Plan Review

The Service Request Plan Review Team reviews Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Applications and attachments and performs construction-related inspections to ensure that hazardous materials storage and handling systems are installed and maintained in compliance with codes and regulations enforced by HMCD's Hazardous Materials Program.

Applicability

Underground Storage Tank Systems

• Plan review and approval is required prior to installing, retrofitting, upgrading or repairing any UST system storing or intended for the storage of a hazardous substance at any facility located in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County or within the cities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Palo Alto, San Jose, or Saratoga.

Aboveground Storage Tank Systems and Hazardous Materials Storage/Handling Facilities

• Plan review and approval is required prior to constructing, retrofitting, upgrading or repairing any hazardous materials storage or handling system at any facility located in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County or within the cities of Los Altos Hills, Monte Sereno, or Saratoga.

Toxic Gas Systems

• Plan review and approval is required prior to constructing, retrofitting, upgrading or repairing any system regulated pursuant to the Toxic Gas Ordinance at any facility located in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County.

Plan Review Process

Please review the Plan Submittal Requirements for Hazardous Materials Systems​

For Underground Storage Tank Installation, Upgrading or Retrofitting

• If your project involves an underground storage tank system, you must submit a Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Application (form HMCD-116) and a completed Equipment List for Underground Storage Tank Systems​ (form HMCD-024U) along with other information specified in the permit application form.

For Aboveground Storage Tanks and Hazardous Materials Storage Facility Construction

• If you are installing, retrofitting, or upgrading an aboveground storage tank used to store a hazardous material, you must submit a Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Application (form HMCD-116) and a completed Equipment List for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems​ (form HMCD-024A) along with other information specified in the permit application form.
• If you are installing, retrofitting, or upgrading a hazardous materials storage system/area, you must submit a Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Application (form HMCD-116) along with other information specified in the plan submittal requirements guidance document.

Toxic Gas Systems

• If your project involves a toxic gas systems, you must submit a Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Application (form HMCD-116) and a Toxic Gas Installation Application (form HMCD-019) along with other information specified in the plan submittal requirements guidance document.​

Review of complex projects may take a bit longer, but our goal is to complete plan review and either issue approval or provide details regarding deficiencies within 10 working days of receiving all of the information that makes up a complete submittal. If information is missing or the plan review fee is not paid, your project will remain in our Service Request intake process and will not be reviewed until you provide the missing pieces. If you carefully review the submittal instructions and provide all required information, you will help avoid unnecessary delays.

Please note that additional plan check reviews and approvals may be required from other agencies such as the Fire authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for Fire Code compliance, the local building authority (i.e., County Office of Development Services or City Building Department), Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), etc.

Guidance Documents

• Plan Submittal Requirements for Hazardous Materials Systems​
• Aboveground Motor Vehicle Fuel Tank System Installation Guidelines
• Communications Site Requirements
• Guidelines for Installation of Temporary & Permanent Aboveground Diesel Fuel Tanks for Emergency and Standby Power Systems Located Outside​ of Buildings
• Marking Requirements and Guidelines for Hazardous Materials & Hazardous Wastes
• Underground Storage Tank Lining Requirements
• Underground Storage Tank Monitoring System Cold Starts
• Underground Storage Tank System Installation, Repair, and Upgrade Permit Requirements

Forms

• Hazardous Materials Construction Permit Application
• Equipment List for Underground Storage Tank Systems
• Equipment List for Aboveground Storage Tank Systems
• Hazardous Materials Clearance Form
• Temporary Hazardous Materials Storage Permit Application​

Submittal

Please e-mail all completed Hazardous Materials Applications for Underground/Aboveground Storage Tanks (UST/AST systems) and all supporting documentation to: [email protected]  All electronic submittals are preliminary reviewed for completeness, file format, before an invoice is sent to the applicant for the appropriate plan review fee.  Please note that projects do not enter the queue for review and approval until these steps are completed and all invoice fees are paid.

All electronic submittal files must be in PDF format. 

Fees

Fees are based on the type of project. For current plan review fees, click here.

Authority

Underground Storage Tank Systems

• California Code of Regulations, Title 23
• California Health and Safety Code, Division 20, Chapter 6.7

Aboveground Storage Tank Systems and Hazardous Materials Storage/Handling Facilities

• Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division B11, Chapter XIII [Hazardous Materials Storage Ordinance (HMSO)]

Toxic Gas Systems

• Santa Clara County Ordinance Code, Division B11, Chapter XIV [Toxic Gas Ordinance (TGO)]

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

To see answers to FAQs about plan review, click here.