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Frequently Asked Questions
How can I determine what the zone of my property is? And how big and how high I can build my house or room addition?
This information is available from Planning Department. Their phone number is (909) 395-2036
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Can I as a homeowner apply for a construction permit?
A homeowner can obtain a permit and do the construction, alteration or repair on his/her house and accessory buildings or facilities thereto if the owner resides or will reside in the dwelling.
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Do I need a building permit to build a fence around my property?
A building permit is required for:
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Concrete block walls over 3 feet high from grade |
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Block pilasters over 3 feet high from grade |
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Chain link fences over 8 feet high |
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Open or screened wrought iron fences and gates over 8 feet high |
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Wood fences over 8 feet high |
A site plan indicating the location of the proposed wall or fence is required when you submit your permit application for your wall/fence.
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Do I need a permit to build a short retaining wall?
A permit is required for retaining walls over 4 ft. in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall.
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What is the allowable height of a fence on my lot?
Please check with the Planning Department for the fence height limitation due to its proximity to the front, side, or rear property lines. Their phone number is (909) 395-2036.
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How much is the building permit fee and what is it based on?
Building permit fees are calculated based on the valuation of the project. Please see Estimate Plan Check/Permit Fees/Other Fees. In addition to the permit fee, a plan review fee equal to 80% of the permit fee is collected at the time of submittal of your building permit application.
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I want to enlarge my house. How do I apply for a building permit?
Please see Plan Submittal Requirements.
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Can a homeowner prepare the drawings, obtain a building permit, and construct a house or addition without consulting an architect/engineer/contractor?
Yes, if the house is one story and is essentially of regular shape without off sets and without large openings in the walls for doors and windows. An owner needs to be able to read and interpret, in addition to other code sections, the “Conventional Light Frame Construction” regulations in chapter 23 of the California Building Code and use the information therein to specify the structural member sizes on plan. Read the Plan Submittal Requirements to see if you are capable to prepare the documents stipulated therein. If you can’t, then you are strongly advised to hire a professional architect or engineer to prepare the design and construction document for your project.
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What is an inspection?
An inspection is a visit by a city inspector to a job site to verify the construction’s compliance with approved plans and code regulations. All construction work for which a permit is required is subject to inspection by city inspectors. It is your responsibility to notify the inspector when the work is ready for inspection. Work is generally inspected and approved in succession and no work may continue beyond the point indicated in each successive inspection without first obtaining the approval of the inspector. Common items to be inspected are foundation excavations, concrete work, wood framing, ventilation equipment, plumbing, electrical, shear wall nailing, roof nailing etc. When the entire project is completed, there will be a final inspection and approval of the completed project.
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What is a Certificate of Occupancy?
A Certificate of Occupancy is a document issued by the Building Department allowing a building to be occupied pursuant to its intended use stated in a building permit. It is issued after a building inspector verifies that all work have been done in accordance with approved plans and code requirements, and other city departments have also given their approval for work/improvements that are under their jurisdiction.
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Is a plumbing permit required to replace my residential garbage disposer?
No.
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Is a plumbing permit required to replace my gas water heater in my single-family-dwelling?
Yes.
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Is a permit required to install a domestic cooking range, broiler unit or domestic-type clothes dryer in a single-family-dwelling?
No.
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When is a plumbing permit required for natural gas piping?
A plumbing permit is required for the installation of any gas piping except piping less than 6 feet in length between an existing gas outlet and a gas appliance in the same room.
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Is a permit required for installing any portable ventilating, comfort-cooling or evaporative cooler equipment?
No.
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Is heating required in a dwelling unit?
Yes. For all habitable areas, the room temperature at a point 3 feet above the floor shall be maintained at 70 degrees F.
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How are changes to approved plans handled by the Department during construction?
Generally speaking, any changes to Department-approved plans shall be approved by the plan check engineer who reviewed and issued the permit. Sometimes, the changes can be handled over the counter on the same day it is brought in; other times, the changes may need to be resubmitted for further review with an additional plan check fee paid to the city. In either case, it is always a good idea to first call the plan check engineer who reviewed your plans and ask for his/her help.
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How long is a plan check good for?
Plan check expires 12 months after the plan check fee is paid.
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How long is a permit good for?
A permit expires a) if no work has been started within six months from its issuance, or b) if work has started but stopped for over six months.
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How many sets of plans do I need a) at the time of filing for plan check and b) at permit issuance?
See Plan Submittal Requirements for the number of sets of plans required at the time you file your permit application. When a permit is ready to be issued, two sets of plans will be required: one each for the job site and the Building Department. In addition, if a project is for a new building or addition to an existing building, a third set of plans containing a site plan and all floor plans will be required for the county assessor’s office.
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What is the current status of my plan check review?
Please call (909) 395-2023 for this information.
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How do I request a refund on my plan check and/or permit fees?
If you decide to cancel the review of your construction documents or to not proceed with building your project, you may file for a refund of plan check or permit fee by submitting a written request to the Building Department. Please include the job address, a description of the project, permit number, and the reason for asking a refund in your request.
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What is the Building Department’s policy on allowing a) a change of contractor, b) a change of contractor to owner/builder, and c) a change of engineer or architect, on an issued permit?
a) In order to change the name of a contractor on an issued permit to a new contractor, the Department will require a letter from the original contractor relinquishing his/her interest in the original permit. Thereafter, the Department will change the name of the contractor on the original permit to the new contractor and print a new signature form for the new contractor to sign. If such a letter cannot be obtained from the original contractor, the Department will then require the new contractor to take out a new permit in his/her own name and pay the permit fee again. The permit fee can be waived if there is proof that the building permit fee on the original permit was paid by the property owner.
b) In order to change a contractor permit to owner/builder permit, the Department will require a letter from the contractor relinquishing his/her interest in the original permit. Thereafter, the Department will remove the contractor's name from the original permit and print new signature form for the owner to sign as owner/builder permit. In the event such a letter cannot be obtained from the contractor but the property owner can prove that he/she paid the permit fee on the original permit, the Department will remove the contractor's name from the original permit and print new signature form for the owner to sign as owner/builder permit.
Should such a letter cannot be obtained from the original contractor and the owner cannot prove that he/she paid for the original permit, then the owner will need to take out a new permit and pay the permit fee again.
c) In order to change architect or engineer of record on an issued permit, the Department will require the new architect and engineer to prepare his/her own plans/calculations, pay an appropriate plan check fee, and take out a new permit.
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