Calexico, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Calexico Building Division handles building permits within Calexico city limits. Related approvals may also be required from the City Planning Division, City Engineering Division, Fire, and in some cases Imperial County Environmental Health Services.

Department

City of Calexico Development Services Department, Building Division / Building Department

Address

608 Heber Avenue, Calexico, CA 92231

Phone

(760) 768-2105

Email

building@calexico.ca.gov

Website

https://www.calexico.ca.gov/?SEC=E55F1A34-A2C2-494C-B70D-126381D9D281

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project needs Planning review first. The City's development flowchart says commercial and industrial development, and residential projects with more than 10 units, go through the Project Review Committee process; ADUs are processed ministerially as building-permit-only projects.
2. Determine whether the work meets the threshold for a building permit. If yes, submit the appropriate building permit application form and plan sets to the Building Division.
3. Include the required plan sets and supporting documents. The City's plan submittal sheet requires 2 complete plan sets for residential work, 3 complete sets for new nonresidential work plus 4 routed to other departments, and 2 complete sets for nonresidential tenant improvements.
4. Pay the City's published intake deposit. The Building Division flowchart lists a $200 deposit for a small-scale project and $1,000 for a large-scale project.
5. The City or its third-party reviewer reviews for compliance with the California Building Standards and returns redlines if corrections are needed.
6. After approval, the permit is issued. Construction proceeds through required inspections, then final inspection, and if applicable a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
7. If the project also affects grading or the public right-of-way, separate Engineering permits may be required.

Source: City of Calexico Development Services Department, Building Division / Building Department

General Requirements

The City's Code Enforcement page flags any type of construction without a permit as a code issue, and the Building Division flowchart requires a building permit whenever a project meets the City's building-permit threshold. Publicly posted forms show separate applications for owner-builder, contractor, electrical, re-roof, and demolition permits.

Required Documents

• Building permit application forms
• Site plan
• Foundation plan
• Floor plan
• Exterior elevations
• Cross sections
• Framing plans
• Roof plan
• Construction details
• Soils report for new buildings
• Engineering calculations
• Manufacturers' engineering reports for prefabricated structural framing components
• Title 24 energy forms
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans submitted with building plans when applicable

Permit validity

The City's public Building pages did not post a local permit-expiration rule. Because Calexico's public development materials say review is for compliance with the California Building Standards and city housing materials state the City has not adopted local building-code amendments, applicants should confirm the current permit-expiration rule with the Building Division before issuance.

Building code

City development-review materials currently reference compliance with the 2019 California Building Standards, while a 2025 city-hosted project plan set references the 2022 California Building Code. Because the City's public Building page does not clearly post the currently adopted code cycle, applicants should verify the active California code edition with the Building Official before submittal.

Owner-builder

Before a permit is issued, the property owner must complete and sign the Owner-Builder Acknowledgement and Verification form. The form states an agent cannot execute the notice without prior approval of the permitting authority, and the City may require a driver's license copy, notarization, or other signature verification acceptable to the agency.

Contractor requirements

The contractor application requires a California state contractor license number and a City business license number. The application also requires workers' compensation declarations.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

A current citywide minimum building permit fee was not clearly published on the Building page. Public flowcharts list intake deposits of $200 for small-scale projects and $1,000 for large-scale projects.

Plan check fee

The 2021 city fee attachment lists plan check at 65% of the building permit fee, and also shows initial plan-check deposit fees of $200 for residential or minor commercial tenant improvements and $500 for new commercial or industrial projects.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. The public fee materials show many flat fees by permit type, plan-check fees listed as 65% of the building permit fee, and project-type deposits for initial review.

Reinspection fee

The publicly available fee attachment lists supplemental inspection fees of $114.50 per one-half hour during regular business hours and inspections outside normal business hours at $457.98 each.

Payment note

The City's public Building materials do not clearly describe payment methods. Applicants should confirm acceptable payment methods and whether deposits are credited toward final fees.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Calexico Development Services Department, Building Division / Building Department to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (760) 768-7440 (phone)
• inspections@calexico.ca.gov (email)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection requests received through the line or email are scheduled for the following business day.

Inspection hours

Building Department office hours are weekdays 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: Permit issuance, required inspection or inspections, final inspection, and if applicable certificate of occupancy. Engineering inspections may run in parallel for grading or encroachment-related work.

Additional Resources

• Building code: City development-review materials currently reference compliance with the 2019 California Building Standards, while a 2025 city-hosted project plan set references the 2022 California Building Code. Because the City's public Building page does not clearly post the currently adopted code cycle, applicants should verify the active California code edition with the Building Official before submittal.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Forms
• Zoning Map
• City Hall Directory
• Imperial County Environmental Health
• Imperial County Food Establishments and Health Permits
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Imperial County