Yes! Payments can be made in-person at our Permit Center counter located at 65 Civic Avenue, Pittsburg City Call, where a kiosk and staff are available between the hours of 8-12 am, 1-4 pm for assistance.

Yes! Applicants may pay their filing fees via credit card or debit card. Processing fees may apply. 

Check payments can be made online with no additional processing fees.

No. This license is for doing business in the incorporated area of the City of Pittsburg. Should you plan on doing business in another city, you MUST contact that city in order to obtain their requirements for a business license.

Yes. All entities and persons doing business in the City of Pittsburg (including subcontractors) are required to have a current Business License. This includes home-based businesses, as well as those in commercial areas. It also includes non-Pittsburg businesses that come into Pittsburg to provide services or deliver goods for a fee. A Business License must be obtained prior to commencing business operation.

The general answer to this question is "Yes". However, if the situation does not allow for you to be available at the time of the inspection, you may make other arrangements.

Inspections within the residence or building:

You may have a friend, neighbor, or family member stand in your place. The person must be 18 years old at a minimum. They must have the permit and approved plans at the ready.

Inspections outside of the residence or building:

As with inspections to the interior you can have someone stand in your place.
Again they must be 18 years old at a minimum and have ready the permit and approved plans.

Reroof inspections require the inspector to circumvent the residence both below and up on the roof. If no one is on site we can proceed with this inspection if a few simple steps are taken. (1) Dogs must be inside the residence or confined within a secure kennel. If a loose or tethered dog is present we will not provide an inspection. (2) A completed and posted "Permission to Inspect" notice must be posted and within view of the side gate or front door. This form is available at the permit counter or online.

Swimming pool inspections which require access only to the rear of the property may be approached similarly. However, be aware that some of the procedural inspections involved with pools require access to both the interior and the exterior. Please contact the Building Division in advance to assure a successful inspection.

There are many other types of construction projects that create scenarios similar to those mentioned above. If you wish to avoid being present for the inspection, please contact the Building Division on the morning of the inspection. Speak to the assigned inspector thereby relaying your intent to be absent. This will go far towards eliminating any possibility of confusion and the need for a reinspection.  

A Business License for the City of Pittsburg is subject to renewal once a year. Your business license renewal is due by January 31 and delinquent by February 1. Online renewal applications must be processed and paid no later than February 1st of the following year to avoid a late payment penalty. If the payment for renewal is received after February 1st the renewal becomes delinquent and subject to a 10% penalty per month up to a maximum of 50%. To register and/or renew please visit: Accela Citizen Access

No. You must also comply with any and all regulations that pertain to your business and location, including zoning, health and safety, etc. The Business License is only an indication that you have completed the application and paid the fee for the term of the respective business license.

You may email us at businesslicense@pittsburgca.gov and provide the name and/or street location of the business. Staff will verify whether or not the there is a current license.

We are pleased to announce the new online licensing system.  All applications are required to be submitted through the online portal. To register and apply please visit: Accela Citizen Access. 

Schedule an inspection:

Inspection requests are now scheduled through the online permitting portal up to 24-hours in advance. If you are not registered and need assistance please contact the Building Division at (925) 252-4910. ACCELA Online Permitting Portal: Click Here

Inspections occur Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Morning inspections are done between 8:00 am 12:00 pm. Afternoon inspections are done between 12:30 and 3:30 pm. We do our best to provide you with the tightest inspection window possible. You will not receive a confirming phone call. If you would like to confirm your inspection and speak to the assigned inspector please call (925) 252-4910 between 8:00 am and 9:00 am the day of the inspection.

Access for the inspection:

It is the responsibility of the person requesting the inspection to provide access to and means for proper inspection of the work. Animals must be confined. If no one is to be on site 'i.e. swimming pool inspection' you must provide and conspicuously post a letter on site allowing entry.

Expiration:

It is the duty of the permit holder to obtain an inspection within 180 days of permit issuance. Work must commence within the 180 days. If not, the permit expires and becomes null and void. The permit holder can request 'one' 180 day extension. All permits may be considered expired regardless if the work has not been completed with one year of issuance. The permit holder must contact the Building Division to avoid this condition.

Reinspection Fee:

A reinspection fee may be levied for each instance when work is not ready, no one is on site, or there has been deviation from the approved set of plans. The reinspection fee shall be received prior to any additional inspections being performed. A reinspection fee may also be assessed if a permit has expired and the permit holder requests a final inspection and the work is deemed incomplete requiring a correction notice.

A new business license is based on the estimated annual gross receipts. We strongly recommend that you use the electronic Business License Calculator available on the City website.

The Contra Costa County Business License only allows you to operate in the unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County and is not valid for business operations conducted within the City of Pittsburg.

Yes! Applicants are not required to pay any fee to use or create an account to submit applications online. City application filing fees are required at the time of application and can be paid via credit card or debit card. Processing fees may apply. Check payments accepted with no additional processing fees.

It costs $7.00 to obtain a replacement copy of your Business License.

A 'Certificate of Occupancy' is only issued when a new occupancy is established.

In the case of new commercial construction, a certificate of occupancy will not be issued for a shell building, as the occupancy classification has not been established. A certificate will be issued for each tenant space regardless of the number.

In the case of tenant improvements related to an existing structure, there exist a multitude of possible scenarios; for that reason, each change in occupancy must be examined individually.

The Building Division is charged with assuring that both the proposed use and neighboring uses are compatible. In addition, the building must fit the use. The type of construction and separation between existing occupancies must be reviewed. If a proposed use is determined to be more hazardous, a thorough structural and life safety evaluation and upgrade shall be required.

There may be occasions when approval from other City Departments may be misconstrued as approval for a change in occupancy. Please contact the Building Division prior to finalizing a lease if there is to be a change in the type of business activity that presently exists.

Section 110 Certificate of Occupancy

110.1 Use and occupancy. No building or structure shall be used or occupied, and no change in the existing occupancy classification of a building or structure or portion thereof shall be made until the building official has issued a certificate of occupancy therefore as provided herein. Issuance of a certificate of occupancy shall not be construed as an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction.

110.3 Temporary occupancy. The building official is authorized to issue a temporary certificate of occupancy before the completion of the entire work covered by the permit, provided that such portion or portions shall be occupied safely. The building official shall set a time periods during which the temporary certificate of occupancy is valid.

110.4 Revocation. The building official is authorized to, in writing, suspend or revoke a certificate of occupancy or completion issued under the provisions of this code wherever the certificate is issued in error, or on the basis of incorrect information supplied, or where it is determined that the building or structure or portion thereof is in violation of any ordinance or regulation or any of the provisions of this code.

Cerificate of Occupancy handout [PDF].

Counter Open: Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - Noon and 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm