Where Palo Alto permits live
The portal asks for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge and warns it may not work in Safari. First-time users and anyone who wants help can book an appointment or call (650) 329-2496; account problems go to pdsdata@paloalto.gov.
The same page warns of "fraudulent invoices targeting permit applicants": all payments go through Accela Citizen Access, and "City staff will never email you a PDF invoice and request your response for a separate link for payment." The City does not describe a contractor search, but each permit in its data carries a licence number, which is how our compare pages match firms to the CSLB.
How to look up the permits on a Palo Alto address
- Open Accela Citizen Access in Chrome or Edge. You do not need to log in.
- Under Building, choose Search Records and enter the address or permit number.
- Open each record for its status and inspections.
- Check the licence number on the permit against the CSLB licence check.
- For a map of everything on and around the parcel, open Permit View on a desktop.
How to read Palo Alto permit statuses
These are the statuses we read in the City's permit data:
| Status in the record | What it means | Finished in our data? |
|---|---|---|
| Finaled | Final inspection passed | Yes |
| Closed | Closed after final | Yes |
| Permit Issued | Work allowed, not yet finaled | Not yet |
| Expired | Lapsed before final | No |
| Ready to Issue | Approved, not yet issued | Not counted |
We do not show a completion rate for Palo Alto: almost every older permit here is eventually finaled, so it cannot tell contractors apart. The City publishes no issue date, so our days run from the application and include plan review (Palo Alto about page, methodology).
When the permit you want is not online
For a permit or plan set that is not in Accela, contact the Development Center on (650) 329-2496. Its pages we read do not set out a separate records request process for permits, so ask there first.
What our Palo Alto file adds
Accela answers "what was permitted at this address". We answer "what does this firm's Palo Alto record look like".
| Trade | Permits | Firms | Usual days to final |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roofing | 1,603 | 398 | 48 |
| HVAC | 938 | 182 | 69 |
| Electrical | 915 | 426 | 70 |
| Water heater | 851 | 121 | 50 |
| Plumbing | 634 | 192 | 20 |
| Remodel | 673 | 420 | 187 |
2,387 firms pulled the 7,078 permits. The usual re-roof went from application to final in 48 days; a remodel took 187.
The Palo Alto permit statistics page has the same file by trade, year and month; the firm lists are on the roofing, HVAC and remodel compare pages. To check the licence behind a name on a permit, use the Palo Alto contractor license lookup; to check whether your job needs a permit at all, see Do I need a permit?.
See every Palo Alto roofer by days to final →
What this does not tell you
Santa Clara County does not publish home values, so our Palo Alto pages show no price comparison. Trades are read from the permit description, so a mixed job sits under its largest scope. Our file covers October 2023 to September 2026.
How we know this
Portal details are quoted from the City of Palo Alto's Accela Citizen Access home page, read 23 October 2026. Statuses are from the City's Development Center permit data, October 2023 to September 2026.
Numbers come from City of Palo Alto Development Center building permits on single-family, duplex and ADU homes, data through October 19, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- How do I find out if a permit was pulled on my house in Palo Alto?
Use the permit history search in the City's Accela Citizen Access portal (aca-prod.accela.com/PALOALTO). The City lists it among the services available without logging in.
- Are Palo Alto building permits public record?
Yes. Permit history is searchable in Accela without an account, and Permit View maps planning, building and enforcement records by location.
- Should I pay a Palo Alto permit invoice I got by email?
Not through an emailed link. The City warns of fraudulent invoices and says all payments must be made through Accela Citizen Access.
- Can I search Palo Alto permits by contractor?
The City does not describe a contractor search. Each permit carries a licence number, and our Palo Alto compare pages group the permits by firm.
- How long does a Palo Alto permit take to final?
Measured from application, the usual water heater permit took 50 days in our file, a re-roof 48 and a remodel 187.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Marin County building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Orlando building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Palo Alto contractor license lookup: the CSLB license, the classification and the City permits
- Home improvement costs in Palo Alto, CA (2026): what 12 kinds of jobs were filed at
- Do I need an HVAC permit in Palo Alto? Yes: the instant heat pump permit, the 65 dBA limit and the mechanical checklist
- Do I need a roofing permit in Palo Alto? The one-square repair rule, Class A in the hills, and five inspections
For one city
- City of Palo Alto Online Permitting Services (Accela Citizen Access) (2026-10-23)
- Palo Alto Permit View (2026-10-23)
- Check A License — CSLB (2026-10-23)