Carson, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to building permits within the incorporated City of Carson. Carson also references Los Angeles County Public Works requirements for some related grading, drainage, and technical standards.

Department

City of Carson Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division

Address

701 E Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745

Phone

(310) 952-1766; main City Hall line: (310) 830-7600; 24-hour automated line: (310) 952-1700

Email

building@carsonca.gov

Website

https://ci.carson.ca.us/CommunityDevelopment/BuildingPermits.aspx

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project needs a permit under Carson Municipal Code Section 8102 and check whether any work exemption applies under Section 8103.
2. Register for a Carson Civic Access account, then start the permit or plan check application online.
3. Upload the application materials. Carson's permit worksheet shows the typical intake fields: project address, APN, scope of work, valuation, applicant information, permit holder information, license information if using a contractor, workers' compensation information, and architect/engineer/designer information when applicable.
4. Obtain any required outside approvals. Carson's permit worksheet states approvals may be required from Regional Planning, Fire, Health, and other agencies identified on the referral form before permit issuance.
5. Pay plan check and permit fees through the portal or as otherwise directed by the City.
6. Respond to correction comments and resubmit plans through Carson's resubmittal portal if requested.
7. After permit issuance, schedule inspections through the permit dashboard for permits issued in the new system. For permits issued before June 4, 2024, use the City's inspection request form.

Typical processing time: No citywide building permit turnaround is published on the main permit pages. Carson does publish that inspection requests submitted by 2:00 PM may be considered for next-day inspection, subject to availability.

Source: City of Carson Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

A separate permit is required before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, removing, connecting, converting, demolishing, or equipping a building, structure, or portion thereof, and before grading work. Separate permits are also required for automatic fire-protection systems regulated by the code.

Required Documents

• Carson's permit worksheet indicates the City typically requires project address and APN, description of work, valuation, occupancy and construction type information, applicant and permit holder details, contractor license and workers' compensation information when applicable, and architect/engineer/designer information when applicable. Plans, calculations, and supporting documents are required where needed for plan check.

Permit validity

A plan check application expires if a permit is not issued within 1 year from application. A permit expires if work is not started within 1 year of issuance or if no required building inspection is approved within 1 year from the last approved inspection. Extensions may be granted in increments up to 180 days, with separate extension fees, subject to City approval.

Building code

Carson adopted the California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, and Green Building Standards Code, all 2025 editions, by Ordinance 25-2520 adopted November 5, 2025, with local amendments.

Owner-builder

Carson's permit worksheet allows the permit holder to be either a licensed contractor or an owner-builder. Carson Municipal Code also provides a reduced investigation fee exception for certain owner-builders of one- or two-family dwellings, accessory buildings, or accessory structures when work started without a permit and the owner-builder did not know a permit was required.

Contractor requirements

The permit worksheet includes California state contractor license class and expiration fields. Separately, the City states all contractors and subcontractors doing business in Carson must obtain a City business license, and each subcontractor must obtain a separate business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Carson's published fee sheet states "Building Plan Check & Inspection" fees are 125% of Los Angeles County Building and Safety fees. Using the County's July 1, 2025 base table, the minimum permit fee in the valuation table is $73.19 before the separate $39.99 permit issuance fee; Carson's 125% multiplier would increase those County base amounts, and Carson also applies a 1.25% Community Development Technology Surcharge and an 8.8% General Plan Maintenance charge on building permits and related building fees.

Plan check fee

Carson's fee sheet states building plan check and inspection fees are 125% of Los Angeles County Building and Safety fees. The County's July 1, 2025 valuation table shows a minimum plan check fee for standard plans of $218.17 before Carson's 125% multiplier, and plan check amounts otherwise vary by valuation and occupancy.

Permit fee formula

Primarily valuation-based through Los Angeles County building valuation tables, multiplied to 125% for Carson building plan check and inspection fees, plus Carson percentage surcharges. Some specialized fees are flat or hourly.

Reinspection fee

Carson's fee sheet lists Personal Cultivation Re-Inspection at $270 per inspection.

Penalty (no permit)

Carson Municipal Code also authorizes investigation fees for work without permits, noncompliance fees, and extension fees; work without permit investigation fees are tied to the adopted fee schedule.

Payment note

Carson states online payment processing is available through Carson Civic Access. The permit page also states permit issuance involves collecting fees during City Hall business hours, Monday through Thursday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Painting, wallpapering, carpet, vinyl, tile, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled access requirements do not apply
• Repairing broken window glass not required to be safety or security glazing
• One-story detached accessory buildings such as tool and storage sheds, shade structures, and pump houses up to 120 square feet, up to 12 feet high, with roof projection not over 24 inches
• Chain-link, wrought-iron, and similar fences not over 12 feet high
• Masonry, concrete, wood, and similar fences not over 6 feet high, with a City exception allowing certain wood fences up to 8 feet high if at least 60 percent open and not wind-loadable
• Retaining walls retaining not more than 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Ground-mounted radio and television antenna towers not over 45 feet and certain dish antennas not over 15 feet above finished grade
• Light standards not over 30 feet
• Flagpoles not erected on a building and not over 15 feet high
• Certain tanks, playhouses/tree houses, canopies/awnings on Group R-3 or U occupancies, temporary sheds tied to active permits, and low decks/walks/driveways, as listed in CMC Section 8103

Important: Exemptions do not authorize work that violates other laws or approvals. Carson states separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required even when a building permit is not.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• For permits issued in the new system, inspections are scheduled in Carson Civic Access at (online)
• For permits issued in the new system, inspections are scheduled in Carson Civic Access at https://cityofcarsonca-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice#/home . For permits issued before June 4, 2024, applicants use the City's inspection request form at (online)
• (310) 952-1766 (phone)
• (310) 830-7600 (phone)
• (310) 952-1700 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Legacy inspection requests must be submitted by 2:00 PM to be considered for next-day inspection, subject to availability. For permits issued before June 4, 2024, applicants use the City's inspection request form at https://ci.carson.ca.us/CommunityDevelopment/BuildingInspection.aspx .

Inspection hours

City Hall and permit issuance hours are 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Thursday. Legacy inspection requests must be submitted by 2:00 PM to be considered for next-day inspection, subject to availability.

Typical inspection sequence: Carson's public pages do not publish a single universal sequence. In practice, the sequence follows the approved job record and permit scope, with final inspection required before certificate of occupancy issuance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Carson adopted the California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Existing Building Code, Historical Building Code, and Green Building Standards Code, all 2025 editions, by Ordinance 25-2520 adopted November 5, 2025, with local amendments.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Planning Division page
• Carson Municipal Code
• Carson Municipal Code: https://ecode360.com/48873508 and
• Property information system
• Helpful homeowner guidance
• Land development and grading references
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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