R&B Master Construction Inc. / Stanford
Two approvals, in the right order. We answer the first questions here.
Homes on a Stanford ground lease aren't permitted like typical Bay Area houses. Stanford University owns the land and reviews improvements through Faculty Staff Housing (FSH). For campus homes, building permits then come from Santa Clara County. R&B Master Construction Inc. (CSLB #1158657) plans kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, painting, whole-home remodels, additions and driveway work for ground-lease homeowners from our Cupertino and San Mateo offices. Design, drawings and both sets of filings are part of the service.
Stanford / Local guide
FSH explains that Stanford, as landowner, has the legal right to review and approve development on its land, and that its review keeps homes consistent with the University's building guidelines. FSH also reviews any project involving a supplier of labor, materials or equipment, because those parties can file a mechanics' lien.
For homes on a Stanford lease, on or off campus, any project involving a contractor or supplier, including interior or exterior renovations, must be reviewed by FSH. For campus homes on a standard ground lease, FSH lists additions or changes to the exterior, landscaping, tree removal and gray-water systems as needing approval. It lists interior work that doesn't change the exterior, water heater or sewer line replacement, solar and electrical upgrades as not needing Stanford approval. Because of the lien rule, we treat FSH contact as the first step on any contracted job and confirm the category with them.
For campus homes, it's the County of Santa Clara Department of Planning and Development. FSH's FAQ also lists the Palo Alto and Menlo Park building divisions, and its regulations page covers lease areas in those cities (for example, University Terrace in Palo Alto). Your lease area determines the jurisdiction.
FSH first, then permits. FSH reviews and stamps the plans and returns an electronic copy, which is then submitted for the building permit. For exterior renovations on standard-ground-lease campus homes, the FAQ says the County will not accept plans for permit without the FSH approval stamp on every page.
FSH says its approval can take up to 10 workdays after it has all requested information. Homes 50 years old or older may need more time for historic review. The County lists normal building permit processing as four to six weeks. Those are separate steps, so we schedule them back to back.
For projects over $50,000, FSH posts a notice at the site stating that the work is the lessee's financial responsibility and that liens attach only to the leasehold, not Stanford's land. It must stay posted for the whole construction period.
Stanford / Local guide
| Stanford / FSH | County of Santa Clara | |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews against | The building regulations for your lease area (for campus homes, the San Juan Residential District Building, Design and ADU Manual) | County ordinances and state and local building codes |
| Submit | Project Application form, fee, and drawings or photos as needed. Construction Notification form for campus projects over 30 days | Development Permit Application on the County's Public Permit Portal |
| Where | FSH, Owen House, 552 O'Connor Lane, Stanford · 650-725-6893 | Permit Center, 70 W Hedding St, East Wing, 7th Floor, San José · 408-299-5700 |
| Typical time | Up to 10 workdays after the file is complete | Normal processing 4–6 weeks |
Stanford / Local guide
Yes. On a standard campus ground lease, an interior kitchen remodel that doesn't change the exterior is outside Stanford's approval list. But because a contractor is involved, FSH still reviews it for lien protection, and a County permit is required for the work. Design, drawings, the FSH application and the County filing are included.
It works the same way as a kitchen. Before drawings are final, FSH asks that existing utility locations be requested from Stanford's Maps and Records Office, which matters when drains or supply lines move. Bath design and both filings included.
According to FSH, painting the interior or exterior and installing new flooring generally don't need drawings, but they do need a project application and the processing fee. We prepare and file the application for you.
Yes, through the full process: FSH review of the plans (site plan with property lines, setbacks, easements and trees over 6 inches; floor plans; at least two elevations for exterior changes), then the County permit. FSH recommends a preliminary consultation with draft plans for additions, and San Juan District setbacks follow the standard adopted September 1, 2022. Architectural plans come from our in-house licensed architect, and our team handles the FSH and County filings.
Stanford / Design & permits
We do, on every R&B service here. FSH requires drawings to scale that identify the preparer and license number. We produce them, submit them to Stanford Faculty Staff Housing with the Project Application, and once they're stamped, file them on the County of Santa Clara Public Permit Portal (or with the Palo Alto or Menlo Park building division if your lease area falls there). More on permits in Stanford and the FSH steps.
Stanford / Energy code
Yes. The County enforces the 2025 California codes, including the 2025 Energy Code, so additions and alterations in 2026 follow it. If a remodel changes the HVAC, Energy Commission guidance says most such alterations need field verification by an Energy Code Compliance rater, as listed on the CF1R. The County also enforces the 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code where it applies.
Stanford / Roofing
FSH lists repairing or replacing a roof among the projects that generally need no drawings but do need a project application and processing fee. Its FAQ also lists re-roofing among the work that generally requires a building permit from the jurisdiction for your lease area. We file the FSH application first, then the permit.
Explore roof repair & replacementStanford / Driveways
FSH lists repaving a driveway among projects that generally need no drawings but do need a project application and fee. New hardscape, site drainage changes, retaining walls and tree removal do need drawings. For trees that aren't Stanford street trees, FSH asks for an arborist report. Underground Service Alert (811 / 1-800-227-2600) must be called at least two working days before digging. We confirm with FSH whether any part of the work touches a Stanford street or utility before quoting.
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On a standard campus ground lease, interior work that doesn't change the exterior is outside Stanford's approval list. FSH still reviews any project involving a contractor or supplier because of mechanics' lien rules, so we contact FSH first.
Not for exterior renovations on standard-ground-lease campus homes. The FSH FAQ says the County requires the FSH approval stamp on every page.
Possibly. FSH notes homes 50 years old or older may need more historic review time. The County's Historic Preservation Ordinance requires Board of Supervisors approval to demolish a house on its Historic Heritage Inventory, and to alter the exterior of a designated Landmark.
Yes, a project application and processing fee, but generally no drawings.
No. We serve Stanford from our Cupertino and San Mateo offices. Our headquarters is at 84 W Santa Clara St, Suite 700, San Jose.
Stanford / Next step
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
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 Stanford project. Availability is confirmed for your scope and schedule.