Avalon, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

This department is the building permit authority for the incorporated City of Avalon. The city website states Planning & Building oversees all development in the City of Avalon; Los Angeles County rules are separate outside city limits.

Department

City of Avalon Planning & Building

Address

410 Avalon Canyon Road, Avalon, CA 90704

Phone

310-510-0220

Email

Planning Department contact form: https://www.cityofavalon.gov/formcenter/Contact-Us-6/Contact-Planning-Department-49 , Senior Administrative Assistant Donna Romo: dromo@cityofavalon.gov

Website

https://www.cityofavalon.gov/184/Planning-Building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether planning review is needed first. Avalon says its planning application process applies to all new construction, remodels of existing structures, and changes in conditions of use.
2. Prepare the application package. The city says applications must identify the project and include completed application forms, 2 sets of printed 11-by-17 plans, 1 full-size plan set at one-fourth-inch or one-eighth-inch scale, a photo of the existing property, and 1 electronic PDF plan set.
3. Submit through the city's online forms, at the Planning/Building window at City Hall, or by mail to P.O. Box 707, Avalon, CA 90704.
4. Respond to completeness review and any corrections. Avalon says review for completeness may take up to 30 days, and staff will notify the applicant when the application is complete and when the Planning Commission will review it, within 30 days.
5. Pay permit, plan check, and any impact fees. Avalon's development impact fee page says impact fees are usually paid before issuance of the building permit and are separate from application and permit fees.
6. After issuance, keep the permit on site, complete required inspections, and obtain final approval or a certificate of occupancy where applicable.

Typical processing time: The city's published planning application page says completeness review may take up to 30 days. I did not locate a separate city-published turnaround time for straight building permit issuance.

Source: City of Avalon Planning & Building

General Requirements

Avalon Municipal Code Chapter 8-1 adopts the 2019 California Building Code and its Chapter 1 administrative provisions. That code requires a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, or before installing or altering regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. Avalon's planning page separately states its process applies to all new construction, remodels, and changes in use.

Required Documents

• Completed application form
• project description
• street address or legal description
• project valuation
• signed application
• construction documents
• and other information required by the Building Official. Avalon's planning page specifically calls for site plan, elevations, floor plans, utility locations, trash storage, parking layout, and any accessory structures or features shown on plan sets.

Building code

Avalon Municipal Code Section 8-1.01 adopts the 2019 California Building Code, and Section 8-1.02 adopts CBC Chapter 1 administrative provisions for all state building standards in Title 8. As of the codified text available on March 21, 2026, I did not locate a newer Avalon code-adoption chapter on the official city code site.

Owner-builder

California CSLB warns owner-builders that signing a permit application as an owner-builder makes the owner legally responsible for the project, including worker injuries, unpaid subcontractors, and code compliance. Avalon's public pages reviewed here do not publish a separate city-specific owner-builder packet.

Contractor requirements

CSLB states that anyone contracting for work that requires a building permit, uses employees, or is valued at $1,000 or more for labor and materials must hold a current California contractor license. Avalon's public pages reviewed here do not publish a different local threshold.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$107 minimum published building permit charge for a valuation from $0 to $700, consisting of a $46 issuance fee plus $61 permit fee, plus applicable state surcharges

Plan check fee

1.5 times the building permit fee, with a $214 minimum; duplicate plan review is 70% of the plan check fee and permit extensions are 25% of the plan check fee

Permit fee formula

valuation-based building permit schedule. The FY 2024-25 published schedule starts at $61 for $0 to $700 valuation and then increases by bracket, with per-$1,000 increments above each threshold; separate issuance fees and surcharges apply.

Reinspection fee

Work commencing before permit issuance is charged at 2 times the permit fee, with a $100 minimum violation fee; miscellaneous site inspection is $596; inspection outside business hours is $139 per hour; other inspection is $139 per hour

Payment note

Avalon's general online payment page says credit-card payments carry a 3% convenience fee and eCheck/ACH has no fee, but that page does not currently list building permits among the online payment categories. Building permit payment handling should be confirmed with Planning & Building at submittal.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, if not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Water tanks on grade not over 5,000 gallons and within the code height-to-width ratio
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Certain shallow above-ground prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy
• Swings and similar playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Minor electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing ordinary repairs listed in CBC Section 105.2, such as portable equipment, minor part replacement, leak stoppage, and clearing stoppages where pipes, valves, or fixtures are not replaced or rearranged

Important: Permit exemptions do not authorize code violations or waive other required approvals. In Avalon, separate planning review, coastal or zoning compliance, utility approvals, sewer inspection requirements, impact fees, fire sprinkler triggers, and other local review can still apply even where a building permit exemption exists.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Avalon says building inspections may be scheduled at the department window, by email through Donna Romo at dromo@cityofavalon.com or dromo@cityofavalon.gov, or by phone at 310-510-0220 ext. 116. Department page (online)
• dromo@cityofavalon.com (email)
• dromo@cityofavalon.gov (email)
• 310-510-0220 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

The city pages reviewed here do not publish AM/PM inspection windows or same-day cutoff times.

Inspection hours

Department office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The city pages reviewed here do not publish AM/PM inspection windows or same-day cutoff times.

Time windows

Department office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The city pages reviewed here do not publish AM/PM inspection windows or same-day cutoff times.

Typical inspection sequence: Avalon's public pages reviewed here do not publish a city-specific inspection card sequence. For most projects, expect inspections tied to the approved scope, typically progressing through site or foundation stages, framing and rough trades, specialty systems where applicable, and final inspection or certificate of occupancy.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Avalon Municipal Code Section 8-1.01 adopts the 2019 California Building Code, and Section 8-1.02 adopts CBC Chapter 1 administrative provisions for all state building standards in Title 8. As of the codified text available on March 21, 2026, I did not locate a newer Avalon code-adoption chapter on the official city code site.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Planning & Building department page
• Planning application information
• Planning & Building forms/resources
• Development Impact Fee page
• Sewer inspection requirements PDF
• Avalon Municipal Code Title 8
• CSLB owner-builder guide
• CSLB contractor-license guidance
• California Section 105 permit text (for the statewide rule Avalon incorporates by reference)
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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