Glendora, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The Building Division handles building permit intake, plan review, and inspections within the incorporated City of Glendora. Separate Engineering/Public Works permits apply for grading, public right-of-way work, driveway approaches, pool draining, and similar public improvement work. Fire sprinkler packages are coordinated with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Department

City of Glendora Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

116 E. Foothill Blvd., Glendora, CA 91741

Phone

(626) 914-8222

Email

buildingdiv@cityofglendora.gov (shown on current City Building Division PDF forms , main webpage routes users to a contact form)

Website

https://www.cityofglendora.gov/Services/Building-And-Safety-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create a Civic Access account and start the permit application online. The City states building permit applications are no longer accepted by email.
2. Upload plans and supporting documents in unlocked PDF format. Glendora's submittal matrices require complete packages, and incomplete submittals may be rejected or not accepted into plan check.
3. Include all project-specific supporting items, as applicable: completeness certification form, licensed contractor declaration or owner-builder forms, energy documents, fire package, waste management plan, school district certificate, and any required engineering/civil package.
4. If the project includes grading, right-of-way, water meter, or other Public Works items, submit those civil/engineering documents separately to the Engineering Division; Building permits are not issued until required Engineering approvals are completed.
5. Pay assessed fees through the City's electronic process/portal, then schedule inspections through Civic Access once the permit is issued.

Typical processing time: No building plan review turnaround is published on the cited City pages. For inspections, the City says it aims to provide next-day inspections if requested by 4:00 p.m. on the prior business day.

Source: City of Glendora Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

Glendora enforces the adopted California Building Standards Codes for construction regulated by those codes, including new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, demolitions, and regulated electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work. Any work in the public right-of-way requires a separate Public Works permit, and covered construction/demolition projects must submit a Waste Management Plan.

Required Documents

• Online application through Civic Access
• complete plan set and supporting PDFs
• project information table on first plan sheet
• completeness certification form
• licensed contractor declaration or owner-builder package
• fire package where applicable
• energy documentation
• structural calculations/truss docs when required
• geotechnical/civil package when required
• school district certificate for new dwellings, additions of living space, and conversions to living space
• Waste Management Plan for covered projects.

Permit validity

The current City webpages reviewed do not publish a standalone Building Division permit-expiration summary. Applicants should confirm the permit expiration and extension terms shown on the issued permit/job card and with the Building Division before permit issuance.

Building code

Glendora adopted the 2025 California Administrative, Building, Existing Building, Mechanical, Historical Building, Wildland-Urban Interface, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential, Referenced Standards, Green Building Standards, and Energy Codes, effective January 1, 2026. The City also notes Los Angeles County Fire Code amendments apply to the California Fire Code.

Owner-builder

Glendora requires an Owner-Builder's Declaration and Notice to Property Owner/Agent Authorization before issuing an owner-builder permit. The owner acknowledges legal and financial responsibility, limits on sale of owner-builder work, and possible employer/workers' compensation obligations. The City states it will not issue the permit until the signed notice is returned, and owner signature verification may be required.

Contractor requirements

Licensed contractors must certify that their California contractor license is in full force and effect, provide license number/class, Glendora business license number, and workers' compensation information. Public right-of-way work must be performed by a properly licensed contractor. Glendora's Public Works page specifically requires an "A" or "C-12" license for grading permits and an "A" or "C-8" license for driveway approaches.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit fee starts at $124.38 for valuation from $1 to $500. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and sewer minimum permit fees are listed at $115 each.

Plan check fee

Building plan check fee is 65% of the building permit fee. Additional building, MEP, and sewer plan check time is listed at $209 per hour.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based. The fee table also shows a 5% Building Permit Surcharge for NPDES (SWPPP) inspections.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fee starts at $124.38 for valuation from $1 to $500. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and sewer minimum permit fees are listed at $115 each.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees are assessed under the California Building Code at the hourly cost to the jurisdiction or greater as listed in the fee schedule; the same schedule also lists Building Re-inspection at $170 and Building Investigation at $315.

Payment note

The master fee schedule lists a pass-through credit card processing charge for Community Development/Public Works transactions of $6.95 minimum plus a 3.2% service fee. Public Works states payment instructions are sent electronically after intake.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Inference from Glendora's adoption by reference of the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Residential Code: common permit exemptions should follow the adopted CBC/CRC Section 105.2 and R105.2 baseline unless a local amendment applies.
• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet.
• Fences not over 7 feet high.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high, measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter/width ratio does not exceed 2:1.
• Sidewalks and 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, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work.
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 18 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.
• Playground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings.

Important: The City pages reviewed do not publish a separate local exemption handout, so applicants should verify exemptions with the Building Division before relying on them. Permit exemptions do not waive zoning, fire, wildland-urban interface, public right-of-way, utility, or other agency requirements.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building inspections for current permits are scheduled in Civic Access at (online)
• (626) 657-7273 (phone)
• (626) 914-8222 (phone)
• (626) 914-8246 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

on the business day before the requested inspection date. Legacy permits issued before July 2025 can be scheduled by phone at (626) 657-7273, with day-of time confirmation at (626) 914-8222.

Inspection hours

Building inspection requests must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the business day before the requested inspection date. The City says the inspection time is available after 8:00 a.m. on the inspection day. Legacy Building Division inspection hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Public Works asks for at least 24 hours' notice.

Time windows

Building inspection requests must be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on the business day before the requested inspection date. The City says the inspection time is available after 8:00 a.m. on the inspection day. Legacy Building Division inspection hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Public Works asks for at least 24 hours' notice.

Typical inspection sequence: The City instructs applicants to choose the applicable inspection type from Civic Access or from the job card inspection codes for older permits. Sequence varies by scope. For projects with engineering/grading components, rough grade certifications and Engineering approval may be required before related permit closeout or Building permit issuance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Glendora adopted the 2025 California Administrative, Building, Existing Building, Mechanical, Historical Building, Wildland-Urban Interface, Plumbing, Electrical, Residential, Referenced Standards, Green Building Standards, and Energy Codes, effective January 1, 2026. The City also notes Los Angeles County Fire Code amendments apply to the California Fire Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building forms and submittal documents
• Inspections
• Waste Management Plans
• Public Works permit page
• Municipal Code / ordinances
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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