Ridgecrest, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to projects inside the City of Ridgecrest. The City states that businesses and projects outside city limits are generally subject to Kern County requirements instead. Sources: https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/193/Building-Department and https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/280/Starting-a-Business

Department

City of Ridgecrest Building Department

Address

100 W California Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Phone

760-499-5072 (Building Department); main line 760-499-5000

Email

permits@ridgecrest-ca.gov

Website

https://www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/193/Building-Department

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project is within Ridgecrest city limits and check whether zoning, site plan review, sign approval, grading, fire, or other related approvals are needed before building permit issuance.
2. Prepare the permit application. The city's online form requires applicant/contractor information, contractor license number, owner information, property address/APN, scope of work, valuation, and project details.
3. Submit the application through the Building Department form or by emailing materials to `permits@ridgecrest-ca.gov`. For new-build permits, the city also maintains an over-the-counter/in-person intake path and has stated applicants should provide a permit application plus plan sets and engineered calculations.
4. Provide plans and supporting documents as required by the project. The city indicates new-build applications need plan copies and engineered calculations; commercial projects generally require a full set of building plans including a site plan.
5. Pay permit fees after city review. Ridgecrest supports online permit payments through its payment portal.
6. Receive the permit, post/keep permit documents available at the jobsite, and call/request inspections as work progresses. Inspection requests must be submitted by 5:30 PM on the day before the requested inspection date.
7. Obtain final inspection/approval before occupancy or final use.

Typical processing time: No general building-permit turnaround is posted on the current Building Department page. Older city guidance said emailed permit requests would be processed by the next business day for qualifying permits, but that guidance predates the current portal and code cycle, so confirm live timing with the department.

Source: City of Ridgecrest Building Department

General Requirements

Ridgecrest states it uses the 2022 California Building, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electric Codes. Under those codes, permits are generally required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish buildings/structures and to install or replace regulated electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. The city specifically flags new construction, remodels, additions, accessory structures, signs, and many business tenant improvements as permit-triggering work.

Required Documents

• At minimum, permit application information includes applicant/contractor details, contractor license number, owner details, property address, APN, scope of work, valuation, and electronic signature. Depending on project type, Ridgecrest may require site plans, full building plans, engineered calculations, energy documents, grading documents, and other trade-specific backup.

Permit validity

Ridgecrest's current Building Department webpage does not publish a general permit-expiration rule. Its adopted fee schedule does publish a $100 annual extension-of-time fee for building permits older than five years from issuance. Confirm current expiration and extension rules directly with the Building Department before permit issuance.

Building code

City webpage states Ridgecrest currently uses the 2022 California Building, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electric Codes.

Owner-builder

California owner-builders are exempt from contractor licensure in limited cases, but by signing a permit application as owner-builder they assume responsibility for the project, permits, code compliance, inspections, subcontractors, and employment-law obligations. Ridgecrest's permit application workflow supports owner-submitted applications.

Contractor requirements

Ridgecrest's permit form asks for the contractor license number. Separately, CSLB states that anyone contracting for work on a project requiring a building permit, using employee labor, or valued at $1,000 or more in combined labor and materials must hold a current California contractor license unless a statutory exemption applies.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$90 permit issuance fee per permit application, with permits combinable on one project for a single issuance fee.

Plan check fee

The schedule states the building permit fee, excluding issuance fee, is composed of 1/3 plan check and 2/3 inspection. If no plan is required, total fee is reduced to 2/3 of the calculated fee. Identical qualifying plans may receive a 50% reduction to the plan-check portion, with an added first-time plan-check fee of 0.4% valuation.

Permit fee formula

New buildings, remodels, additions, and accessory structures use a percentage method. For valuation from $28,001 to $500,000, the building permit fee is 2.2% of valuation; above that, the schedule steps up by valuation tiers. Small/single-item permits use itemized trade fees.

Reinspection fee

Second and subsequent reinspections due to faulty or incomplete work are $90 each. Special inspection/investigation for work done without required permits is charged at actual time and material cost. Hourly flat-rate inspection/research services are $70 per hour or portion thereof.

Payment note

Ridgecrest offers online building-permit payments through its payment portal. Current Building Department pages do not publish accepted payment types or service-fee details specific to building permits.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet are generally exempt under the 2022 California code baseline, if they otherwise meet code and zoning limits.
• Fences not over 7 feet high are generally exempt under the residential code baseline.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high, measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, are generally exempt unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade are generally exempt if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and height/diameter limits are met.
• Finish work such as painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar work is generally exempt when it does not involve regulated structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work.
• Prefabricated pools accessory to qualifying residential occupancies may be exempt if shallow, small-capacity, and entirely above ground.
• Window awnings on qualifying residential/accessory occupancies may be exempt if projection/support limits are met.

Important: Ridgecrest's own FAQ directs applicants to California Building Code section 105 for exemptions rather than publishing a city-specific exemption list. Exemptions do not override zoning, setback, fire, grading, utility, floodplain, or other code requirements, and local amendments can narrow state-baseline exemptions. Confirm exemptions with Ridgecrest before relying on them.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online request form (online)
• 760-499-5072 (phone)

Inspection hours

Inspection requests must be made by 5:30 PM on the day before the requested inspection. The current inspection-request page does not publish guaranteed arrival windows. The Building Department staff directory lists counter hours Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Time windows

Inspection requests must be made by 5:30 PM on the day before the requested inspection. The current inspection-request page does not publish guaranteed arrival windows. The Building Department staff directory lists counter hours Monday through Thursday, 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: City materials indicate periodic inspections during construction followed by final inspection. Exact sequence depends on project scope and trade permits.

Additional Resources

• Building code: City webpage states Ridgecrest currently uses the 2022 California Building, Mechanical, Plumbing and Electric Codes.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/527/New-Build-Permits
• www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/290/Sign-Ordinance
• www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/FormCenter/Building-Department-12
• www.ridgecrest-ca.gov/397/Online-Payments
• CSLB License Lookup
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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