City Building Permits

Malibu, CA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Malibu, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California Los Angeles County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Malibu. Building Safety routes plans to necessary City departments, but applicants are responsible for outside-agency submittals where required, including Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Water District 29, and Los Angeles County Health Department for commercial projects.

Department
City of Malibu Community Development Department, Building Safety Division
Address
23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA 90265-4861
Phone
310-456-2489 ext. 390
Website
https://www.malibucity.org/252/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Open Malibu Development Portal

Platform: Malibu Development Portal • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Confirm whether Planning approval is required. Malibu states applicants must have Planning approval before moving to Building Safety, and Planning staff determine whether a project is exempt from Planning review.
  2. Register or log in to the Malibu Development Portal, then submit a Building plan check application under the Building Safety tile. Include "plan check" in the project description when applicable.
  3. Upload the requested plans and supporting documents. Staff reviews the intake for completeness, then fees are paid online or at City Hall.
  4. City staff route the package to necessary internal reviewers. The applicant remains responsible for required outside-agency approvals.
  5. If corrections are issued, resubmit through the portal using Plan Check Resubmittal after addressing all comments.
  6. After plan check approvals are complete, submit the permit application through the same portal.
  7. A Permit Technician reviews the permit request. After fees are paid, the permit is created and sent by DocuSign to the contractor listed on the application. Stamped plans and permits are then emailed to the applicant.
  8. Schedule inspections through the portal or the City's online inspection request form, and keep the property accessible during the inspection window.

Typical processing time: Malibu does not publish a general plan check or permit issuance turnaround for all project types on the cited Building Safety and Development Portal pages.

Source: City of Malibu Community Development Department, Building Safety Division

General Requirements

Malibu requires permit requests for building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, spa/pool, and excavation work through the Development Portal. Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts Los Angeles County Title 26, which adopts the California Building Code for construction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, occupancy, and similar regulated work. Malibu also expressly requires permits for surfacing, resurfacing, replacement, reconfiguration, and striping of parking lots and parking structures serving commercial and multifamily occupancies.

Required Documents

  • Plans must be prepared by a licensed design professional before permit issuance for post-entitlement residential projects. Malibu states the exact plans and level of detail depend on project scope. Building Safety also notes that internal and outside-agency approvals may be required. For certain projects, supporting materials may include planning approvals, County Fire approvals, Water District or Health approvals, and discipline-specific materials such as geology, drainage, stormwater, or onsite wastewater documents.
Permit validity
Issued permits expire 365 days after issuance, or 365 days after work is suspended or abandoned after commencement.
Building code
Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts Los Angeles County Title 26, which adopts the California Building Code, 2022 Edition, effective January 1, 2023. Malibu also separately adopts related 2022 code editions for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, existing building, and green building standards through Title 15 chapters.
Owner-builder
Malibu states permits may be obtained by a property owner or a licensed contractor. An authorized agent may pull permits with a notarized authorization letter from the owner or licensed contractor. For owner-builder guidance, Malibu directs applicants to the California Contractors State License Board overview.
Contractor requirements
Malibu states permit applicants may be a licensed contractor or property owner. Permit issuance is sent by DocuSign to the contractor shown on the application. Owner-builder permits remain possible under the City's FAQ, with CSLB guidance referenced by the City.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
The FY 2024-25 schedule shows many simple permit items at $55.50, $111.00, or $222.00 depending on permit type; Malibu does not publish one universal citywide minimum building permit fee on the cited pages.
Plan check fee
Varies by project type. Examples in the FY 2024-25 fee schedule include $222.00 for a 1-hour building plan check minimum, $444.00 for a 2-hour minor plan revision minimum, and per-square-foot plan check rates such as $2.36 per square foot for new residential construction.
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Malibu uses itemized flat fees for many permit types, per-square-foot structural plan check and permit fees for new construction and tenant improvements, percentage-of-new-construction formulas for remodel categories, hourly fees for some reviews, plus state surcharges and a 7% technology enhancement fee based on building permit cost.
Penalty (no permit)
Building permit investigation fee for work without a permit is $444.00.
Payment note
Malibu states fees may be paid online or at City Hall. The FY 2024-25 fee schedule lists credit card processing charges of 2.9% per in-house transaction and 2.9% plus $0.30 per online transaction.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Malibu's FAQ states cosmetic upgrades such as floor tile, paint, and window coverings do not require a permit.
  • Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 also exempts one-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses when the projected roof area does not exceed 120 square feet, plate height does not exceed 12 feet above grade plane at any point, and maximum roof projection does not exceed 24 inches.
  • Guest-user Rapid Permit access is limited to small eligible projects including seismic shut-off valve and water heater replacement, indicating Malibu treats these as simplified permit categories rather than full exemptions.

Important: Malibu does not publish a single consolidated exempt-work list on the cited city pages. Because Malibu adopts Los Angeles County and California code provisions and may require planning or outside-agency review depending on scope and location, applicants should confirm exemptions with Building Safety before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Inspectors must be allowed access to the property from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The inspections counter hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.
Time windows
Inspectors must be allowed access to the property from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The inspections counter hours are Monday through Friday, 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM.

Typical inspection sequence: Malibu does not publish a single universal sequence on the inspections page. Sequence will vary by permit scope and approved plans; applicants request the needed inspection type when scheduling.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Malibu Community Development Department, Building Safety Division before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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