Westmorland, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department

Street address

355 South Center Street, Westmorland, CA 92281

Phone

(760) 344-3411

info@cityofwestmorland.net

Coverage

This department appears to handle planning, building, and engineering permits within the incorporated City of Westmorland. Imperial County remains the broader county jurisdiction outside city limits.

Online portal

Building Permit Application PDF

Downloadable PDF with city intake

Website

Department website

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Westmorland

Westmorland's building permit application is used for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, demolition, sewer, water, and related work categories. The city's zoning ordinance materials also indicate that where a use is otherwise allowed, the city may require only a building permit. Because the city does not publish a local permit-threshold handout, applicants should assume permits are required for construction, alteration, demolition, and regulated trade work unless the department confirms an exemption.

Note: No Westmorland-specific exemption handout was located on the official website as of March 21, 2026. Because Westmorland does not publish a local exemption sheet or current adopted code chapter online, applicants should confirm exemptions directly with Planning, Building & Engineering before starting work. Separate zoning, utility, sewer or water connection, air district, school district, fire, or CEQA-related approvals may still apply even when a building permit is not required.

Required documents

Building permit application
Project valuation
Project address and APN
Owner and contractor details
Contractor state license number
Business license number
Workers' compensation declaration
Description of work
Plans and supporting approvals as required by the city
Construction Waste Management Plan before permit issuance for all new construction, all demolition except single-family and duplex projects, and nonresidential addition or alteration projects with construction valuation exceeding $50,000

Building code: The city website does not publish a current municipal code chapter or code-adoption ordinance for the active building code cycle. Westmorland's 2024 housing element states the city had adopted the 2019 California Building Code, Title 24, during the prior planning period. Because a newer official city posting confirming 2022 or 2025 code-cycle adoption was not located, applicants should verify the currently enforced California Building Standards Code edition directly with Planning, Building & Engineering before filing.
Permit validity: The city's posted building permit application states that the permit becomes void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance.
Owner-builder: A city-posted owner-builder packet or local owner-builder instructions were not located on the official website as of March 21, 2026. Applicants proposing owner-builder status should confirm whether Westmorland requires the standard California owner-builder disclosure forms at submittal.
Contractor requirements: The city's application requires the prime contractor's California state license number and business license number and includes a workers' compensation declaration, indicating licensed-contractor and insurance documentation are part of the standard application.

Source: City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: The city's 2024 housing element says zoning and building permit applications for single-family developments can usually be processed in less than two months. Projects requiring Planning Commission and City Council review are described as taking about 100 days, with an outside maximum of 150 days before CEQA-related extensions.

01

Confirm project scope with the Planning, Building & Engineering Department at City Hall. Westmorland runs permit review through its Planning, Building, and Public Works functions and describes a one-stop review approach.
02

Download and complete the City of Westmorland building permit application.
03

Assemble project documents. The city website does not publish a full submittal checklist, but the application and city materials indicate applicants should be ready to provide plans and any project-specific approvals, and a Construction Waste Management Plan when the project triggers that requirement.
04

Submit the application to City Hall or Planning, Building & Engineering for administrative review.
05

Respond to staff comments and outside-agency requirements if applicable.
06

Pay permit and impact fees at issuance.
07

After permit issuance, keep the permit active by starting work promptly and coordinate inspections with the city by phone because no online inspection system is publicly posted.

Typical processing time: The city's 2024 housing element says zoning and building permit applications for single-family developments can usually be processed in less than two months. Projects requiring Planning Commission and City Council review are described as taking about 100 days, with an outside maximum of 150 days before CEQA-related extensions.

Source: City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Westmorland building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Plan check fee

The application includes a separate plan-check fee line item, but no public amount or formula was located.

Permit fee formula

The permit application references valuation, building permit, plan check, seismic, sewer connection, water connection, water capacity, sewer capacity, site plan, school, and park, police, and fire fee categories, but it does not publish dollar amounts. The housing element states city impact fees are collected at building permit issuance and lists standard per-unit impact fees of $3,299 for single-family and $4,184 for multifamily residential projects, plus school fees and in some cases Imperial County APCD operational development fees.

The city website has a general Pay Online link for municipal payments, but it does not publish building-permit-specific online payment instructions or identify which permit fees can be paid online.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

(760) 344-3411 (phone)
info@cityofwestmorland.net (email)

Inspection hours: City Hall's posted hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Typical sequence: The city does not publish an inspection card or required inspection list online. Inspections follow the approved scope of work and typical California sequence for foundation and underground work, rough framing and rough trades, and final inspection, as applicable.

Source: City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Westmorland permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Westmorland, CA? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Westmorland, CA? ▸

Building permit fees in Westmorland, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: The permit application references valuation, building permit, plan check, seismic, sewer connection, water connection, water capacity, sewer capacity, site plan, school, and park, police, and fire fee categories, but it does not publish dollar amounts. The housing element states city impact fees are collected at building permit issuance and lists standard per-unit impact fees of $3,299 for single-family and $4,184 for multifamily residential projects, plus school fees and in some cases Imperial County APCD operational development fees.. Plan check fee: The application includes a separate plan-check fee line item, but no public amount or formula was located..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Westmorland, CA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Westmorland, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm project scope with the Planning, Building & Engineering Department at City Hall. Westmorland runs permit review through its Planning, Building, and Public Works functions and describes a one-stop review approach. 2. Download and complete the City of Westmorland building permit application. 3. Assemble project documents. The city website does not publish a full submittal checklist, but the application and city materials indicate applicants should be ready to provide plans and any project-specific approvals, and a Construction Waste Management Plan when the project triggers that requirement. 4. Submit the application to City Hall or Planning, Building & Engineering for administrative review. 5. Respond to staff comments and outside-agency requirements if applicable. 6. Pay permit and impact fees at issuance. 7. After permit issuance, keep the permit active by starting work promptly and coordinate inspections with the city by phone because no online inspection system is publicly posted.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Westmorland, CA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Westmorland, CA typically run The city's 2024 housing element says zoning and building permit applications for single-family developments can usually be processed in less than two months. Projects requiring Planning Commission and City Council review are described as taking about 100 days, with an outside maximum of 150 days before CEQA-related extensions.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Westmorland, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Westmorland, CA via: (760) 344-3411, info@cityofwestmorland.net.

last verified April 2026 source City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department ↗ entry id permits/california/imperial/westmorland

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Westmorland Planning, Building & Engineering Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Westmorland

Other jurisdictions in Imperial County.