Ferndale, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Ferndale. Building permits are handled through the City Clerk with review by the City Building Official and other contracted staff.

Department

City Clerk's Office, City of Ferndale

Address

834 Main Street, Ferndale, CA 95536

Phone

(707) 786-4224

Email

cityclerk@ci.ferndale.ca.us

Website

https://ci.ferndale.ca.us/departments/city-clerk/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Optionally request a pre-application review for larger or more complex projects. The City notes this may include preliminary plan review or a staff meeting and requires a cash deposit for consultant staff time.
2. Download and complete the building permit application, then submit it to the City Clerk with required plans, specifications, and supporting documents.
3. Include the required submittal package: application, signature sheets, plot plan checklist, construction plan checklist, legal description, three plan sets, one extra floor plan, one extra plot plan, and the plan-check deposit.
4. The City or consultants perform an application completeness check and route the package for plan review.
5. If deficiencies are found, correct and resubmit plans for final approval.
6. Pay the remaining plan-check and permit fees, plus any applicable drainage, sewer, school, or other fees, before permit issuance.
7. After permit issuance, request inspections through the City Clerk at least 24 hours in advance and complete all required inspections through final.

Typical processing time: The posted building plan review process may take about 1 to 6 weeks, depending on completeness and project complexity.

Source: City Clerk's Office, City of Ferndale

General Requirements

Permits are required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish regulated buildings or structures, and for regulated plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Signature sheets
• Three sets of construction plans
• One extra floor plan for the County Assessor
• Four copies of the plot plan
• Legal description
• Foundation, floor, and framing plans
• Plumbing, electrical, and heating layouts
• Energy compliance documents where applicable
• Structural, truss, and engineered beam calculations where required
• Any other information requested for plan review

Permit validity

Plans must be retrieved within 180 days of approval or resubmitted. Work must commence within 60 days after permit issuance. Stoppage for 180 days or more requires a request for one extension, and if work stops within one year of permit issuance, renewal at one-half of the building permit fee is required.

Building code

The City's posted process document says construction must conform to the current California Building Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, and National Electrical Code. The posted ordinance page still hosts older 2019-cycle language, so applicants should confirm the currently enforced local adoption cycle with the City.

Owner-builder

The City's construction code ordinance states nothing prohibits a person from doing their own work unless otherwise prohibited by law. The permit application allows the applicant to sign as owner, architect, engineer, or contractor.

Contractor requirements

The application requires a California contractor license number or an exemption claim under Business and Professions Code sections 7040-7053. CSLB states that anyone contracting for work on a project requiring a building permit, using employee labor, or valued at $1,000 or more must hold a current CSLB license.

Fees

Plan check fee

A plan check fee under the most current adopted Uniform Administrative Code is charged in addition to the permit fee, with a deposit paid at application and the balance due at issuance. Grading plan review is 65% of the grading permit fee.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based according to the City's building permit process document, using the most current Building Valuation Data issued by ICBO. Mechanical, plumbing, electrical, grading, demolition, and many land-use fees are flat or unit-based schedule items.

Trade permit fee

$35.00 issuance fee is added to each mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permit.

Reinspection fee

$75.00, or the City's total hourly cost if greater.

Penalty (no permit)

Work started before obtaining a permit is charged at double fee.

Payment note

Fees are paid to the City Clerk, and checks are payable to the City of Ferndale. Additional deposits may be required if consultant review costs exceed the initial deposit.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective FY 2025-26).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses when projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet
• Fences not over 6 feet high
• Oil derricks
• Moveable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter or width ratio does not exceed 2:1
• Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion-picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of certain occupancies when projecting not more than 54 inches
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to certain residential occupancies where pool walls are entirely above adjacent grade and capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons
• Certain minor plumbing repair work such as stopping leaks, unless defective piping or components must be removed and replaced with new material

Important: Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required for otherwise exempt building items, and permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates code or other laws. The construction code ordinance separately requires a permit for any front-yard fence regardless of height or materials.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (707) 786-4224 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be made at least 24 hours before the intended inspection.

Typical inspection sequence: For new construction, the posted sequence generally includes foundation forms or utility rough-in before pour; setbacks, excavation, and fill; concrete pours including foundations and slabs; under-floor rough-in; framing and structural; rough plumbing and electrical; exterior; insulation; pre-seal for finish; and final. Remodeling and additions follow a comparable sequence as applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The City's posted process document says construction must conform to the current California Building Code, Uniform Mechanical Code, California Plumbing Code, and National Electrical Code. The posted ordinance page still hosts older 2019-cycle language, so applicants should confirm the currently enforced local adoption cycle with the City.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Permit hub
• City directory
• Building permit signature sheets
• CSLB permit guidance
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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