Building Department Protocol

New Building Department Protocol for Permit Applications and Inspections 
During Marin County Shelter in Place Order
Updated April 30, 2020

In response to the Marin County Shelter in Place Order (“Order”) issued by the Marin County Health Officer on April 29, 2020 and effective on May 4, 2020, the Town of Corte Madera’s Building Department has developed the following protocols that will be implemented immediately in order to protect public health and safety. The Town recommends you familiarize yourself with the provisions of the Order, which can be accessed via the following link: https://bit.ly/SIP54. The intent of this Order is to ensure that the maximum number of people self-isolate in their places of residence to the maximum extent feasible, while enabling essential work to continue, to slow the spread of COVID-19 to the maximum extent possible.

If you have a building permit pending or active with the Town’s Building Department, or if you plan to submit for building permit, these new protocols may affect your ability to begin or continue construction activities at this time.

New Corte Madera Building Department Protocols as of April 30, 2020 are as follows:

• The Town will continue to accept new building permit applications and will review completed applications, including performing requisite plan checks. All application submittals will be processed electronically. Please review new submittal requirements here.
• The Town will issue new building permits only if the permit applicant completes and sign the Project Safety Protocol acknowledgement form. 
• The Town will provide inspections only for projects with completed and signed Project Safety Protocol acknowledgement forms.
• Town inspectors will not be permitted to conduct inspections if they cannot comply with social distancing requirements or otherwise cannot safely conduct inspections. Failure to comply with required Project Safety Protocols may preclude the Building Department from conducting inspections.  The Town’s Building Official has authorized Town building inspectors to make such determinations at their sole discretion.

Please contact the Building Department with any questions regarding these new protocols at 415-927-5062, buildingpermit@tcmmail.org or use our website for information on how to access Building Department services during this time. Note these protocols are subject to change.

When emailing the Building Department, please be aware that these unprecedented times have caused our Building Department to shift from an in-person submittal, to a newly established electronic submittal process. During this time, we are being inundated with emails and phone calls concerning the permit process and the status of applications. Staff will continue to respond to emails and phone calls as soon as possible. We request your patience as we continue to navigate through these challenging times.

Read the letter mailed to applicants and contractors.