Locations
Permits in El Dorado County.
Permit-ready plans and permit coordination for homes, ADUs, additions, and manufactured homes in El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, and the rest of unincorporated El Dorado County, including the Lake Tahoe basin.
El Dorado County's Planning and Building Department reviews permits for unincorporated areas. Placerville and South Lake Tahoe run their own building departments.
What we handle here
- Confirm the reviewing agency, and whether the parcel is in the Tahoe basin.
- Prepare the construction document set and the county application.
- Coordinate TRPA requirements for basin projects.
- Check fire hazard zone, fire safe, and defensible space requirements before drawings start.
- Answer plan check comments and track the permit through issuance.
Two offices, two review paths
The county has a building office in Placerville and another at Lake Tahoe. Owner-builders and contractors can apply online. We prepare the application for the office that reviews the parcel and track it through issuance.
Projects in the Lake Tahoe basin
Most construction in the basin needs a permit under the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency's rules. El Dorado County processes residential permits on TRPA's behalf, so a typical basin home goes through the county. TRPA keeps lakefront projects and work that needs an environmental impact statement.
Basin projects carry their own requirements. They include land coverage limits and coverage mitigation fees, and residential allocations for new units. The county notes that basin building permits expire after three years, with one one-year renewal. We confirm these at intake.
Fire hazard zones
The state maps Fire Hazard Severity Zones. New buildings in a High or Very High zone may need to meet the wildfire construction standards in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code. That affects roofing, siding, vents, windows, and decks, so we check the zone before drawings start.
Defensible space and fire safe access
Every property in unincorporated El Dorado County must meet the county's defensible space ordinance year-round. New homes also face state fire safe standards for roads, driveways, and access. We check these early, because a driveway or access issue is easier to solve on paper than in the field.
Common questions
- Does the county review permits in Placerville or South Lake Tahoe?
- No. Both cities run their own building departments. The county reviews unincorporated areas, including El Dorado Hills, Cameron Park, and the unincorporated parts of the Tahoe basin.
- Do I need a separate TRPA permit for a home in the basin?
- For most residential work, the county processes the permit on TRPA's behalf, so it is one application. Lakefront projects stay with TRPA. We confirm the path from the parcel.
- Will fire rules change my drawings?
- They can. A parcel in a High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone may need Chapter 7A construction details, and new homes must meet fire safe access standards. We check both before drawings start.
- Can you help rebuild after a fire?
- Yes. We coordinate fire rebuilds, including a document set when drawings are required. See services.
Start a project
Building in El Dorado County? Send the address.
Drawings, permit coordination, or both. One team, then a dashboard through issuance.