Cerritos, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Cerritos is the permit authority for projects within city limits. Cerritos administers permits through its Community Development Department, but its municipal code adopts the current Los Angeles County building-related codes and county fee schedules by reference for many building, residential, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and fire provisions.

Department

City of Cerritos Department of Community Development, Building & Safety Division

Address

Cerritos City Hall, 18125 Bloomfield Avenue, Cerritos, CA 90703

Phone

Department of Community Development: (562) 916-1201; Building & Safety: (562) 916-1209

Email

No dedicated building permit email was posted on the official permit pages reviewed

Website

https://www.cerritos.gov/business-development/planning-building-and-development/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact the Department of Community Development at (562) 916-1201 to discuss the proposed work and confirm what approvals, permit forms, and supporting documents are required.
2. Use the City's Application/Building Permit Forms Guide to identify the correct application package for the project type.
3. Submit the application and plans either online through the Application/Plan Submittal Form or, if directed by staff, by scheduling an in-person appointment with the assigned planner.
4. Follow the City's electronic submittal procedure for online applications. The City states applications can be submitted and processed online, and planning staff will route plans to Building & Safety when ready for plan check or permit issuance.
5. Pay applicable plan check and permit fees when notified by the Building & Safety clerk. The City accepts check or credit card payments; for credit card payments the payer is emailed a unique payment link.
6. Provide any additional plans, corrections, or outside-agency approvals required during review. The City states some projects may require separate review by other agencies, including Los Angeles County Public Works.
7. After permit issuance, keep the permit documentation available and request inspections as work progresses.

Typical processing time: No general citywide permit turnaround time was posted on the official Cerritos permit pages reviewed. Inspection requests are accepted until 5 p.m. the day before the requested inspection date; same-day inspections are not accommodated.

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

General Requirements

Cerritos states that property improvements for residential, commercial, or industrial properties require City approval and issuance of permits before construction starts. The City lists examples including HVAC work, landscaping, electrical changes, plumbing changes, pools and spas, roofing, solar, block walls, fences, patios, windows and doors, room additions, tenant improvements, signage, parking lot improvements, accessibility improvements, and new buildings. Cerritos Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the Los Angeles County Building Code by reference for erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, demolition, conversion, occupancy, use, maintenance, and grading.

Required Documents

• Required documents vary by project. City materials direct applicants to the Application/Building Permit Forms Guide and state that plans and applications must be uploaded through the Application/Plan Submittal Form for online processing. Current City permit and checklist materials commonly require the relevant permit application, plans, project description, property information, and project-specific supporting forms
• the City also notes some projects require outside-agency approvals.

Permit validity

For single-family residential uses, Cerritos Municipal Code Section 15.04.130 states minor exterior residential improvements, including additions under 900 square feet, must be visibly complete within 12 consecutive months from issuance of the initial permit; major residential construction and additions of at least 900 square feet must be visibly complete within 18 consecutive months. If not visibly complete within the applicable time limit, the permit expires and becomes null and void unless extended in writing. For non-single-family projects, the time schedule is governed by the completion schedule set by the building official on the permit when no CUP or precise plan schedule applies.

Building code

Cerritos Municipal Code Chapter 15 adopts by reference the current Los Angeles County Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, and Fire Code, with Cerritos-specific provisions controlling in the event of a conflict. Because the City code adopts the County's current code as amended from time to time, applicants should confirm the exact code cycle currently enforced for the permit at issue.

Owner-builder

Cerritos allows owner-builder permits for homeowner projects. The City's home improvement resources page states the owner-builder becomes the party of record on the permit and the structure must not be intended or offered for sale within 12 months following construction under state contractor law. The City also notes the owner-builder signs as the permanent record certifying compliance with City ordinances and state law.

Contractor requirements

Cerritos instructs applicants to verify contractor licensing with the CSLB and states in its electronic submittal procedure that all contractors must have a valid City of Cerritos business license before a building permit may be issued. City permit application materials also state contractors must hold a valid City contractor business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not separately stated on the posted Cerritos building valuation table page reviewed; the posted 2025-2026 schedule does state a permit issuance fee of $39.99 is added to all building permits

Plan check fee

The posted 2025-2026 Cerritos building fee schedule states the minimum plan check fee for standardized plans is $218.17, and the posted electrical schedule states plan check is generally 70% of the required electrical permit fee for installations requiring plan check.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based under the posted 2025-2026 City of Cerritos building valuation fee table, with a separate permit issuance fee added to all building permits. Other trade permits use separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fee schedules.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fees are valuation-based under the posted 2025-2026 City of Cerritos building valuation fee table, with a separate permit issuance fee added to all building permits. Other trade permits use separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fee schedules.

Reinspection fee

The posted 2025-2026 building fee schedule includes specific inspection and reinspection charges in listed categories, an investigations fee for work done without a required permit equal to the permit fee but not less than $487.88, and noncompliance fees of $146.52 for Group R-3 occupancy and $293.26 for other occupancies.

Penalty (no permit)

The posted 2025-2026 building fee schedule includes specific inspection and reinspection charges in listed categories, an investigations fee for work done without a required permit equal to the permit fee but not less than $487.88, and noncompliance fees of $146.52 for Group R-3 occupancy and $293.26 for other occupancies. The posted electrical schedule also includes an investigation fee for unpermitted work and noncompliance fees.

Payment note

Cerritos accepts payment by check or credit card. For check payment, the City instructs applicants to mail payment to the Building and Safety Division at City Hall and include the permit number in the memo. For credit card payment, the Building & Safety clerk emails the payer a unique payment link.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Work exempt from a building permit under the Los Angeles County contract-city exemption page includes one-story detached accessory structures not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or III-A liquids
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter or width ratio does not exceed 2 to 1
• 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
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Playground equipment, window awnings for certain Group R-3 and U occupancies, and movable cases or partitions under stated code conditions
• Minor electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and grading items listed on the Los Angeles County Building and Safety exemption page

Important: Los Angeles County states separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits may still be required unless also exempt, and exempt work must still comply with zoning and other laws. Permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the code or other ordinances. Cerritos also requires applicants to confirm project-specific City approval requirements before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• inspection information page (online)
• (562) 916-1209 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

the day before; same-day requests are not accommodated.

Inspection hours

Building & Safety inspection scheduling is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City states inspection requests are accepted until 5 p.m. the day before; same-day requests are not accommodated. The City's daily inspection schedule provides estimated inspector arrival windows and is subject to change.

Time windows

Building & Safety inspection scheduling is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The City states inspection requests are accepted until 5 p.m. the day before; same-day requests are not accommodated. The City's daily inspection schedule provides estimated inspector arrival windows and is subject to change.

Typical inspection sequence: The City page reviewed does not publish a universal inspection card sequence. Required inspections depend on project scope and typically proceed through the applicable construction stages shown on the approved permit, such as foundation/slab, rough framing and rough trades, and final inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Cerritos Municipal Code Chapter 15 adopts by reference the current Los Angeles County Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, and Fire Code, with Cerritos-specific provisions controlling in the event of a conflict. Because the City code adopts the County's current code as amended from time to time, applicants should confirm the exact code cycle currently enforced for the permit at issue.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Planning and Building Permits
• Home Improvement and Renovations
• Home Improvement Resources
• Building & Safety Inspections
• Contractor business license
• Cerritos Municipal Code
• Los Angeles County contract-city fee schedules
• Los Angeles County permit exemptions
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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