City of Alhambra

Alhambra requires a permit before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, connecting, converting, demolishing, or equipping a building or structure, or performing grading, unless exempt. The Building Division also states most residential, commercial, and industrial construction work on private property requires plans and permits, including new structures, additions, remodels, roofing, structural repairs, window replacement, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sandblasting, signs, solar, and EV charger/service equipment work.

• Exempt Work not regulated by the Building Code, unless the Building Official requires a permit to enforce other federal, state, disabled-access, or City requirements
• Exempt Painting, wallpapering, installing carpet, vinyl, tile, similar floor coverings, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled-access requirements do not apply
• Exempt Repairing broken window glass not required to be safety or security glazing
• Exempt One-story detached accessory buildings such as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, or shade structures up to 120 square feet, up to 12 feet high, with roof projection up to 24 inches
• Exempt Chain-link, wrought-iron, and similar fences up to 12 feet high
• Exempt Masonry, concrete, wood, and similar fences up to 6 feet high; exception for certain open wood fences up to 8 feet
• Exempt Retaining walls holding 4 feet or less, measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, if not supporting a surcharge or impounding specified liquids
• Exempt Ground-mounted radio/TV antenna towers up to 45 feet and certain dish antennas up to 15 feet above grade
• Exempt Light standards up to 30 feet
• Exempt Flagpoles not on buildings and up to 15 feet high
• Exempt Small tree houses meeting the City's size and height limits
• Exempt Certain canopies/awnings attached to Group R-3 or U occupancies extending no more than 54 inches
• Exempt Temporary sheds, office/storage buildings, and similar structures under 1,500 square feet that are incidental to work under a valid grading or building permit and removed at permit expiration/completion
• Exempt Decks, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Exempt Above-grade prefabricated residential pools and water bodies under stated depth/volume thresholds
• Exempt Playground equipment
• Exempt Certain residential recreational membrane structures up to 250 square feet
• Exempt Steel tanks on low foundations within stated dimensional limits
• Exempt Gantry cranes and similar equipment
• Exempt Bridges not involving buildings
• Exempt Motion picture, television, and theater stage sets/scenery, unless used as a building
• Exempt Oil derricks
• Exempt Nonfixed/movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high

Note: Exemptions do not authorize work that violates code or other laws. Alhambra expressly notes separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required unless those codes also exempt the work.

Building code

Alhambra adopted the 2023 Los Angeles County Codes for Building (Title 26), Residential (Title 30), Electrical (Title 27), Plumbing (Title 28), Mechanical (Title 29), and Existing Building (Title 33), with local amendments. City checklists reference the underlying 2022 California code cycle, including CRC 2022, CBC 2022, Title 24 Part 6, and CALGreen 2022.

Permit validity

Plan check applications expire if no permit is issued within 1 year after application. Issued permits expire if work is not commenced within 1 year of issuance or if the permit becomes inactive for 1 year after the last required building inspection approval. A new permit is required to recommence expired work.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders may receive permits, but Alhambra states owners pulling permits must perform the work safely and professionally and provide workers' compensation insurance for relatives and others working on the project, unless a stated household-family exception applies. The City's owner-builder declaration says the owner is legally and financially responsible for the work and must comply with owner-builder and employer obligations.

Contractor requirements

Alhambra states only properly licensed contractors, or persons specifically exempt under California Business and Professions Code section 7044, may pull permits for regulated work. The City's licensed contractor declaration requires the contractor to affirm licensure under Business and Professions Code chapter 9 and provide workers' compensation information. Alhambra also requires contractor reports verifying subcontractors' City business licenses before permit finalization.

1. 01
   Verify zoning and planning requirements with the Planning Division before submitting building plans; Alhambra states applicants should confirm exactly what can be done on the property first.
2. 02
   Submit the building permit application in the Permit Portal. Alhambra identifies common application types including residential new building, residential alteration, ADU, commercial new building, and commercial alteration permits.
3. 03
   Pay invoiced plan check fees in the Permit Portal if plan review is required.
4. 04
   Upload plans and supporting documents through the GoPost plan check portal after the application is paid and processed.
5. 05
   Wait for City and outside-agency review. Alhambra states Building Division review is typically 2 to 4 weeks, with other department timing varying by workload.
6. 06
   Respond to corrections in the plan check portal until approval is obtained. Alhambra notes submittals exceeding two reviews require additional plan check fees.
7. 07
   Obtain all required department and outside-agency approvals; the City notes the applicant is responsible for securing required approvals.
8. 08
   Pay permit issuance fees in the Permit Portal. The permit is then issued to a qualified licensed contractor or owner-builder, and the plan/permit package is emailed to the applicant.
9. 09
   Request inspections through the Permit Portal and obtain final approvals from all required departments before permit closeout.

Typical processing time: Building Division review time frame is 2 to 4 weeks; contractor report verification takes about 2 weeks and is required before finalizing a building permit.

Source: City of Alhambra Community Development Department, Building Division ↗

Alhambra states Building & Safety is completely paperless. Applications, plans, and invoices are submitted and paid online; paper plans, paper applications, and in-person payments are not accepted. The department makes the final fee determination. Some outside-agency fees, such as AUSD developer fees and LACSD fees, are paid directly to those agencies rather than to the City.

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

• Building inspections are requested through the Permit Portal at (online)
• Building inspections are requested through the Permit Portal at https://alhambraca.energovpub.tylerhost.net/Apps/SelfService#/home . Building Division contact phone is 626-570-5032. The daily inspection schedule page is (online)
• 626-570-5032 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

could be considered for next-day inspection, but as of December 1, 2025 the separate form is retired and requests are routed through the Permit Portal instead.

Inspection hours

Building Division hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Permit counter hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The City posts the daily inspection schedule at 7:30 a.m. the day of inspection. Older inspection-request instructions said requests submitted by 2:00 p.m. could be considered for next-day inspection, but as of December 1, 2025 the separate form is retired and requests are routed through the Permit Portal instead.

Typical sequence: Request inspections after permit issuance, complete whatever required inspections apply to the project, resolve revisions if needed, and obtain final approvals from all required Alhambra departments before the permit is closed. Alhambra notes required inspections vary by project and advises applicants to ask Building & Safety about inspection requirements.

Source: City of Alhambra Community Development Department, Building Division ↗