This page provides a quick summary of resources a homeowner may want to investigate when considering a project involving a contractor and a permit in the City of Union City.
Our Union City Plumbing Services and Project Types
| Water | Sewer | Electrical Conduit | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Leak Repairs (typically no permit) Water Line Replacements and Upgrades Backflows | New Cleanouts Adding new connections to the existing sewer line Backwater Valves New connections to the main | Installing new conduit, usually as part of an electrical upgrade | Includes septic systems, sewage pumps, water pumps, storm drains, French drains, foundation waterproof protection, water storage tanks, water wells |
| Permits: Building, Public Works when touching public assets, Utility when touching a private utility property | Permits: Building or no permit | ||
Explore our full list of Services for more details.
Permits
A permit is an official document issued by local governments and utility providers that grants permission to construct or alter a property. Its primary purpose is to ensure construction projects comply with local building codes, zoning laws, and safety regulations.
As the property owner, you usually have the option to obtain a permit for projects solely on your private property. While getting a permit may add to the cost and timeline of your project, it also provides peace of mind, knowing that an expert in local building codes has reviewed your project.
Anytime your project involves a public or utility-owned asset, you must obtain a permit.
We will file for any necessary permits if you hire us to assist with your project. Typically, our clients pay the cost of the permit directly to the issuer, but they save on the time and expense of filing, which is part of our service.
There are three types of permits we generally work with.
| Building | Public Works (aka Encroachement Permits) | Utility Provider |
|---|---|---|
| Generally easy to file for and not very expensive for the types of projects we do. They cover projects on private property. | Public Works Permits can be a lengthy and time-consuming task to obtain. We are experienced in filing for these types of permits and recommend you allow us to provide that service to you. | When the City/Town provides the utility service, it is included with a building or public works permit. If the utility is managed separately, the property owner must obtain permission and adhere to the utility’s building codes. |
As a licensed contractor in California with significant experience delivering projects in the local communities of the San Francisco Bay Area, our construction practices and materials comply with the California Building Code (CBC). We encourage our clients to get permits but doing so is not required.
Union City Links
| Water Utilities Union City residents are served by the Alameda County Water District (ACWD | https://www.unioncity.org/210/Building |
| Union City Building Department The Building Department page provides the starting point for their building permit process. They do not offer a lot of information about the process, so we suggest calling them before you start. Their email and phone number are on the page linked to on the right. | https://www.unioncity.org/351/Encroachment |
| Water Utilities Union City residents are served by Alameda County Water District (ACWD | New or Modified Water Service: https://www.acwd.org/171/Customer-Work-Request-Application Drilling Permit (well water): https://www.acwd.org/218/Permits-Applications |
| Water Utilities Union City residents are served by the Alameda County Water District (ACWD | https://unionsanitary.ca.gov/permits-and-fees/ |
Note that some homes may have a City address but are not serviced by Utilities in the above list. As a homeowner, you likely already know who you pay your water and sewer fees to, but if you are not sure, you can check the above links and then check your County for sewer and www.calwater.com for water.
