Shafter, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Shafter. The city notes that Kern County Fire Department approval is required for projects that need fire review.

Department

City of Shafter Building Department / Building Official

Address

336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263

Phone

661-746-5002

Email

buildinginspection@shafter.com

Website

https://www.shafterca.gov/54/Building-Permits

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm project scope and gather city forms from the Building Permits page, including the Project Identification Worksheet and any project-specific handouts.
2. Prepare plans or drawings showing compliance with applicable structural, energy, fire/life-safety, and other code requirements. Homeowners acting as owner-builders may prepare their own plans if they demonstrate code compliance.
3. Submit the Project Identification Worksheet and corresponding plans or drawings to the City of Shafter Building Department at 336 Pacific Avenue, Shafter, CA 93263, in person or by mail.
4. If the project requires Kern County Fire Department approval, also complete the city-linked Application for Permit Request for Service for fire review.
5. If the project is subject to the city's construction and demolition recycling rules, submit a waste management plan to the Building Official before permit issuance.
6. Pay permit and plan check fees after city review and permit issuance.
7. Schedule inspections by emailing buildinginspection@shafter.com with the project address, requested date, inspection type, permit number, and AM/PM preference. Commercial inspections must be requested during business hours at least 24 hours in advance.

Typical processing time: The city pages reviewed do not publish a general permit issuance turnaround time.

Source: City of Shafter Building Department / Building Official

General Requirements

Shafter requires permits for buildings or structures to be constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished, including electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work. This is also reflected in the city FAQ.

Required Documents

• Project Identification Worksheet; plans/drawings; fire-review application when Kern County Fire approval is required; and, for covered projects, a waste management plan for C&D/CALGreen compliance before permit issuance. Project-specific supporting documents may also be required.

Permit validity

A permit becomes void if work is not started within 180 days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days without an extension. The Building Official may grant one extension of up to 180 days on written request for circumstances beyond the permittee's control. Separately, city code states permits issued under Title 15 expire five years after issuance unless annual extensions are granted after payment of an additional fee. Plan check applications expire if no permit is issued within 180 days, with one extension of up to 180 days.

Building code

Shafter has adopted the 2022 California Building Code and 2022 California Residential Code with local amendments. The city's ordinance summary shows local amendments in Title 15, including permit and inspection provisions.

Owner-builder

A homeowner may obtain a permit for improvements to their own home and may design and prepare their own plans if those plans show compliance with applicable codes. The homeowner remains responsible for code compliance.

Contractor requirements

The city states licensed individuals must be bonded and provide their own workers' compensation and liability insurance. California state contractor licensing requirements also apply where applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The published fee schedule excerpt reviewed did not clearly identify a single citywide minimum building permit fee in readable text.

Plan check fee

The fee schedule states the total building permit fee, excluding the permit issuance fee, is composed of one-third plan check fee and two-thirds permit fee, and includes up to three plan checks and up to three inspections/reinspections.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Building permit fees are valuation-based for many building permits, while many plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and miscellaneous permits use flat/itemized fees.

Reinspection fee

The city warns that fees may be collected for excessive re-inspections of the same scope. The fee schedule also includes penalties for work started before permit issuance, and city code provides that permit violations may be enforced as misdemeanors.

Penalty (no permit)

The city warns that fees may be collected for excessive re-inspections of the same scope. The fee schedule also includes penalties for work started before permit issuance, and city code provides that permit violations may be enforced as misdemeanors.

Payment note

The city publishes a master fee schedule, but the reviewed permit pages do not provide detailed online payment instructions for building permits.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Shafter Building Department / Building Official to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 661-746-5002 (phone)

Inspection hours

Residential AM inspections are between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.; PM inspections are between 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Commercial requests must be received during business hours at least 24 hours before the requested inspection date.

Time windows

Residential AM inspections are between 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.; PM inspections are between 1:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Commercial requests must be received during business hours at least 24 hours before the requested inspection date.

Typical inspection sequence: The city page does not publish a full standard sequence. In practice, inspections follow the permitted scope and approved plans, with reinspection required after correction notices.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Shafter has adopted the 2022 California Building Code and 2022 California Residential Code with local amendments. The city's ordinance summary shows local amendments in Title 15, including permit and inspection provisions.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• www.shafterca.gov/54/Building-Permits
• www.shafterca.gov/341/Construction-and-Demolition-Recycling-Pr
• www.shafterca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4524/Master-Fee-Schedule-adopted-4219-by-Resolution-No-2645
• www.shafterca.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/1299
• www.shafterca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5621
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Kern County