Demolition of an Existing Structure

The following procedures are required for the issuance of a demolition permit:

Complete and sign a development permit application.
Complete and sign the Identification of Structures for Potential Historic Significance form, and submit a copy of the Santa Clara County Property Record for the property.
Contact PG&E regarding disconnection of utilities. Obtain their signed form to verify that utilities have been disconnected. If the CITY OF LOS ALTOS is the sewer provider, approval from the City is required for sewer cap inspection, (650) 947-2780.
Complete the Bay Area Air Quality Management District form and send one copy to them. Provide one copy to the Building Inspection Office. (BAAQMD Regulation 11-2-401.3 requires that notification shall be provided to the Air Pollution Control Office at least 10 (ten) working days prior to commencement of demolition/renovation, or as early as possible prior to commencement of emergency demolition/renovation.) Two separate forms are attached, one for a demolition and one for a renovation project.
Clearance signature required on ALL demolition permit applications:

Planning Office to determine whether the structure is an historic resource.
Environmental Health Services regarding septic tank abandonment. Contact a representative of Environmental Health Services at the Planning Office counter and obtain plumbing permit for septic tank abatement at the Building Inspection Office.

If this demolition project will disturb one acre (43,560 square feet) or greater of land area, the Applicant shall file with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) a Notice of Intent (NOI) to Comply with the Statewide General NPDES Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activity. This condition of approval is required by the State of California. A filing form, a filing fee, a location map, and a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) are all required for this filing. A certification of filing shall be submitted to the County prior to building permit issuance, and by state law the NOI and the associated documents must be filed with the SWRCB prior to commencing construction or demolition.

Information is available in the Building Inspection Office and from the SWRCB web site.

All demolition sites must be properly finished, by providing proper erosion prevention and sediment control measures, such as: removing debris to an approved dump site, smoothing and compacting the soil to 90%, mulching and seeding, and installing straw wattles, straw bales, silt fences, and storm drain inlet protection where appropriate.

The Final Inspection of the demolition work will be conducted only after the above referenced work is complete.

For environmental review purposes under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), the screening of all demolition permit applications is required to identify designated historic properties. Process is done through the submittal of the Identification of Properties for Historic Significance form and the assessment of historic significance by staff or in some cases, a qualified consultant. For additional information, please visit Environmental Review for Historical Preservation.