---
title: "Home Remodeling in Mountain View | Additions, Kitchens & Baths"
description: "Home remodeling in Mountain View by a licensed contractor (CSLB #1073096): addition limits, permit fees, review times and a local bathroom remodel on video."
url: "https://qabuilders.com/service-areas/mountain-view/"
---

Mountain View, Santa Clara County

# Home Remodeling in Mountain View

QA Builders handles home remodeling in Mountain View: additions, kitchens and baths.

[Call (669) 213-8077](tel:+16692138077)

[Free estimate](https://qabuilders.com/service-areas/mountain-view/#quote)

## Get a free estimate

Tell us about your project and one of our representatives will get back to you.

(Quote form: same as the other town pages.)

[Areas we serve](https://qabuilders.com/service-areas/) / Mountain View

QA Builders remodels homes in Mountain View, from home additions and second stories to kitchens, bathrooms, whole-house remodels, ADUs and new custom homes, as a licensed general building contractor (CSLB #1073096). Mountain View has no discretionary design review for single-family homes: outside five listed cases, a project that meets the zoning standards needs no Planning permit.

For a free consultation and estimate, call [(669) 213-8077](tel:+16692138077) or fill in the form above.

## Design review in Mountain View: when a Planning permit applies

Mountain View does not have discretionary design review for single-family home development, and it does not require notice to adjacent neighbors of construction; the city says the aim is to reduce cost, time and process for homeowners. As long as a remodel, addition or new home meets the development standards of its zoning district (setbacks, height, floor area, yards), the Planning Division requires no permit, except in the five cases the city lists:

- an exception to the standards, including variances and floor area ratio exceptions;
- a conforming addition to a nonconforming home (one that does not meet today’s standards);
- an addition or new home on a lot of 10,000 sq ft or more next to a creek;
- any exterior change or addition to a historic home;
- a new subdivision of 5 or more homes.

Before plans are drawn, Planning and Public Works staff will look over preliminary sketches of an addition or a new home free of charge, with no appointment, typically in one visit to City Hall. The city says staff check that the proposed work meets the development standards and that the plans carry the information they need.

## Bathroom remodel with walnut vanities in Mountain View, on video

Open the project for the photos and the scope, or play the homeowner’s video about it.

Bathroom remodel with walnut vanities, Mountain View (project and video: "Bathroom remodel with walnut vanities in Mountain View", the homeowner on their project).

[See more of our projects →](https://qabuilders.com/portfolio/)

## Kitchen and bathroom remodels: what Mountain View checks

The Mountain View project above has a walk-in shower in gray porcelain tile behind frameless glass, a tub with a dark textured tile surround and a sliding glass panel, and walnut vanities with stone tops. In Mountain View a permit is required for all bathroom remodels: a building permit, which may also include a plumbing and/or electrical permit if that work is included.

### Bathroom permits and requirements

- **No permit:** swapping a standard toilet in the same spot, if the new one uses no more than 1.28 gallons per flush.
- **City fees:** $800 to $1,100 depending on the size of the room (approx. $120 per square foot), inspections included.
- **Time to permit:** 5 to 7 days when fixtures stay where they are; 6 to 8 weeks when walls come out or go in.
- **Ventilation:** an exhaust fan in every bathroom with a tub or shower. An operable window does not count.
- **Shower size and finish:** a finished interior of 1,024 sq in or more that fits a 30-inch circle, and a non-absorbent surface up to 72 inches above the floor.
- **Fixtures and light:** toilets at 1.28 gallons per flush, showerheads at 1.8 gallons per minute, new lavatory faucets at 1.2, and at least one light on an occupancy or vacancy sensor.

Layouts, materials and what drives the price are on our [bathroom remodeling](https://qabuilders.com/bathroom-remodeling/) page.

### Kitchen permits and requirements

- **Permit:** required for a kitchen remodel that includes replacing the kitchen cabinets, obtained before construction starts, with an electrical or plumbing permit depending on the scope.
- **No permit:** replacing the countertops, or refacing the existing cabinets.
- **City fees:** $1,000 for a like-for-like replacement (valued at approximately $4,200) and $4,000 for a 250 sq ft renovation valued at approximately $30,000.
- **Time to permit:** 5 business days for like-for-like work; 2 to 3 months for a renovation that removes walls.
- **Circuits and venting:** at least two 20-amp small-appliance circuits for the counters. A hood vented outside needs its own mechanical permit, and flexible (corrugated) duct is not allowed.
- **Water:** kitchen faucets at 1.8 gallons per minute or less.

We handle all permitting and inspections required for your kitchen. Layouts, cabinetry and the rest of the work are on our [kitchen remodeling](https://qabuilders.com/kitchen-remodeling/) page.

### The 200-amp service rule

Both of the city’s handouts also list a service disconnect of at least 200 amps for a single-family home (City Code Section 8.51(C)). If your house still has a smaller service, ask early whether the remodel brings a panel upgrade with it, so it sits in the estimate instead of turning up at plan check.

## Home additions in Mountain View: how much you can add

Floor area sets how far an addition can grow. Mountain View’s R1 zoning handbook uses a sliding formula, a floor area ratio of 0.50 minus 0.00001 times the lot area, so the ratio drops a little as lots get bigger. Garages, carports and enclosed sheds count toward it. Any high-volume or high-ceiling area with the mass of a second story counts too: parts of the house 16 feet or taller, measured from the finished floor to the top of the exterior roof, count as additional floor area, which may include attic and nonhabitable spaces.

The table gives the maximum for lots in the R1 zone, before any such additional floor area is counted; a lot in another zone follows that zone’s standards.

| Lot area | Floor area ratio | Most floor area allowed (garage included) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5,000 sq ft | 0.45 | 2,250 sq ft |
| 6,000 sq ft | 0.44 | 2,640 sq ft |
| 8,000 sq ft | 0.42 | 3,360 sq ft |
| 10,000 sq ft | 0.40 | 4,000 sq ft |

### Height and setbacks

- **One story:** 24 feet to the top of the roof, with a first-floor wall plate of no more than 15 feet.
- **Two stories:** 28 feet, with a second-floor wall plate of no more than 22 feet. The 24- and 28-foot building heights are measured from the top of the street curb along the front property line; wall plate heights are measured from the adjacent grade.
- **Front setback:** 20 feet for the first story; 20 feet for the second story, plus another 5 feet for any part of the second story above a garage.
- **Side setbacks:** vary with lot width and area, for both stories (the side setbacks chart in the city’s R1 handbook).
- **Rear setback:** 20% of the lot depth or 15 feet for the first story, and 25% or 20 feet for the second, whichever is greater, never more than 40 feet.
- **Older footprints:** an addition to a nonconforming home is allowed as long as it meets all current zoning requirements and does not structurally modify the nonconforming part of the house; that conforming addition needs a Development Review Permit from the Planning Division as well as building permits. Growing a house to more than twice its original size brings the whole structure up to today’s zoning standards.

The rear setback is deeper for a second story (25% of the lot depth or 20 feet) than for the first (20% or 15 feet), so on the same lot the second-story limit sits closer to the house. Our [home additions](https://qabuilders.com/home-additions/) page covers the types we build, from bump-outs to second stories.

### Size thresholds that add steps and cost

- **New residential space over 500 sq ft:** school impact fees. The city’s additions and ADU permit pages say all new residential square footage greater than 500 sq ft will be subject to them; they are paid to the school district, and the city needs proof of payment before it issues the permit. Its single-family planning guide words the trigger as an addition of 500 or more habitable sq ft that may be subject to the fees, and adds that properties get credit for existing legally built square footage.
- **An addition, or equivalent remodel, of 600 sq ft:** Public Works review, where the city may require one or more of these: inspection and replacement of the sewer lateral; replacement of the driveway apron to meet accessibility requirements; sidewalk repair, if there are major cracks or breaks; a larger water service and meter, if a fire sprinkler system is installed.
- **Sewer lateral inspection:** required when additions and remodels cumulatively exceed the cost of a 600 sq ft addition ($180,000, rounded, at the city’s valuation). A plumber films the lateral with a color camera while a City Wastewater Inspector is on site, during plan review and before the permit is issued; it cannot be deferred.
- **1,000 sq ft or more:** the Mountain View Green Building Code applies.
- **Fire sprinklers:** required for a new home, for an addition that brings the house to 4,100 sq ft in total, and for one that doubles its size.
- **Within 6 feet of a property line:** a site survey certificate, approved by the city before footings are poured.
- **Heritage trees:** any tree 48 inches or more around, or an oak, redwood or cedar 12 inches around (both measured 54 inches above natural grade), is a Heritage tree. Removing one for the project takes a Heritage Tree Removal Permit from Urban Forestry, applied for at the same time as the building permit. The city does not act on it until the building permit review is complete, and its typical timeline is up to 45 days after the permit fee is paid or a fee waiver is confirmed.

The decisions to make before design starts are in our [home addition checklist](https://qabuilders.com/home-addition-checklist/).

5.0 on Google; 5.0 on BuildZoom; Top 1% of California contractors (BuildZoom score); 500+ projects completed; 15+ years in the Bay Area; CSLB #1073096, licensed and insured.

## Homeowners on additions, permits and inspections

> "They were able to skillfully navigate the city’s labyrinthine processes around permits and inspections, and complete a complex job with multiple vendors..."
>
> Fazal A., 625 sq ft addition and home remodel · San Jose

> "The work was completed ahead of schedule, the craftsmanship is excellent, and they clearly take pride in getting things right."
>
> Vijay M., Family room and master bedroom addition

> "During the construction, Poli and his team were very impressive. They paid attention to every step and prepared well for the city inspections."
>
> Wang D., Shower remodel

> "They passed all inspection on the first time and Sal came over everyday at least twice a day to check on his team and to make sure me and my wife both satisfied with the work."
>
> Luther P., Bathroom remodel

> "QA Builders built an addition to my home and they did a great job. Everyone from QA Builders team was professional, honest, very friendly and helpful."
>
> Jeffrey M., Home addition

> "I hired them on a room addition, not small project and I am completely satisfied with everything they did, with final results and with quality of their work."
>
> Daniel M., Room addition

[Read more homeowner reviews →](https://qabuilders.com/testimonials/)

## What a Mountain View remodel costs, and what the city adds

Our price guidance is the same as on our service pages:

- **[Additions](https://qabuilders.com/home-additions/):** Costs typically range from $200-$400 per square foot depending on complexity, materials, and whether structural work is needed. We provide detailed estimates during consultation.
- **[Kitchens](https://qabuilders.com/kitchen-remodeling/):** Costs vary based on scope, materials, and kitchen size. A typical Bay Area kitchen remodel ranges from $30,000 to $100,000+. Your dedicated project manager will provide a detailed estimate during your free consultation.
- **[Bathrooms](https://qabuilders.com/bathroom-remodeling/):** Bathroom remodel costs range from $15,000 to $50,000+ depending on scope, materials, and size. We provide detailed estimates during your free consultation.

The city’s permit fees come on top. The table shows Mountain View’s published examples, inspections included, with the construction valuation (the city’s term for the cost of labor and materials) each fee is based on, where the city states one. Those valuations are the city’s fee examples, not our price; your price comes from your own estimate.

| Project | City permit fees | Typical time to permit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kitchen, like-for-like replacement | $1,000 (valuation approx. $4,200) | 5 business days |
| Kitchen renovation (city’s 250 sq ft example) | $4,000 (valuation approx. $30,000) | 2 to 3 months if walls are removed |
| Bathroom remodel | $800 to $1,100, depending on bathroom size (the city’s figure: approx. $120 per sq ft) | 5 to 7 days; 6 to 8 weeks with wall changes |
| 500 sq ft addition or remodel | $12,000 (valuation $250,000) | 3 to 8 months, by scope |
| Second-floor addition or whole-house remodel | $22,000 (valuation $500,000) | 3 to 8 months, by scope |
| New ADU | $7,000 to $13,000 (valuation $100,000 to $300,000) | 4 to 6 months |
| ADU converted from existing space | $3,000 to $5,000 (valuation $25,000 to $50,000) | 4 to 6 months |
| JADU | $4,000 to $6,000 (valuation $25,000 to $35,000) | 4 to 6 months |

Other costs that can apply: an excavation permit of up to $12,000 when utilities are upgraded or work reaches the public right-of-way, school impact fees, a sewer lateral repair if the camera finds one, sprinklers past the size triggers, and a panel upgrade where the service is under 200 amps.

Applications go through ePermitsMV. Two city pages describe the review time differently. The permit timelines page lists the first review, once an application has been deemed complete, at 3 weeks for an addition or a whole-house remodel, 4 weeks for a new home (after a completeness review of 10 business days that state law requires) and 2 weeks for an ADU. The additions and remodels page describes a 3-week completeness review, then 4 weeks for the first compliance review and 2 weeks for each later one.

## ADUs, JADUs and garage conversions in Mountain View

In Mountain View an ADU or JADU needs no Planning permit; it requires a building permit (with its electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits) and a demolition permit, plus excavation or fire sprinkler permits where they apply. An ADU can be attached to the house or detached from it. A JADU is 500 sq ft or less with an efficiency kitchen and sits inside the house.

- **Size:** up to 850 sq ft for a studio or one bedroom and 1,000 sq ft for two bedrooms or more; an attached ADU can be no more than half the floor area of the main house.
- **Setbacks and height:** 4 feet from the side and rear property lines, 28 feet at most.
- **Parking:** one space for an ADU with a bedroom, unless City Code Section 36.12.95 exempts it or the ADU is built where an uncovered space was removed for it.
- **Entrance:** separate from the main house.
- **Review:** 2 weeks for each review cycle. The city also runs a preapproved ADU program for detached units, reviewed in 2 weeks and then 1 week per resubmittal.
- **Over 600 sq ft:** a new ADU or JADU of that size also needs the sewer lateral inspection.

Our [ADU builders](https://qabuilders.com/adu-builders/) page shows the unit types we build, from garage conversions to two-story ADUs.

## Mountain View homes, by the decade they were built

About six in ten Mountain View homes were built before 1980, and about a third in the 1950s and 1960s alone (U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024). Of the city’s 39,458 housing units, 26.8% are single-family detached houses, and 38.6% of the occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

The year your house was built matters for one city rule: in a home built before 1978, any addition or remodel done while children or pregnant women live there must follow the US EPA rules for preventing lead poisoning. Our [whole-house remodeling](https://qabuilders.com/full-home-remodeling/) page covers what a full renovation of an older home involves.

## How a Mountain View project runs with us

1. **Consultation:** Contact us for a free consultation and estimate.
2. **Design:** layout and 3D renderings. We collaborate with top architects and engineers.
3. **Permits:** We provide complete design-build and construction services, including permitting and project management. Mountain View takes all building and fire permit applications online through ePermitsMV, and building inspections can be scheduled online.
4. **Construction:** With 15+ years and 500+ projects, QA Builders has the experience to coordinate multiple trades.
5. **Completion & Warranty:** Final walk-through, punch list completion, and our comprehensive warranty.

## Services for Mountain View homeowners

- [Home additions](https://qabuilders.com/home-additions/): rear additions, bump-outs, master suites and second stories, sized to the floor area and setbacks above.
- [Kitchen remodeling](https://qabuilders.com/kitchen-remodeling/): new layouts, cabinetry, counters and lighting, with the circuits and hood venting the city checks.
- [Bathroom remodeling](https://qabuilders.com/bathroom-remodeling/): showers, tubs and vanities, like the Mountain View job above.
- [Whole-house remodels](https://qabuilders.com/full-home-remodeling/) for the city’s 1950s, 1960s and 1970s homes.
- [ADUs and garage conversions](https://qabuilders.com/adu-builders/), attached, detached or inside the house.
- [New custom homes](https://qabuilders.com/new-construction/) built on your lot.

## Questions from Mountain View homeowners

### Is QA Builders licensed to remodel homes in Mountain View?

Yes. QA Builders is a Class B General Building contractor, California license #1073096, bonded and with workers’ compensation insurance on file with the state board.

### Do my neighbors get notice of a second story in Mountain View?

Not for a project that meets the standards. Mountain View has no discretionary design review for single-family home development and does not require notice to adjacent neighbors, so a second story that meets the R1 development standards (height, setbacks, floor area and the rest, as set out in the city’s R1 handbook) needs no Planning permit and goes to a building permit. The city lists five cases that do need a Planning permit: an exception to the standards, a conforming addition to a nonconforming home, an addition or new home on a lot of 10,000 sq ft or more next to a creek, any exterior change or addition to a historic home, and a new subdivision of 5 or more homes.

### Does a kitchen remodel in Mountain View need a permit?

Yes, if it includes replacing the kitchen cabinets: the city requires a permit for that, obtained before construction starts. Replacing the countertops or refacing the existing cabinets needs no permit. The city lists $1,000 in fees and 5 business days for a like-for-like replacement, and $4,000 for a 250 sq ft renovation, which takes 2 to 3 months if walls are removed.

### How long does a Mountain View addition permit take?

The city gives 3 to 8 months as the typical time, depending on scope. Its additions and remodels page describes a 3-week completeness review, then 4 weeks for the first compliance review and 2 weeks for each later one; its permit timelines page lists 3 weeks for the first review of an addition once the application has been deemed complete. A project whose additions and remodels cumulatively exceed the cost of a 600 sq ft addition ($180,000, rounded) also needs its sewer lateral inspection before the permit is issued.

## Plan a Mountain View project with us

Every project receives a dedicated project manager so you know who to turn to every step of the way.

Contact us for a free consultation and estimate. Call [(669) 213-8077](tel:+16692138077), email [Contact@qabuilders.com](mailto:Contact@qabuilders.com) or send the [project form](https://qabuilders.com/contact/); it helps to have your lot size and the year the house was built at hand.

[Schedule Consultation](https://qabuilders.com/contact/)

[Call Us Now](tel:+16692138077)