on the City's short list of permit-exempt work, so we file it on Civic Access like the rest of the job.
Explore roof repair & replacementSan Carlos / Driveways
Concrete driveways in San Carlos
Work on the driveway approach (curb, gutter, sidewalk) is in the public right-of-way and needs a Public Works encroachment permit. Applications go to the Public Works counter at City Hall or by email, with the contractor's San Carlos business license, an insurance certificate naming the City as additional insured, the work valuation and plans. Under Municipal Code Chapter 12.04, approaches are built to City standard specifications and may not exceed the widths in the City standard plans. A residential lot 100 feet wide or less can have no more than two approaches, spaced at least 20 feet apart. On hillside-overlay lots, a new driveway also has to meet the overlay's grading rules.
Explore concrete drivewaysBefore you begin
San Carlos remodeling questions
Every home is different. Let’s talk through the details of yours.
How fast does San Carlos review a kitchen or bath permit?
The City's published target for kitchen and bath remodel plan review is 3–5 days, compared with 1–3 weeks for other interior remodels. Rechecks take 10 days to 2 weeks, so a complete first submittal saves the most time.
Do I need a permit to repaint my San Carlos house?
No. The City lists painting and wallpapering among the few projects that don't need a building permit. Replacing windows or doors at the same time would need one.
When does an addition go to the Residential Design Review Committee?
When it removes 50% or more of the exterior walls, or when an addition on a lot under 7,500 sq ft brings the home to 3,000 sq ft or more. Larger lots use the threshold in Municipal Code 18.29.030(A)(1). Other additions get staff-level review.
Where can my new AC or heat pump condenser go?
The City requires residential air conditioners in the rear half of the lot, set back to meet noise limits (generally 25 feet from property lines). Side-yard units need a 3-foot clear path and documentation that they meet the noise limits.
Does R&B handle the Civic Access application?
Yes. Design, drawings and the portal submittal are part of every R&B service in San Carlos, including resubmittals and inspection scheduling.
San Carlos / Next step
Start your San Carlos permit path with one call.
Call (650) 800-9661, 7:00 AM–5:00 PM daily, or send a short enquiry. Your city and an idea of the project are enough to start.
Begin a conversation
A new beginning.
Let’s talk.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. Tell us where you are with your project, and we can discuss the next step.
(650) 800-9661info@rbmasterconstruction.comDiscuss your San Carlos project. Availability is confirmed for your scope and schedule.