Simi Valley, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley

Street address

2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA 93063

Phone

(805) 583-6723; Planning (805) 583-6769

enviroservices@simivalley.org

Coverage

The City of Simi Valley Building & Safety handles permits for projects in Simi Valley city limits.

Online portal

Customer Self Service Online Permit Portal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Simi Valley

Construction permits are required before new building, remodeling, or additions. Many fence and wall projects can be exempt depending on height and type.

Scope of work

Permit?

Most residential fences and walls unless tall or retaining structures are proposed

Exempt

Side and rear-yard paving in some contexts

Exempt

Protected trees and certain development-related items depending on type and location

Exempt

Exempt Most residential fences and walls unless tall or retaining structures are proposed
Exempt Side and rear-yard paving in some contexts
Exempt Protected trees and certain development-related items depending on type and location

Note: Even where a City construction permit is not required, planning approvals such as zoning clearance can still be required.

Required documents

Plan package in PDF format
Structural calculations where required
Additional supporting documents
Signed declarations
Plan-check and inspection coordination materials

Building code: 2025 California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Housing, and Referenced Standards codes, 2024 IPMC, CALGreen, CWC, and Wildland-Urban Interface, effective January 1, 2026.
Permit validity: The City states permits are valid for a specified period, but a general universal expiration period was not clearly published in the reviewed public-facing pages.
Owner-builder: Owner-builders must identify a valid exemption under Contractors State License Law and comply with personal residency and sale limitations in the declaration.
Contractor requirements: Permit declaration allows either a California licensed contractor or owner-builder. Contractor applicants must provide license class, license number, and a signed declaration.

Source: Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Goal of 20 to 25 working days for initial plan review. Follow-up reviews vary by workload.

01

Determine whether a Planning Division zoning clearance is required before the building permit.
02

Register on the City self-service portal.
03

Submit the permit application and required PDF set, including site plan, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical plans, and Title 24 forms as applicable.
04

Provide the required declaration, including the Property Owner's Package for owner-builder applicants or the Construction Permit Declaration for contractor projects.
05

Pay required plan-check and permit fees and wait for Building & Safety review.
06

On approval, receive the permit and request inspections online or by phone as work progresses.

Typical processing time: Goal of 20 to 25 working days for initial plan review. Follow-up reviews vary by workload.

Source: Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2025

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

No single flat public minimum listed. Example published values include new dwelling minimums such as $504.78 for a one-bedroom dwelling, $753.10 for two bedrooms, and $1,004.91 for three or more bedrooms.

Plan check fee

Included in the Building & Safety fee tables, with plan-check extension and change fees also listed.

Permit fee formula

Many items are valuation or square-foot based with a base fee plus incremental fees depending on occupancy group. Other services are hourly or flat.

Reinspection fee

Examples in the fee schedule include $190.91 per hour for building inspection labor and $268.41 per hour for plan-check labor.

The City routes filing and plan materials through the self-service portal, and the fee schedule includes non-refundable permit issuance and add-on fees.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2025) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Customer Self Service portal (online)
(805) 583-6723 option 2 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Requests received by 4:00 PM are performed the next workday. Friday requests after 4:00 PM shift to Tuesday.
Inspection hours: Inspector contact windows at the office: 7:00-8:00 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday

Typical sequence: Example sequence is foundation, slab, roof or wall sheathing, framing, insulation, drywall or lathing, water or sewer connection, and final.

Source: Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Simi Valley permits

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

Construction permits are required before new building, remodeling, or additions. Many fence and wall projects can be exempt depending on height and type.

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

Building permit fees in Simi Valley, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is No single flat public minimum listed. Example published values include new dwelling minimums such as $504.78 for a one-bedroom dwelling, $753.10 for two bedrooms, and $1,004.91 for three or more bedrooms.. Fees are calculated as: Many items are valuation or square-foot based with a base fee plus incremental fees depending on occupancy group. Other services are hourly or flat.. Plan check fee: Included in the Building & Safety fee tables, with plan-check extension and change fees also listed..

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

To apply for a building permit in Simi Valley, CA, follow these steps: 1. Determine whether a Planning Division zoning clearance is required before the building permit. 2. Register on the City self-service portal. 3. Submit the permit application and required PDF set, including site plan, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical plans, and Title 24 forms as applicable. 4. Provide the required declaration, including the Property Owner's Package for owner-builder applicants or the Construction Permit Declaration for contractor projects. 5. Pay required plan-check and permit fees and wait for Building & Safety review. 6. On approval, receive the permit and request inspections online or by phone as work progresses.

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

Building permit processing times in Simi Valley, CA typically run Goal of 20 to 25 working days for initial plan review. Follow-up reviews vary by workload.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Simi Valley, CA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Simi Valley, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Most residential fences and walls unless tall or retaining structures are proposed; Side and rear-yard paving in some contexts; Protected trees and certain development-related items depending on type and location. Note: Even where a City construction permit is not required, planning approvals such as zoning clearance can still be required. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Simi Valley, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Simi Valley, CA via: Customer Self Service portal, (805) 583-6723 option 2. Requests received by 4:00 PM are performed the next workday. Friday requests after 4:00 PM shift to Tuesday..

last verified April 2026 source Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley ↗ entry id permits/california/ventura/simi-valley

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Simi Valley

Other jurisdictions in Ventura County.