Changes in California's building codes have local building officials bracing for a flood of last-minute permit applications and a deluge of questions after new regulations take effect Jan. 1.

County building safety officials plan to stay late on Monday night in anticipation of New Year's Eve applicants seeking to get in before new safety codes apply.

Novato City Hall stopped taking applications Thursday night because its offices are closed Friday, and Monday is a holiday for city workers.

It will be business as usual in San Rafael, where officials close shop at 5 p.m. on New Year's Eve. Thomas Ahrens, the city's chief building official, isn't expecting a surge of applicants seeking to take advantage of old rules.