The Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential is a form from the Alameda County Assessor that asks owners about a residential project for which a building permit was issued. It is one of the Alameda County property tax forms the Assessor uses to value new construction correctly. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Assessor publishes the original PDF at acassessor.org.
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What is Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential – Alameda County, CA?
The Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential is the Alameda County Assessor's questionnaire for owners of residential property where a building permit was issued, used so the Assessor can correctly value the construction by learning its status, cost and scope.
The form opens by saying the Assessor's records show a building permit for the property. It then asks three things. Section 1 covers the status of the project as of January 1st, the start date, the amount spent as of January 1, the total anticipated cost and the expected completion date. Section 2 covers the type of work (addition, new building, conversion or legalization, remodel, maintenance or repairs, other), a description of the work, a before-and-after room count, a layout of any new construction, heating and air conditioning, a pool and a self-contained spa or hot tub. Section 3 collects owner and contractor contact details and a certification.
The form is marked confidential and states that it will not be open to public inspection. It also says it is acceptable to give the information in another format, such as a cost breakdown, if you have one.
The Assessor publishes a separate Cost Questionnaire For Additions And Alterations - Commercial/Industrial for non-residential work. This residential version is not that form.
Who needs to file Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential – Alameda County, CA?
Owners of residential property in Alameda County who receive this questionnaire because a building permit was issued for the property complete and return it. The form says the Assessor requests it for the property identified on the form, and it may be signed by the owner or an agent.
Situations the form covers:
- Work that is complete, in progress, delayed with no work started, or cancelled.
- Additions, new buildings, conversions or legalizations, remodels, maintenance or repairs, and other construction.
- Projects with heating or air conditioning, a pool or a self-contained spa or hot tub.
If you cancelled the project, mark that option; the form states you must cancel the permit through the municipality that issued it.
If any part of the project made the dwelling more accessible for the disabled, the form asks you to contact the Assessor's office before completion or within 30 days of completion about an exclusion from assessment you may qualify for. The Assessor's forms page lists separate claim forms for disabled accessibility construction (BOE-63 and BOE-63-A).
Commercial or industrial projects use the separate Commercial/Industrial questionnaire.
When to file Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential – Alameda County, CA
The form asks you to complete and return it within 15 days of the date of completion or to indicate the status as of January 1st, whichever is earlier. It is triggered by the Assessor's records showing that a building permit was issued for your property, so you complete it when the Assessor sends it to you.
Section 1 asks for the status of your project as of January 1st of a year you enter on the form, so have your cost-to-date figures for that date ready. The form prints no separate renewal or validity period. If the work includes disabled accessibility improvements, contact the Assessor's office before completion or within 30 days of completion about a possible exclusion.
Documents you need
- Plans for the new construction, if available, in place of the diagram in the New Construction Layout section; the form allows plans to be attached.
- A separate sheet describing the work, if the Remarks space is not enough.
- A separate sheet for the new construction diagram, if the space on the form is not enough.
- A cost breakdown, if you have one, as an acceptable alternative format for the cost information.
How to fill out Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential – Alameda County, CA
Mark the status of your project
In question 1, mark one option: Work complete (enter Date of Completion), Work in Progress (select 10%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 90% or enter Other %), Project delayed; no work started, or Project cancelled. Enter the year for the January 1st status in A).
Enter dates and project costs
For B) enter the construction start date, or expected start date. For C) enter the amount spent as of Jan. 1, for D) the total anticipated project cost and for E) the expected completion date, using the date spaces on the form.
Select the type of work
In 2A, mark all that apply: Addition, New building, Conversion or legalization, Remodel, Maintenance or repairs, or Other.
Describe the work and count rooms
In 2B, briefly describe the work and attach a separate sheet if necessary. In 2C, for an addition or remodel, enter the BEFORE and AFTER number of Full Bathroom, Half Bathroom, Bedroom, Dining, Family/Den, Kitchen, Living and Other rooms in the main residence.
Diagram new construction
In D), draw the new construction with its exterior dimensions and its location in relation to other buildings, or attach plans. Use the Area Computation to multiply the dimensions and enter total square feet, as the sample sketch shows.
Complete heating and air conditioning
In F), for each item that applies (Central Air Conditioner, Forced Air Furnace, Gravity Furnace, Wall Heater, Fireplace, Mini-Split), check N for new or R for replacement and enter the tons, BTU or zones. Enter the Total Cost.
Report a pool or spa
In G), give the pool type, size, heater, finish, decking square feet and total cost. In H), for a self-contained spa or hot tub, give the type, heater and total cost.
Enter owner and contractor details
In section 3, enter the name, company, email and phone for the owner and for the contractor. Answer Yes or No to whether any or all of the work was done by the owner(s).
Sign, date and download the PDF
Sign as owner or agent and enter your phone and the date. Check every section, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and return it to the Assessor as described under How to submit.
How to submit Cost Questionnaire for Additions and Alterations - Residential – Alameda County, CA
The form tells you to complete and return it to the Alameda County Assessor; it prints no portal or separate filing channel. The Assessor's office details are:
- By mail or in person: Alameda County Assessor's Office, 1221 Oak Street, Room 145, Oakland, CA 94612 (the form header adds County Administration Building, ZIP 94612-4288). The Assessor's forms page asks you to include the work unit or topic on the envelope.
- By phone or email for questions: (510) 272-3787, toll free (800) 660-7725, or [email protected]. The form header lists FAX (510) 272-3803.
The Assessor's forms page asks you to provide your name or business name, mailing address, location of business if applicable, parcel number if known and telephone number, and warns that without this information the form may not be processed. A cost breakdown in another format is acceptable, and you may attach a separate sheet or plans where the form allows. The Assessor may contact you for more information. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the Assessor's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Marking the cancelled option without cancelling the permit; the form says you must cancel the permit through the municipality that issued it.
- Entering the amount spent for a date other than January 1; the question asks for the amount spent as of Jan. 1.
- Leaving the room count BEFORE or AFTER column empty for an addition or remodel; the form asks for both.
- Drawing the new construction without exterior dimensions or its location relative to other buildings on the property.
- Skipping the N or R check on a heating or air conditioning item; the form asks whether each is new or a replacement.
- Not contacting the Assessor within 30 days of completion when the work made the dwelling more accessible for the disabled.
- Returning the form unsigned; the certification needs the signature of the owner or agent, with phone and date.
- Leaving out your parcel number, name, mailing address or phone, without which the Assessor says the form may not be processed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Alameda County cost questionnaire for additions and alterations?
It is a questionnaire from the Alameda County Assessor sent for a property where a building permit was issued. It asks about the project's status, cost and scope so the Assessor can correctly value the construction. The form states it will not be open to public inspection.
Is this form part of Alameda County property tax assessment?
It is one of the forms the Alameda County Assessor uses for property valuation. The form says the information lets the office correctly value your construction. It does not state a tax amount; contact the Assessor at (510) 272-3787 for questions about your assessment.
How long do I have to return the cost questionnaire?
The form asks you to return it within 15 days of the date of completion or to indicate the status as of January 1st, whichever is earlier. If you are unsure which applies to your project, call the Assessor's office at (510) 272-3787.
Can I send a cost breakdown instead of filling in every box?
Yes, in part. The form says it is acceptable to provide the information in another format, such as a cost breakdown, if available. You may also attach a separate sheet for remarks or the layout, or attach plans for new construction.
What if I cancelled the project?
Mark Project cancelled; I will not be doing this work. The form states you must cancel the permit through the municipality in which it was obtained, so contact that permitting office as well as returning the questionnaire.
What if the work made my home more accessible for a disabled person?
Contact the Assessor's office before completion or within 30 days of completion about an exclusion from assessment you may qualify for. The Assessor's forms page also lists claim forms BOE-63 and BOE-63-A for disabled accessibility construction.
Where do I send the Alameda County Assessor's cost questionnaire?
Return it to the Alameda County Assessor's Office, 1221 Oak Street, Room 145, Oakland, CA 94612. The Assessor's forms page asks you to write the work unit or topic on the envelope and to include your name, mailing address and parcel number if known.
Can I fill out the cost questionnaire online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service, not affiliated with the Alameda County Assessor, and does not submit the form; you return it through the Assessor's channels.
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