City of Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach adopts the 2025 California Building Code with local amendments. A permit is generally required for erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, removal, conversion, demolition, occupancy, equipment, use, height, area, and maintenance of buildings or structures unless specifically exempted. Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required even where some building work is exempt.

• Exempt One-story detached accessory structures such as tool sheds, playhouses, pagodas, and gazebos up to 120 square feet
• Exempt Masonry or concrete fences up to 42 inches high, and other fences up to 6 feet high, subject to zoning setback and fire-review limits
• Exempt Retaining walls up to 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding specified liquids
• Exempt Sidewalks, platforms, decks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Exempt Prefabricated above-ground pools for Group R-3 occupancy under 18 inches deep and 5,000 gallons
• Exempt Re-roofing areas smaller than 100 square feet
• Exempt Replacement doors and windows where the waterproofing membrane is not altered and egress dimensions are maintained or improved
• Exempt New roof penetrations under 14 inches by 14 inches when no framing changes are required
• Exempt Minor listed electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing repairs and portable equipment items described in the city exemption form and municipal code

Note: Exemptions do not authorize code violations. Separate trade permits may still be required. Work in floodplain overlay districts, environmentally sensitive areas, or projects subject to discretionary planning review or other agency requirements is not exempt even if it falls on the exemption list.

Building code

Huntington Beach Municipal Code Chapter 17.04 adopts the 2025 California Building Code, Volumes 1 and 2, with local amendments. The city housing element also notes the broader Title 24 code family used by the city.

Permit validity

Applications expire if no permit is issued within 180 days unless extended in 180-day increments with the required extension fee. After issuance, a permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 12 months, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement. Written extensions of up to 180 days each may be granted for justifiable cause.

Owner-builder

The city fee schedule includes a processing fee for changes of owner, which indicates owner-builder handling exists administratively, but the city materials reviewed did not publish a standalone owner-builder instruction sheet in the sources used here. Owner-builders should confirm affidavit and disclosure requirements directly with the Permit Center before filing.

Contractor requirements

City guidance says to hire a licensed contractor for construction work. For work requiring a contractor in California, licensing is governed by state CSLB requirements in addition to city permit rules.

1. 01
   Confirm zoning and use constraints with the Planning Division before finalizing the project or lease, especially if the site may need discretionary planning approval.
2. 02
   Prepare the construction package. City guidance says to hire a registered design professional as needed and assemble the construction documents and applications for the project scope.
3. 03
   Submit any required planning permits first, then submit the building permit application and construction documents to the Building Division through the HB Permit Center portal or as otherwise directed by staff.
4. 04
   The Building Division routes the package to reviewing disciplines as needed, including building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, planning, and public works. Separate fire submittals may be required for fire protection systems.
5. 05
   Respond to correction comments, resubmit if needed, and pay plan review and permit fees. The permit is not valid until required fees are paid.
6. 06
   After permit issuance, perform the work, schedule inspections through the portal, complete related trade permits, and obtain final sign-off or a certificate of occupancy where applicable.
7. 07
   Processing time estimate if available: a city housing element document states first-cycle building permit plan check is generally about 20 business days, second submittal about 10 business days, later submittals about 5 business days, and the city aims to help applicants obtain a building permit within about 2 to 3 months when only one or two plan-check cycles are needed. Projects needing environmental review or major entitlements can take much longer.

Source: City of Huntington Beach Community Development Department, Building Division (city materials also refer to it publicly as the Building and Safety Division) ↗

Permit fees are due at permit issuance, plan review fees are due at submittal, and the permit is not valid until prescribed fees are paid. The portal states it does not accept American Express. The 2023 fee schedule states a 6.0% automation fee is added to listed fees.

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

• Online through the HB Permit Center portal at https (online)
• (714) 536-5241 (phone)

Inspection hours

The city brochure lists Building Division counter hours at City Hall as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Portal inspection notices reviewed indicate inspector confirmation begins at 7:00 a.m. on the day of inspection.

Typical sequence: After permit issuance, inspections occur at each stage of construction. Applicants receive either a list of outstanding items or a sign-off for that stage. Before final building inspection, related permits such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire must be completed and finalized. Final sign-off or certificate of occupancy follows completion of inspections and payment of outstanding fees where applicable.