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New construction · Sunnyvale

What permits are needed for new construction in Sunnyvale?

New construction in Sunnyvale requires building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits through City of Sunnyvale Community Development Department — Building Safety Division, plus any entitlements (zoning / planning review) triggered by the project. Plan check focuses on Title 24, the city's all-electric reach code, and structural lateral design; comment cycles typical for two-story projects.

What changes the answer in Sunnyvale.

Most R-1 SFRs are ministerial; Heritage District and other historic-resource overlays trigger design review and demolition findings. City of Sunnyvale Community Development Department — Building Safety Division schedules inspections through its permit portal; foundation, framing, rough trades, insulation, drywall, and final are the standard hold points for new SFRs in Sunnyvale.

  • Sunnyvale uses R-0, R-1, R-1.5, R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts plus the Downtown Specific Plan; R-1 single-family rules govern FAR, daylight plane, and second-story area.
  • Daylight-plane, second-story FAR cap, and rear-yard rules dominate R-1 envelope; protected-tree ordinance further shapes siting.
  • PG&E electric/gas; City of Sunnyvale water (Hetch Hetchy + local supply) and sewer; coordinate service upsize early.
  • Municipal sewer service in developed Sunnyvale parcels; verify lateral condition and any point-of-sale sewer compliance requirement before scoping.

Source-backed note

Official source: City of Sunnyvale Community Development Department — Building Safety Division. We link every cited form, fee schedule, and inspection page from the city's permit directory entry.

Reference: CSLB — License a Contractor — California Contractors State License Board

Local authority: City of Sunnyvale Community Development Department — Building Safety Division

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