Flatwork on the ground inside your own lot often needs no building permit, and any work in the public right of way needs a City of Concord encroachment permit. What follows comes from state code, the Concord Municipal Code and USA North 811. Rules change and lots differ, so we confirm the requirement for your address before we start.
Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio?
For the part on your own land, often not. The California Residential Code exempts sidewalks and driveways that are not more than 30 inches above the adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below. A patio slab on the ground is normally treated the same way. You do need a permit for a patio cover, a raised slab, a structural slab, or anything in the street right of way. Zoning rules on setbacks and paving still apply without a building permit, so ask the City of Concord Permit Center about your lot.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway? Who owns the driveway apron?
If the curb opening changes, yes. The apron, also called the approach, lies in the public right of way between the street and the sidewalk. Concord Municipal Code chapter 12.15 requires an encroachment permit to build or alter a driveway, sidewalk, curb or gutter there, and the contractor has to show at least $1,000,000 of general liability insurance naming the city. The city owns the right of way. Under the state and city sidewalk rules, upkeep of the frontage falls to the lot owner. If you widen only on your own lot and leave the curb cut alone, check the front yard paving rules with Planning.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house?
You are, as the owner of the lot. California Streets and Highways Code section 5610 puts the duty to maintain the sidewalk on the owner of the fronting property, and Concord Municipal Code sections 12.25.030 and 12.25.040 make owners responsible and liable for damaged sidewalk, curb and gutter next to their property.
The city sent a notice about my sidewalk. Do I have to use the city's contractor or can I hire my own?
You can hire your own. Concord has mailed courtesy notices that tell owners about their responsibility and about the city's Sidewalk Repair Program. A Concord council member has written in the local press that owners are not required to use the program and may choose their own contractor, who must get an encroachment permit before doing the work. Call the number on your notice for the current terms and any deadline.
How close to the property line can I pour? Do I need a survey?
A flat slab on the ground can usually go close to the line, but the paving, its forms and its runoff have to stay on your side. A fence is not proof of the line, and neither is the back of the sidewalk. If the pour runs along a boundary and the corner markers cannot be found, a survey by a licensed land surveyor costs far less than a dispute. We do not decide where a boundary is.
Do I need HOA approval?
If you live in an HOA, read the rules before you sign a contract. Associations in Concord's newer areas, and in Clayton and San Ramon, commonly review driveways, front walks, visible patios, colors and stamped finishes. Approval comes from the association and is separate from any city permit. We give you a sketch and the finish details to submit.
How much of my lot can I cover with concrete?
Your zoning district sets lot coverage and landscaping requirements, and front yards in particular cannot simply be paved over. We could not confirm Concord's exact percentages from an official page, so ask the Planning Division for your address. Larger projects that add or replace a lot of impervious surface also fall under the county's stormwater rules, which may require runoff to drain to planted ground.
When does a retaining wall need an engineer or a permit?
Under the California Residential Code, a retaining wall needs a permit when it is over 4 feet tall measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, or when it supports a surcharge such as a slope, a driveway or a building above it. Walls at that level need an engineer's design. Concord's development code also limits a single retaining wall to 4 feet in height and calls for taller slopes to be stepped in benches at least 2 feet apart. Shorter walls on a hillside lot can still need review.
How do I find underground utility lines before digging?
Contact USA North 811, the call-before-you-dig centre for Northern and Central California, at 811 or usanorth811.org. It is free. Outline the dig area in white, then make the request at least 2 working days before digging, not counting the day you ask. Member utilities mark their lines. Sprinkler pipe, yard drains, pool plumbing and other private lines are not marked, so tell us about any you know. On our jobs we make the 811 request.
I need a wheelchair ramp and a wider walkway. What are the rules?
A ramp at a private house is designed around the person using it. A gentle slope, a level landing at the door and at each turn, edge protection and a non-slip finish are the basics. A ramp that rises more than 30 inches or attaches to the house can need a building permit. Ramps and walks at a business must meet the accessibility chapter of the California Building Code, which is a design matter for the plans. We have no published price for ramps and quote them after a visit.
My house is in a historic district or has old decorative concrete. Can I replace it?
Ask the City of Concord Planning Division before removing anything that can be seen from the street on a designated historic property. Old scored or colored walks and stamped contractor marks can sometimes be kept, with only the failed panels replaced to match. We could not confirm the review steps online, so treat this as a question for city staff.
Does a concrete fire pit need a permit?
The slab or seat wall usually follows the flatwork and wall rules above. A gas line needs a plumbing permit. Open burning is regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, and wood fires are banned on Spare the Air days. Ask the fire district about clearances for your lot.
The real number for your job comes from a free visit, where we measure and look at the ground. Call (925) 690-1468 or text a photo of the area.