Downey, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Handles building permits and inspections for work within the incorporated City of Downey, Los Angeles County, California

Department

City of Downey Community Development, Building and Safety Division

Address

11111 Brookshire Avenue, Downey, CA 90241

Phone

(562) 904-7142

Email

Not publicly listed on the Building and Safety pages reviewed

Website

https://www.downeyca.org/our-city/departments/community-development/building-safety-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the scope requires a permit. Downey generally requires permits for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, change of occupancy/use, and regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing, and larger grading work.
2. Prepare the application and supporting materials. Use the City permit application form and the applicable residential, commercial, demolition, or other submittal handouts from the Building Handouts/Forms page.
3. Submit through the correct channel. Since January 1, 2025, plan submissions are required through the ACA online portal. Simple online permit issuance is also available through ACA for certain electrical panel change-outs up to 400 amps, water heater change-outs, AC/furnace change-outs, and residential solar permits reviewed by SolarAPP+. Other permits are still issued at the Building counter.
4. Respond to plan check comments if required, then pay the assessed permit and plan check fees. Fees are based largely on project valuation and any applicable city, state, or other agency charges.
5. After permit issuance, schedule inspections through ACA. Requests made by 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are scheduled for the next business day; later requests move to the second business day.

Typical processing time: No general plan review turnaround is published on the reviewed Downey pages. Inspection requests submitted by 3:00 p.m. are targeted for the next business day.

Source: City of Downey Community Development, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

Any owner or authorized agent intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first apply for and obtain required permits. Downey also lists common permit-triggering work such as ADUs, tenant improvements, reroofs, decks, patios, fences over 42 inches, fireplaces, pools, retaining walls, remodels, panel changes, HVAC work, repipes, water heaters, and grading over 50 cubic yards or affecting drainage.

Required Documents

• - Permit application form - Plans and project documents meeting the applicable city submittal requirements - For licensed contractors: CSLB license proof, workers' compensation certificate if employees exist, and current City of Downey business license - For property owners: photo ID
• if ownership is not yet reflected in the assessor database, original recorded grant deed or trust deed, or certified copy - For agents: owner or contractor authorization documents, as applicable

Permit validity

- Plan check application is abandoned after 180 days unless pursued in good faith or extended; one written extension of up to 180 days may be granted - Issued building permit becomes invalid if work does not begin within 12 months, or if work is abandoned for 180 days after commencement - One written extension of up to 180 days may be granted upon request and payment of fees - Code-enforcement-related permits expire after 60 days unless extended

Building code

Downey applies the 2022 California Building Code and related 2022 California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Fire Codes, as adopted and locally amended in the Downey Municipal Code.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder permits may be issued only to an owner-builder residing in the single-family residence that is the subject of the permit. If an agent pulls the permit for an owner-builder, an authorized agent form is required before issuance.

Contractor requirements

Commercial, industrial, and multi-residential permits are issued only to California licensed contractors. Contractors pulling permits must provide license proof, workers' compensation documentation if applicable, and a current City of Downey business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

- Building permit schedule starts at $54.49 for $0 to $500 valuation, plus a $58.04 building permit issuance fee, plus applicable percentage-based and state/admin surcharges - Electrical minimum fee: $124.37 - Mechanical minimum fee: $124.92 - Plumbing minimum fee: $124.92

Plan check fee

- Building plan check: 85% of building permit fee and includes 3 reviews; 4 or more reviews at actual cost - Fire plan check: 20% of building permit fee - Electrical plan check: 50% of electrical permit fee, minimum $103.50; 4 or more reviews at $220.32 per hour - Mechanical plan check: 50% of permit fee, minimum $103.50; 4 or more reviews at $203.68 per hour - Plumbing plan check: 50% of permit fee, minimum $138.00; 4 or more reviews at $219.90 per hour

Permit fee formula

Building permit and plan check fees are primarily valuation-based. The building permit fee uses valuation tiers with a base fee plus incremental charges above the tier threshold. Additional issuance, records, general plan, state, and administrative fees apply.

Trade permit fee

- Building permit schedule starts at $54.49 for $0 to $500 valuation, plus a $58.04 building permit issuance fee, plus applicable percentage-based and state/admin surcharges - Electrical minimum fee: $124.37 - Mechanical minimum fee: $124.92 - Plumbing minimum fee: $124.92

Reinspection fee

- Reinspection fee: $209.70 each, 1/2 hour minimum - Work started without permit: double permit fee - Permit or plan check extension request: $116.59

Payment note

Downey states fees are estimates until determined by the Building and Safety Division. The reviewed fee pages do not publish separate card or processing-fee notes; contact the division for payment method details.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, shade structures, and similar uses not over 120 square feet
• Walls or fences under 42 inches in height
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding specified liquids
• New or replaced sidewalks, platforms, decks, and driveways under 800 square feet if they do not disturb additional area and maintain original line, grade, hydraulic capacity, and purpose
• Above-ground prefabricated swimming pools accessory to one- and two-family or Group R-3 occupancies that are under 24 inches deep and not over 5,000 gallons
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
• Swings, playground equipment, and tree houses accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Certain window awnings at one- and two-family, Group R-3, and Group U occupancies that project no more than 54 inches and need no additional support
• Replacement, repair, or overlay of 100 square feet or less of existing roof covering within any 12-month period on the same building
• Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions up to 5 feet 9 inches high
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work where disabled access rules do not apply
• Minor repair work such as clearing stoppages and repairing leaks in valves, drains, waste, or vent piping where no replacement or rearrangement is required
• Portable heating or cooling units
• Appliance component replacement that does not alter original approval and still complies with the Mechanical Code
• Portable evaporative coolers
• Refrigerating equipment that is part of equipment already permitted under the Mechanical Code

Important: - Other city department or outside agency approvals may still be required even when a building permit is not - Exemption does not authorize work that violates the code or other laws - Grading exemption is limited to small cut/fill work under the city's stated thresholds

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online: ACA portal at (online)
• (562) 904-7142 (phone)
• (562) 904-7141 (phone)

Inspection hours

- Inspection requests accepted Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspections - Requests after 3:00 p.m. are scheduled for the second business day - FAQ page states inspections are generally performed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Inspectors generally provide a 3-hour arrival window on the inspection morning

Time windows

- Inspection requests accepted Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspections - Requests after 3:00 p.m. are scheduled for the second business day - FAQ page states inspections are generally performed Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. - Inspectors generally provide a 3-hour arrival window on the inspection morning

Typical inspection sequence: - Foundation - Underground utilities as applicable - Roof sheathing or reroof sheathing, where applicable - Rough framing after rough MEP inspections - Insulation - Lath/gypsum board - Specialized inspections such as masonry or structural steel where applicable - Final electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building inspections

Additional Resources

• Building code: Downey applies the 2022 California Building Code and related 2022 California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Fire Codes, as adopted and locally amended in the Downey Municipal Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building and Safety Division
• Building permit information
• Building inspections
• Building handouts/forms
• Building code page
• Downey Municipal Code table of contents
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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