Commissions

Divisions

Planning

The Planning Division processes all development applications and oversees all design review approvals. It also drafts new City ordinances and prepares amendments to the Walnut Creek General Plan.

The Planning Division is responsible for implementing City policies that direct the physical development of Walnut Creek. Planning serves as the point of entry for development proposals and provides assistance to architects, designers, developers, builders, and residents navigating the regulatory process. This process can include single family property owners as well as residential and commercial builders. On a daily basis, staff assists customers with permit processing and provides guidance on City policies related to environmental design. Staff also maintains and implements the General Plan, the City's long range blueprint and policy document.

The Planning Division processes applications for:

• Design review
• Conditional use permits
• Rezoning and planned developments
• General Plan amendments
• Variances
• Subdivisions of land
• Sign review
• Zoning compliance (for building permits)
• Temporary Activity permits
• Home occupation permits

Building

The Building Division performs plan checks, issues building permits, and provides inspection services for building construction and electrical, plumbing and mechanical installations. The team also responds to complaints concerning building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical code compliance.

Plan Check performs residential and commercial plan checks for fire and life-safety, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, Title-24 energy, Title-24 disabled access, and pertinent municipal code and state regulations governing the design and construction of buildings and other structures.

Inspection inspects buildings during construction for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical code compliance and responds to complaints concerning alleged building code violations.

Permit Administration is responsible for all aspects of the building permit process, including processing and routing of applications and revisions, issuing permits, maintaining applied, issued, expired and canceled permits, and for providing timely reporting of permit information to the public.