McFarland, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of McFarland. Projects outside city limits in unincorporated Kern County are handled by Kern County, not the city.

Department

Building Division, City of McFarland Community Development Department

Address

401 W. Kern Ave, McFarland, CA 93250

Phone

661-792-3091

Email

No general Building Division email is published on the current Building Division page

Website

https://www.mcfarlandcity.org/180/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project scope and whether a zoning clearance or planning entitlement is also required. McFarland's fee schedule separately lists zoning clearances and planning application fees, so building approval may need a parallel planning sign-off depending on the project.
2. Create a GovWell account at `app.govwell.com/mcfarland`, choose the permit type, and complete the guided application.
3. Upload required documents and plans. The city states GovWell is used to apply, submit documents, pay, and track status online.
4. Pay applicable plan check and permit fees. The 2024 building permit application states incomplete forms cannot be processed and that a plan check deposit must be paid.
5. Respond to city correction comments if plan review is required. McFarland's fee schedule says standard plan review includes up to three in-house plan checks, with added hourly charges after that.
6. After approval and issuance, complete the work, request required inspections, and obtain final approval and any certificate of occupancy if applicable.
7. Processing time estimate: not published on the city pages reviewed.

Source: Building Division, City of McFarland Community Development Department

General Requirements

McFarland's Building Division states it controls the design, construction, quality of materials, use, and occupancy of land and structures within the city. The city's application and portal cover common permit types including new residential work, alterations, remodels, demolition, patio/porch, house moving, temporary gas, code compliance, sewer connection, pool, re-roof, carport, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical work.

Required Documents

• Building permit application; project address and APN; scope of work; square footage and valuation; applicant, owner, and contractor information; plans and supporting documents uploaded in GovWell; plan check deposit where applicable; owner-builder acknowledgement and verification if the permit is pulled as owner-builder.

Permit validity

McFarland does not publish a permit-expiration rule on the pages reviewed. State law says a permit remains valid if work is commenced within 12 months after issuance unless the work is abandoned, and allows written extensions of up to 180 days each, but cities may adopt stricter local expiration language. I did not locate a current McFarland local amendment online.

Building code

Current statewide baseline is the 2025 California Building Standards Code, effective January 1, 2026, for permit applications on or after that date. McFarland's website links applicants to California building code information but I did not locate a separate city ordinance page with a newer local amendment package.

Owner-builder

Yes. McFarland's 2024 application says the city provides an Owner-Builder Acknowledgement and Information Verification Form and will not issue the permit until the property owner has read, initialed, signed, and returned it. An agent cannot execute the notice unless the property owner previously obtained permitting-authority approval.

Contractor requirements

The application requires the contractor's California license number and expiration date. It also states the contractor must have a valid City of McFarland business license plus current general and auto liability insurance and workers' compensation on file with the Finance Division before permit issuance.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Section B building permits start at $147.36 for valuation from $1 to $4,000; stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits start at $73.68 up to $2,000 valuation.

Plan check fee

75% of building permit fee when applicable; energy review fee is 5% of building permit fee; phased plan check is 1.5x the full plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

Primarily valuation-based, with separate flat-fee schedules for many common permit types and add-on percentages for mechanical, plumbing, and electrical review where bundled with building permits.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee (3rd and later visits) $74 per inspection; missed inspection fee $74; phased inspection fee $74; after-hours inspection $177 per hour with 2-hour minimum; investigation fee for unpermitted work is 2x the permit fee.

Penalty (no permit)

Reinspection fee (3rd and later visits) $74 per inspection; missed inspection fee $74; phased inspection fee $74; after-hours inspection $177 per hour with 2-hour minimum; investigation fee for unpermitted work is 2x the permit fee.

Payment note

GovWell is the city's online payment platform. The city states applicants can apply, submit documents, and pay online. Plan check fees are due at application when applicable.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

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

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 661-792-3091 (phone)
• online permit management through GovWell at . The current city pages do not publish a separate inspection-request URL, but inspections are part of the permit process administered by the Building Division. (online)

Inspection hours

The current Building Division page lists Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by scope. McFarland does not publish a standard sequence on the reviewed pages; expect the city to require the usual stage inspections tied to the approved scope before concealment and at final.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Current statewide baseline is the 2025 California Building Standards Code, effective January 1, 2026, for permit applications on or after that date. McFarland's website links applicants to California building code information but I did not locate a separate city ordinance page with a newer local amendment package.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning maps
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Kern County