The State of California's Contractors State License Board issues different classifications of contractor licenses according to the contractor's specialization.

• Projects must be performed by contractors holding the correct license classification, e.g., B-General, C-10 Electrical, C-36 Plumbing, etc.
• Contractors may only pull permits, such as building, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permits, that relate to their license classification.

To verify a contractor's type of license: Go to Check a Contractor's License

Contractor Requirements to Sign a Permit in San José

• State Contractor’s License - The number must be entered on the building permit application. For projects requiring plan review, you may be asked to show either the card issued by the Contractors State License Board or other documentation that you are the licensee.

• City of San José Business Tax Certificate - A current certificate is required to pull a permit. City staff will confirm the status of your business tax certificate, so no documentation is required. Learn more at Business Tax & Registration.  

• Workers’ Compensation Insurance Certificate - If you have one or more employees, then you are required by State law to have workers' compensation coverage, and you will need to verify this when completing the building permit application. For projects entailing plan review, be ready to show proof of coverage at the time of permit issuance.

We highly recommend that the licensed contractor rather than the property owner pull the permit. Read the state's Owner-Builder Overview for when an owner would need a contractor's license and read about liability concerns in Owner-Builders Beware! If you wish to proceed as an Owner-Builder, your permit application package will need to include:

Owner-Builder Requirements to Sign a Permit

• Owner Acknowledgement and Information Verification Form - In addition to submitting a building permit application, you must complete and submit this form.
• At time of permit issuance, be ready to provide a Driver’s License or other proof of identification.
• You must be the Property Owner as recorded by the County Tax Assessor. If you have recently acquired the property and the County Tax Assessor does not yet list you as the owner, then you will need to show proof of ownership. This may be real estate transaction papers or title information.

An agent can be authorized to represent a licensed contractor or a property owner. There are two ways to do this:

• Use the authorization section of the Building Permit Application - On page 2 of the application form, section C, you may authorize someone to be your agent. The licensed contractor or property owner must sign section C.
  
  Or
  
  
• Provide a Notarized Letter of Signature Authorization - The letter must be dated no earlier than 12 months before the date of the permit application. State the name of the person being authorized to sign on your behalf. The letter must be notarized. Be ready to submit the letter with the building permit application or provide the letter at the time of permit issuance.

A tenant with an authorizing letter from the property owner may obtain the permit.