Burbank, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Handles building permits for construction within the incorporated City of Burbank, Los Angeles County, California. Planning, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Burbank Water and Power may also review projects depending on scope.

Department

City of Burbank Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

Community Services Building, 150 North Third Street, Burbank, CA 91502

Phone

(818) 238-5220

Email

building@burbankca.gov

Website

https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/building-safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the work is exempt and whether Planning entitlements or other department approvals are needed before filing. Depending on scope, review may involve Planning, Fire, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Burbank Water and Power.
2. Download and complete the applicable building permit application from the City's Building Permit Applications page.
3. For Tier 1 simple permits that do not require plan check, apply over the counter or, for some single-family residential permit types, through Burbank Online Permits.
4. For Tier 2 projects requiring plan check, email building@burbankca.gov requesting ProjectDox access and include the completed application, entitlement approval letter if applicable, uploader contact information, project address, project description, square footage, construction type, occupancy group, valuation, and list of trade plans.
5. The Building Division states it will respond with more information within three to seven business days. Once invited, upload plans and supporting PDFs to ProjectDox and complete the initial upload task.
6. During the first 48 to 72 hours, the City prescreens for zoning pre-clearance and submittal completeness. If accepted, plan check fees are assessed and must be paid before formal review begins.
7. After all reviews are approved, download approved drawings, pay permit fees in full, obtain the inspection card, and start construction. Required inspections must then be scheduled through Burbank Online Permits.

Typical processing time: Building & Safety first review can take up to eight weeks; rechecks typically take two to four weeks. Timelines for Solar and ADUs may vary.

Source: City of Burbank Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Burbank requires building permits for new construction, additions, remodels, improvements, alterations, and repair/maintenance electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work. The City also divides permits into Tier 1 simple permits and Tier 2 permits requiring plan check and/or zoning approval.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the City calls for a completed building permit application. Tier 2 submittals also require project description details, valuation, occupancy group, construction type, square footage, list of trade plans, and PDF plan/supporting files uploaded to ProjectDox. Depending on project type, additional documents may include entitlement approval letters, structural calculations, soils reports, valuation forms, CALGreen forms, utility forms, BUSD school facilities forms, demolition checklists, and South Coast AQMD asbestos documentation.

Permit validity

Under Burbank Municipal Code Title 9 as adopted by Ordinance No. 25-4,034, a permit generally expires if work is not commenced within 180 calendar days of issuance. For residential occupancies, the ordinance states permits expire 365 days from the date of application. Permits issued to legalize unlawful structures expire after 90 days unless timely extended.

Building code

Burbank adopted and enforces the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments effective January 1, 2026. The City cites the 2025 CBC, CRC, CEC, CMC, CPC, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, CALGreen, and Building Energy Efficiency Standards, with local amendments in Title 9 and Ordinance No. 25-4,034.

Owner-builder

The City may issue permits directly to bona fide owners, but owner-issued permits are limited to specified project categories including certain wood-frame one- to four-unit residential buildings, appurtenant garages/structures, and nonstructural or non-seismic alterations or additions.

Contractor requirements

No permit may be issued for regulated work except to a person holding a valid, unexpired, and unrevoked State license for that work. The City's application forms page also flags a Contractor's Business Tax form for out-of-town contractors.

Fees

Plan check fee

Varies by occupancy and square footage for building permits. ProjectDox guidance states plan check fees are assessed once the application is deemed complete and must be paid before the first review begins. The citywide fee schedule also lists miscellaneous plan check service not otherwise listed at $259.38 per hour.

Permit fee formula

Primarily project-specific. Building permit and plan check fees are based on occupancy classification and total square footage of improvement; additional citywide charges may apply, including strong-motion, green building, accessibility, technical training, debris, consultant, and administrative fees where applicable.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection is listed at $172.21 per hour.

Penalty (no permit)

The current fee schedule also lists a penalty category for working without a required permit.

Payment note

Checks can be mailed or dropped off. Credit card payments can be made online using the permit BS number or in person, and the City states that credit card payments incur an additional 2% administrative fee.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached tool sheds, storage sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures not over 120 square feet, if setbacks comply and there is no heat, plumbing, electrical, or hazardous-material storage
• Masonry or concrete walls not over 6 feet high, and certain fences not over 7 feet high, subject to zoning limits
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height-to-diameter ratio not over 2:1
• Sidewalks or driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, countertops, and similar finish work
• Certain above-ground prefabricated pools accessory to one- and two-family dwellings that are less than 24 inches deep and do not exceed 5,000 gallons, though safety features still apply
• Minor electrical repair work such as lamp replacement or connecting approved portable equipment to permanent receptacles
• Portable gas and mechanical appliances and certain minor part replacements that do not alter approval or create unsafe conditions
• Certain minor plumbing repairs such as clearing stoppages or repairing leaks where no replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures is required

Important: Burbank expressly warns that permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the building code, zoning code, or other laws. Zoning limits still apply, especially for setbacks, fence heights, and similar site standards.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Schedule next-day inspections online through Burbank Online Permits at (online)
• (818) 238-5220 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspections must be requested one day in advance and may be scheduled up to three days in advance, excluding weekends and holidays. Schedule next-day inspections online through Burbank Online Permits at https://permit.burbankca.gov/ after creating an account.

Inspection hours

Inspections must be requested one day in advance and may be scheduled up to three days in advance, excluding weekends and holidays. Inspector office hours for questions are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Publicly posted construction hours for permitted work are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday/City holidays are generally not permitted, except limited owner-builder interior work.

Time windows

Inspections must be requested one day in advance and may be scheduled up to three days in advance, excluding weekends and holidays. Inspector office hours for questions are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Publicly posted construction hours for permitted work are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday/City holidays are generally not permitted, except limited owner-builder interior work.

Typical inspection sequence: After permit issuance, schedule inspections by permit number through the portal, select the date and inspection type, and obtain required approvals before continuing work. The exact sequence depends on project scope and trade inspections required.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Burbank adopted and enforces the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments effective January 1, 2026. The City cites the 2025 CBC, CRC, CEC, CMC, CPC, California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, CALGreen, and Building Energy Efficiency Standards, with local amendments in Title 9 and Ordinance No. 25-4,034.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/building-permit-applications
• https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/building-codes
• https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/building-inspections
• https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/projectdox
• https://www.burbankca.gov/web/community-development/building-permits
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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