On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Palm Springs
Palm Springs states a permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, and before installing or altering regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. The city also gives project-specific examples, including permits for patio covers, HVAC replacement, reroof work over 100 square feet, water-heater replacement, and walls or fences over 3 feet high.
Tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar detached accessory structures when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, subject to the city's height, setback, and no-utilities limits shown on the permit page
Patio slabs, even though attached and freestanding patio covers themselves require permits
Solid fences or walls not over 42 inches high
Open fences with at least 90 percent open surface area not over 48 inches high
Retaining walls not over 3 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable or combustible liquids
- Exempt Tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar detached accessory structures when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, subject to the city's height, setback, and no-utilities limits shown on the permit page
- Exempt Patio slabs, even though attached and freestanding patio covers themselves require permits
- Exempt Solid fences or walls not over 42 inches high
- Exempt Open fences with at least 90 percent open surface area not over 48 inches high
- Exempt Retaining walls not over 3 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable or combustible liquids
Note: Permit exemptions do not override zoning, land-use, fire, grading, engineering, historic, utility, or other legal requirements. Palm Springs specifically warns that some work may be exempt from a building permit but still require Planning review or approval, and the city has stricter local fence and retaining-wall thresholds than the baseline California code.
Required documents
- Typical city submittals include the correct application type
- project checklist
- complete plan set
- supporting documents
- valid project address and APN
- scope of work
- site plan
- floor, foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans as applicable
- elevations
- Title 24 forms
- structural or truss calculations where required
- contractor declaration or owner-builder verification
- and any required outside-agency or city-division clearances. The exact package varies by permit type.
- Building code
- As of January 1, 2026, the City of Palm Springs states all new plan review and permit applications must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes and the adopted City of Palm Springs Municipal Code.
- Permit validity
- Under Palm Springs Municipal Code amendments to CBC Section 105.3.2 and 105.5, an application is abandoned after 180 days if it is not pursued in good faith or issued, subject to one or two written extensions of up to 90 days each. A permit becomes invalid if work is not started within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended, abandoned, or without progress for 180 days after work starts. Written extensions of up to 90 days may be granted, but generally not beyond 3 years from issuance unless City Council authorizes more time.
- Owner-builder
- Palm Springs requires an owner-builder affidavit before permit issuance. The city's current form states owner-builder permits generally may only be issued for work on a single-family detached residence occupied by the owner, or under another qualifying CSLB exemption, and the form states no owner-builder permits may be issued for multi-family structures. If an agent files for the owner, the city requires a signed authorization and a scanned copy of the agent's driver's license.
- Contractor requirements
- Palm Springs states contractors must be licensed in California and directs applicants to verify licenses through CSLB. The city code also states that permits for electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work on occupancies other than R-3 and associated U occupancies may only be issued to California licensed contractors.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: The city's Plan Review page lists estimated review times of about 30 calendar days per cycle for single-family dwellings, apartments, tenant improvements, and commercial/industrial projects.
- 01 Confirm whether the project needs a permit and whether Planning, Engineering, Fire, or other city divisions must review it. Palm Springs states plans may need to be routed to other divisions depending on scope.
- 02 Create a Palm Springs Online account and choose the application that matches the project type.
- 03 Assemble the submittal package. The city's forms and current checklists commonly call for a checklist, complete plan set, and supporting documents in separate PDFs, plus project-specific items such as site plan, floor plans, elevations, structural calculations, truss documents, and Title 24 energy documents.
- 04 Upload the application and documents through Palm Springs Online. The city notes incomplete or incorrect submittals may be rejected.
- 05 Pay required permit, plan review, and any related Planning, Engineering, Fire, state, or CVAG fees.
- 06 Respond to correction comments and resubmit as needed until plans are approved.
- 07 After permit issuance, keep approved paper plans on site, request inspections through the portal, and obtain final approval to close out the permit.
Typical processing time: The city's Plan Review page lists estimated review times of about 30 calendar days per cycle for single-family dwellings, apartments, tenant improvements, and commercial/industrial projects.
§ 04
Fee schedule
Palm Springs building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
The city does not publish a single universal minimum on its Building Permit and Review Fees web page; fees vary by permit type and valuation and are controlled by the live FY 2025-2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule.
02
Plan check fee
Varies by permit type and project scope under the Comprehensive Fee Schedule; the city notes plan review may involve Building, Planning, Engineering, Fire, and Police depending on project type.
03
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Palm Springs states building permit fees are listed in the Comprehensive Fee Schedule, with associated Planning, Engineering, and Fire fees also collected as part of permit issuance. The city also collects state fees and, for qualifying projects, CVAG mitigation fees and a city construction tax.
04
Reinspection fee
The current live fee schedule governs these charges. Separately, Palm Springs Municipal Code states that if a permit expires and qualifies for reactivation within 1 year with no plan changes, the reactivation fee is 1/2 of the fee required for a new permit. Applicants should also expect additional fees for deferred submittals and any extra reviews triggered by revisions.
Palm Springs Online allows applicants to pay invoices online. The portal help page also provides a "Pay Online Using Invoice Number" path that does not require an account for invoice payment.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- https://palmspringsca-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home (online)
- today's inspection list (online)
- (760) 323-8299 (phone)
- (760) 323-8266 (phone)
- building.inspections@palmspringsca.gov (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- Applicants may request the desired inspection date only; appointment times are not accepted. Inspector availability posted on the city page includes Monday-Thursday and Tuesday-Friday coverage depending on inspector. Cancellation or rescheduling must be emailed to Mark.Lambermont@palmspringsca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of inspection.
Typical sequence: The city publishes common stages including under-ground plumbing and electric, foundation/footing, roof sheathing framing, wrap, framing, rough plumbing, rough mechanical, and rough electrical. Separate city-code minimum inspections are also listed for swimming pools, including pre-gunite, underground utilities, deck bonding, encapsulation, and final.
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Palm Springs permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
Palm Springs states a permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, and before installing or altering regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. The city also gives project-specific examples, including permits for patio covers, HVAC replacement, reroof work over 100 square feet, water-heater replacement, and walls or fences over 3 feet high.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
Building permit fees in Palm Springs, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is The city does not publish a single universal minimum on its Building Permit and Review Fees web page; fees vary by permit type and valuation and are controlled by the live FY 2025-2026 Comprehensive Fee Schedule.. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. Palm Springs states building permit fees are listed in the Comprehensive Fee Schedule, with associated Planning, Engineering, and Fire fees also collected as part of permit issuance. The city also collects state fees and, for qualifying projects, CVAG mitigation fees and a city construction tax.. Plan check fee: Varies by permit type and project scope under the Comprehensive Fee Schedule; the city notes plan review may involve Building, Planning, Engineering, Fire, and Police depending on project type..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Palm Springs, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm whether the project needs a permit and whether Planning, Engineering, Fire, or other city divisions must review it. Palm Springs states plans may need to be routed to other divisions depending on scope. 2. Create a Palm Springs Online account and choose the application that matches the project type. 3. Assemble the submittal package. The city's forms and current checklists commonly call for a checklist, complete plan set, and supporting documents in separate PDFs, plus project-specific items such as site plan, floor plans, elevations, structural calculations, truss documents, and Title 24 energy documents. 4. Upload the application and documents through Palm Springs Online. The city notes incomplete or incorrect submittals may be rejected. 5. Pay required permit, plan review, and any related Planning, Engineering, Fire, state, or CVAG fees. 6. Respond to correction comments and resubmit as needed until plans are approved. 7. After permit issuance, keep approved paper plans on site, request inspections through the portal, and obtain final approval to close out the permit.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Palm Springs, CA typically run The city's Plan Review page lists estimated review times of about 30 calendar days per cycle for single-family dwellings, apartments, tenant improvements, and commercial/industrial projects.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Palm Springs, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar detached accessory structures when the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, subject to the city's height, setback, and no-utilities limits shown on the permit page; Patio slabs, even though attached and freestanding patio covers themselves require permits; Solid fences or walls not over 42 inches high; Open fences with at least 90 percent open surface area not over 48 inches high; Retaining walls not over 3 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable or combustible liquids. Note: Permit exemptions do not override zoning, land-use, fire, grading, engineering, historic, utility, or other legal requirements. Palm Springs specifically warns that some work may be exempt from a building permit but still require Planning review or approval, and the city has stricter local fence and retaining-wall thresholds than the baseline California code. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Palm Springs, CA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Palm Springs, CA via: https://palmspringsca-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home, today's inspection list, (760) 323-8299, (760) 323-8266, building.inspections@palmspringsca.gov. Applicants may request the desired inspection date only; appointment times are not accepted. Inspector availability posted on the city page includes Monday-Thursday and Tuesday-Friday coverage depending on inspector. Cancellation or rescheduling must be emailed to Mark.Lambermont@palmspringsca.gov by 8:00 a.m. the day of inspection..
last verified April 2026
source City of Palm Springs Building & Safety Department ↗
entry id permits/california/riverside/palm-springs
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Palm Springs Building & Safety Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.