Culver City, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits are issued by the City of Culver City for projects within city limits. The City also notes some projects require separate county or state approvals before permit issuance, including AQMD, Cal/OSHA, and Los Angeles County Health Department approvals when applicable.

Department

Culver City Building Safety Division

Address

9770 Culver Blvd., 2nd Floor, Culver City, CA 90232

Phone

(310) 253-5800

Email

building.safety@culvercity.org

Website

https://www.culvercity.gov/City-Hall/City-Departments/Planning-and-Development/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the scope requires a permit and gather the applicable submittal documents, such as HOA approval if applicable, grant deed for recent ownership changes, asbestos declaration, agent authorization, owner certification form, and project-specific plans or supporting documents.
2. Create an account in the Culver City Permit Portal or prepare an in-person paper submittal. The City allows both online and counter submittals.
3. Submit one application per structure and per record type. Online applicants upload plans and documents in the portal; in-person applicants drop off plans and supporting materials at the Building Safety counter on the 2nd floor of City Hall.
4. Building Safety reviews the application for completeness. If complete, the applicant is asked to pay plan check fees and the plans are routed to reviewing divisions; if incomplete, staff issues a correction list.
5. If plan check is required, comments and responses are handled through the permit portal. The City says initial completeness responses are typically issued within 2 to 3 business days, and plan check rounds typically take about 15 to 20 business days after payment and routing, or about 10 business days for qualified expedited reviews.
6. Before permit issuance, confirm active City business license and State contractor license, then pay permit fees. The issued permit is signed electronically or in person, after which approved plans are released.
7. Begin work within one year of permit issuance, request required inspections during construction, and pass final inspection to complete the permit.

Typical processing time: Completeness review typically 2 to 3 business days; plan check typically 15 to 20 business days per round after payment and routing, or about 10 business days for qualified expedited reviews.

Source: Culver City Building Safety Division

General Requirements

Culver City requires permits for projects involving construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, relocation, demolition, or change in occupancy of a building or structure, and for installation, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, conversion, or replacement of electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. The City publishes partial required-work lists for building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits, and states the lists are not exhaustive.

Required Documents

• The City's building permit application page lists common submittal items including HOA approval if applicable, grant deed for recent ownership changes, asbestos declaration, agent authorization, owner certification form, plan-check threshold materials, residential submittal requirements, signage materials, tenant improvement materials, window replacement materials, and project plans formatted to City standards. In-person building applications require 4 full-size plan sets
• electrical, mechanical, and plumbing applications require 2 full-size plan sets.

Permit validity

A plan check application is deemed abandoned 12 months after application unless extended; extensions may be granted in increments not exceeding 90 days each and may require added plan check fees. A permit becomes invalid if work is not started within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement; extensions may be granted in increments not exceeding 180 days and may require conditions, fees, and/or new permits.

Building code

Culver City states it enforces the 2022 Title 24 California Codes with City amendments beginning January 1, 2023, including the 2022 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, Existing Building, Fire, and CALGreen codes, plus the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and applicable Culver City Municipal Code provisions.

Owner-builder

City materials indicate permits may be signed by the contractor, property owner acting as owner-builder, or an authorized agent. The Building Safety Division also publishes an "Owner/Builders Take Note" CSLB guidance handout for owner-builders.

Contractor requirements

Before permit issuance, the City requires active State contractor license and active Culver City business license. The City also states contractors pulling instant residential solar/ESS permits must hold an A, B, C-10, or C-46 license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit fee starts at $152 for project valuation up to $500.

Plan check fee

Building plan check fees are also valuation-based and start at $114 for project valuation up to $500. Additional plan check for revisions or addenda is $152 per hour.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based on a sliding schedule. For example, projects valued at $501 to $2,000 pay $152 plus $5.05 for each additional $100 or fraction; higher valuation bands use base fees plus per-$1,000 increments. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits use separate trade schedules, and some items use flat fees.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fees are valuation-based on a sliding schedule. For example, projects valued at $501 to $2,000 pay $152 plus $5.05 for each additional $100 or fraction; higher valuation bands use base fees plus per-$1,000 increments. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits use separate trade schedules, and some items use flat fees.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection is $152 per hour with a 1-hour minimum.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation fee for work without a permit is $275 each.

Payment note

Applicants are notified by email when plan check fees and later permit fees are due. The City states electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permit fees are assessed at application submittal.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Awnings accessory to single-family dwellings with maximum 54-inch projection
• Block walls less than 3 feet 6 inches
• Cabinets
• Carpet
• Interior clean-up
• Concrete sitework on grade for non-accessible path of travel
• Countertops
• Driveways, with note to see Engineering Division
• Floor coverings
• Landscaping, excluding sprinkler systems
• Minor sheetrock repair
• Movable racks and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches
• Portable plug-in equipment and appliances
• Interior or exterior painting
• Playhouses and tree houses
• Playground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings
• Prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to a single-family dwelling that are less than 24 inches deep and not greater than 5,000 gallons
• Retaining walls less than 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of footing on a flat site
• Stopping leaks and clearing clogs without replacing pipe
• Storage sheds less than 120 square feet
• Floor or wall tile
• Wall coverings
• Water tanks
• Wood or vinyl fences less than 7 feet

Important: The City states this is only a partial exemption list. All work must still comply with California codes, Culver City Municipal Code, and City ordinances, and other City departments may still require approvals or permits even when Building Safety does not.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Inspection requests are scheduled by email to building.safety@culvercity.org. The City asks applicants to provide permit number, site address, type of inspection, desired inspection date, and inspection contact name and phone number. Main department phone: (310) 253-5800. Building Safety page (online)
• building.safety@culvercity.org (email)
• (310) 253-5800 (phone)

Time windows

The City does not publish fixed daily inspection windows on the Building Safety page. It states inspection dates are not guaranteed and are confirmed by email once scheduled. Inspections may be conducted in person or virtually via FaceTime or Cisco Webex Meet.

Typical inspection sequence: The City does not publish one universal sequence because required inspections depend on permit scope. Its application guidance requires applicants to schedule necessary inspections during construction and pass a final inspection before completion.

Inspections may be conducted in person or virtually via FaceTime or Cisco Webex Meet.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Culver City states it enforces the 2022 Title 24 California Codes with City amendments beginning January 1, 2023, including the 2022 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Historical Building, Existing Building, Fire, and CALGreen codes, plus the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code and applicable Culver City Municipal Code provisions.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Required permit and exempt-work lists
• Building permit application instructions
• Building Safety Division main page
• Codes in effect
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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