During construction, projects may encounter a need to revise their approved project plans. In most cases, the building inspector will identify the need for revisions and issue a correction notice with the steps that the project will need to undertake.
Below are the different types of revisions and processes to submit revised plans for review and approval by Oakland's Planning & Building Department. Please note that Zoning Worksheet (ZW) records are not permits; they are temporary application numbers assigned by the permitting system in order to route applications accordingly.
What's new: You can now request a revision to most issued building permits directly from your permit in the Online Permit Center. Open your permit and click Create Amendment. You no longer need a Building Worksheet or the Request for Permit Revision Form for building revisions. See the step-by-step guide (PDF)(PDF, 2MB)
Before you Start
Please review the Permit Requirements below as these vary from project to project.
Ready to get started? First, make sure you are registered and activated at our Online Permit Center. For instructions, please visit our Planning & Building Video Tutorials webpage.
For a building revision, have these ready:
- Your permit number (for example, B2501145).
- The Online Permit Center account connected to the permit.
- A short, specific description of what is changing.
- The value of the revised work (materials and labor).
- Updated plans saved as PDF files (no photos of documents; 300 MB total).
- If an inspector gave you a correction notice, the inspector's name.
Permit Requirements
Who Can Revise Your Permits?
1. Contractors who are licensed by the State of California with a classification appropriate for the work that will be performed and have a current Business Tax Certificate.
2. Owners of a building or their legal representative.
Which permits can be revised online?
You can request a revision online when your permit is one of these types and its status is Permit Issued, Issued, or Reinstated:
- Building Alteration and Residential Building Alteration
- Building Residential Combo (RBC) Alteration
- Building New and RBC New Construction
- Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing (including 1 & 2 Unit Residential)
- Sign Permit and Non-Residential Sign Alteration
- Private Infrastructure
- Solar Permit Commercial and Non-SolarAPP+ Residential Solar Permits
- Grading
If you do not see the Create Amendment button on your permit, your permit type or status may not qualify. Please contact us and we will help you find the right path.
Select Revision Type
Need to Know
Revision or Resubmittal
- Revision: your permit is already issued and you want to change the approved work or plans. Use Create Amendment.
- Resubmittal: your application is still in plan review and you are answering plan check comments. Upload your corrections to your existing application. Do not start a revision.
- New permit: the new work is a separate project (for example, an addition on a different part of the property).
After your revision is approved
- Your revision is linked to your original permit and a note is added to it.
- Keep the approved revision documents on the job site with your permit and approved plans.
- Schedule inspections under your original permit number, not the revision number.
- A revision request stays open for 180 days. If it is not completed by then, it may expire.
Questions?
Please email us at bbpermit@oaklandca.gov or find quick answers through our Permit & Services Questions Portal. You may also schedule an appointment with Permit Counter staff during open hours.
For non-solar projects that have changes but no inspections yet, please follow the appropriate process for Building Only, Zoning Only, or combined Building and Zoning revisions.
Additional Resources