City of Corona

Corona Municipal Code 15.02.070 requires a building permit before a person erects, re-erects, constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, improves, removes, converts, or demolishes any building or structure in the city. The city specifically calls out retaining walls over 2 feet, fences over 3 feet, certain signs requiring Planning sign permits, and grading subject to Chapter 15.36.

• Exempt One-story detached accessory structures such as tool sheds, storage sheds, and playhouses up to 120 square feet
• Exempt Fences not over 3 feet high
• Exempt Oil derricks
• Exempt Retaining walls not over 2 feet high unless supporting surcharge, superimposed load, or certain liquids
• Exempt Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height-to-width ratio not over 2:1
• Exempt Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not part of an accessible route
• Exempt Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Exempt Temporary motion-picture, television, and theater stage sets/scenery
• Exempt Certain above-ground prefabricated Group R-3 pools less than 24 inches deep and not over 5,000 gallons
• Exempt Shade cloth structures for nursery/agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
• Exempt Swings and playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Exempt Certain R-3 and U window awnings projecting 54 inches or less
• Exempt Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches
• Exempt Certain detached wood-framed decks accessory to single-family dwellings up to 200 square feet, not over 30 inches above grade, not attached, and not serving required egress or accessible travel
• Exempt Historic markers up to 4 feet high placed under the applicable zoning provisions
• Exempt Flag poles up to 30 feet exposed height
• Exempt Minor electrical repair work such as lamp replacement and connection of approved portable equipment
• Exempt Portable heating appliances and certain minor gas/mechanical part replacements
• Exempt Portable ventilation equipment, portable cooling units, portable evaporative coolers, and small self-contained refrigeration systems
• Exempt Limited plumbing repairs such as stopping leaks, clearing stoppages, and reinstalling water closets without replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures
• Exempt Installation of water-conserving plumbing fixtures replacing existing fixtures, by itself

Note: Exemptions do not authorize code violations. Corona expressly preserves wildfire, setback, surcharge/load, accessible-route, and other municipal code requirements even where a permit is not required.

Building code

Corona Municipal Code 15.04.050 states Chapter I Division II of the 2025 California Building Code is adopted as amended in Chapter 15.02. Permit administration and exempt-work rules are in Chapter 15.02 of the Corona Municipal Code.

Permit validity

Corona's Building Plan Check FAQ says permits expire 12 months after issuance if they are not kept active by approved milestone inspections. Each approved inspection extends permit activity by 180 days. Extension requests must be submitted before expiration. Plan checks expire after 180 days from application submittal if not kept active by resubmittals; if an extension is approved, the plan check is valid for another 90 days.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders must sign the city's disclosure/verification form before permit issuance. The form warns that the owner is the legally and financially responsible party, may be treated as an employer if using unlicensed labor on jobs of at least $500, and may not use the owner-builder exemption to construct single-family residences for sale unless the statutory contractor conditions are met.

Contractor requirements

The permit application requires either a California licensed contractor declaration or a valid owner-builder exemption. Corona cites the Contractors' State License Law, and the city notes contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California and to list license numbers on permits and contracts.

1. 01
   Confirm whether the job is exempt, eligible for an over-the-counter permit, or requires full plan check. Corona states over-the-counter permits are available for items such as water heater changeouts, electrical panel upgrades, city-standard block walls, window replacements, city-standard patio covers, water repipes, reroofs, HVAC changeouts, fences, and private pools at single-family residences.
2. 02
   Prepare the application package. Common base forms include the construction permit application/declaration form, declarations prior to permit issuance, and the owner-builder disclosure if the owner is pulling the permit. For plan check projects, Corona requires the signed Plan Check Submittal Checklist plus the applicable plans, reports, and calculations.
3. 03
   Submit plans either in person or electronically through eTrakit/ProjectDox. Corona states incomplete plan-check submittals will not be accepted for review.
4. 04
   Pay plan check fees after intake. The published flow chart states first review is 10 business days and resubmittals are 5 business days.
5. 05
   If corrections are issued, the Building Division assembles a resubmittal package and notifies the applicant by the next business day. Resubmit corrected materials; more than three reviews can trigger additional hourly plan-check charges.
6. 06
   After all departments approve, pay the remaining permit and inspection fees. The permit is then issued to the licensed contractor or owner-builder, and the approved plans and permit/job card must remain at the job site.
7. 07
   Call for inspections during construction and obtain final approval before use or occupancy; if a Certificate of Occupancy is required, occupancy cannot occur until the CofO or Temporary CofO is issued.

Typical processing time: First plan review 10 business days; resubmittals 5 business days. ProjectDox prescreen can take up to 5 days before review starts.

Source: Planning & Development Department, Building Division ↗

Corona states payments can be made online through eTrakit. Counter payments are also implied through permit issuance at the Building Division public counter.

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

• https://etrakit.coronaca.gov/etrakit/ (online)
• 951-736-2250 (phone)
• BuildingInspection@CoronaCA.gov (email)

Scheduling deadline

Online requests can be made through eTrakit; public counter/staff hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Corona's published materials do not state a specific inspector arrival window.

Typical sequence: Corona's published guidance is project-specific rather than a universal sequence. The permit/job card and approved plans stay onsite, inspections are performed at required milestones, each approved milestone inspection keeps the permit active for another 180 days, and the final inspection signs off when work conforms to approved plans and code. If a Certificate of Occupancy is required, it must be issued before occupancy.