Monrovia, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits for private-property work inside Monrovia city limits are handled by the Building Division. Work in the public right-of-way is handled separately by Public Works. The City notes that unincorporated Monrovia is outside City jurisdiction and refers those properties to Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley Building and Safety office.

Department

City of Monrovia Community Development Department, Building Division / Building & Safety

Address

415 South Ivy Avenue, Monrovia, CA 91016

Phone

(626) 932-5581

Email

building@monroviaca.gov

Website

https://www.monroviaca.gov/your-government/community-development/building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Check zoning and property constraints first with the Planning Division before applying.
2. Complete the City's building/mechanical/plumbing/electrical permit application. The posted permit form asks for project valuation, permit type, scope, owner/contractor/designer information, and related approvals.
3. Submit for plan review if required. The City says to meet with Building & Safety staff to determine whether plan review is required; the separate plan review application form is effective 01/01/2023 and asks for drawings, valuation, occupancies, project type, and supporting calculations as applicable.
4. Obtain any related approvals noted by the City or forms, including Planning, Fire, Public Works, and outside agencies such as Los Angeles County Health Department when applicable.
5. After permit issuance, request inspections by phone before 3:00 p.m. on the prior business day. The City says it strives for next-day inspections.
6. Complete all required inspections and obtain final approval before occupancy/use of the finished work.

Typical processing time: No general Building Division turnaround is published on the standard building permit page. For eligible residential rooftop solar submitted through SolarAPP+, the City describes the process as automated/instant permitting after SolarAPP+ approval and fee payment.

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

General Requirements

Monrovia states that in California you "more than likely do need a permit" and emphasizes checking before work starts. Emergency repair permits must be submitted by the next working business day. Ordinary repairs are exempt only in narrow cases and do not include structural work, changes affecting egress, or most plumbing, electrical, gas, or mechanical work affecting public health or safety.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the City posts a permit application and, where required, a plan review application. Depending on scope, the City's forms call for project valuation, scope description, plans, structural/truss/soils/energy calculations as applicable, owner and contractor information, workers' compensation information, and any related Planning, Fire, Public Works, or outside-agency approvals.

Permit validity

The Building Division posts a permit extension request form, but the general building permit webpage does not publish the underlying expiration period. Applicants should confirm the active expiration window and extension rules with Building & Safety before permit issuance or if work will be delayed.

Building code

There is a timing conflict on the City's materials. The posted plan review form is still labeled "2022 California Codes" effective 01/01/2023, but the City's December 12, 2025 Building Code Update states that the 2025 California Building Standards Code and Monrovia's related local amendments apply starting January 1, 2026. As of March 21, 2026, that later City notice appears to be the current rule, but some permit webpages/forms have not yet been updated.

Owner-builder

The City says a permit may be obtained by the property owner, a licensed contractor, or an authorized person with an owner authorization letter. The permit form includes an owner-builder declaration referencing California Business and Professions Code sections 7031.5 and 7044.

Contractor requirements

The City recommends that a licensed contractor obtain the permit. The permit form requires the contractor's state license number and City business license number. The owner-builder declaration states that applicants must either be licensed under the Contractors State License Law or identify the basis for exemption.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$47.18 for the first $500 of valuation under the FY 2025-2026 schedule

Plan check fee

Regular building plan review is 100% of the building permit fee; regular plan review for all other permits is 50% of the building permit fee; fast-track review is 150% of the building permit fee

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based for major building permits; the FY 2025-2026 schedule lists a base fee for the first $500 of valuation and then incremental charges per additional $1,000 depending on valuation band

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee $166; inspection outside normal business hours $568; permit renewal $65; plan review/permit extension $33; work-without-permit fee $166, and the City's permit guidance also warns that a stop-work situation can result in a double permit fee

Payment note

The standard Building Division permit pages do not publish detailed payment instructions. SolarAPP+ notes that permit fees are paid through SolarAPP+ and that SolarAPP+ charges its own processing fee for plan review. The City's fee schedule also includes an $8 technology cost recovery fee plus variable state surcharges where applicable.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures such as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet; any associated electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work still requires a permit
• Decks not over 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over any basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Above-ground prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep and not exceeding 5,000 gallons
• Listed cord-and-plug temporary decorative lighting
• Reinstallation of attachment plugs and receptacles, but not the outlets themselves
• Replacement of branch-circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location
• Low-voltage electrical work operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts
• Stopping leaks in drains, water, soil, waste, or vent piping, unless concealed defective piping must be removed and replaced
• Clearing stoppages, repairing leaks in pipes/valves/fixtures, and removing/reinstalling toilets, so long as the work does not involve replacing or rearranging valves, pipes, or fixtures
• Replacement of a minor gas-equipment part that does not alter approval of the equipment or make it unsafe

Important: Monrovia stresses that repair exemptions are narrow; structural work, egress changes, and most plumbing/electrical/mechanical/gas changes still require permits. Emergency repair permits must be filed by the next working business day. Public right-of-way work is handled separately by Public Works, and Fire review may be needed for work such as decks in high fire zones.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• inspection information page (online)
• (626) 932-5581 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

before the requested day; City says it strives for next-day inspections.

Inspection hours

Request by 3:00 p.m. before the requested day; City says it strives for next-day inspections. Normal inspection hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Building & Safety is open Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for limited services.

Time windows

Request by 3:00 p.m. before the requested day; City says it strives for next-day inspections. Normal inspection hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Building & Safety is open Fridays 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for limited services.

Typical inspection sequence: The City does not publish a single universal sequence on its general inspection page. In practice, inspections are requested as each required stage of permitted work is ready, followed by final inspection; the permit holder should identify all work areas to be inspected when calling.

Additional Resources

• Building code: There is a timing conflict on the City's materials. The posted plan review form is still labeled "2022 California Codes" effective 01/01/2023, but the City's December 12, 2025 Building Code Update states that the 2025 California Building Standards Code and Monrovia's related local amendments apply starting January 1, 2026. As of March 21, 2026, that later City notice appears to be the current rule, but some permit webpages/forms have not yet been updated.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Division main page
• Municipal Code page
• Permit application PDF
• Plan review application PDF
• SolarAPP+ page
• 2025 Building Code Update notice
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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