Monterey Park, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits are issued for work within Monterey Park city limits. Separate approvals may also be required from Planning, Public Works, Fire Prevention, and outside agencies such as Cal/OSHA, AQMD, school districts, and Los Angeles County Sanitation District depending on scope.

Department

City of Monterey Park Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

320 W Newmark Avenue, Monterey Park, CA 91754

Phone

626-307-1300

Email

Buildingpermitcounter@montereypark.ca.gov

Website

https://www.montereypark.ca.gov/182/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the work needs a building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, grading, fire, or encroachment permit, and whether Planning review or outside agency clearances apply.
2. Create an account in Monterey Park's Accela Citizen Access portal and choose the correct building record type.
3. Enter applicant, licensed professional, property, valuation, and project details.
4. Upload required PDFs. Projects requiring plan check generally need a complete plan set plus supporting documents such as structural or energy calculations. Projects not requiring plans still require a declaration and contractor license information or agent authorization. Some equipment installations also require a Planning-approved site plan.
5. Submit the application online. The city states it will process the application and email payment instructions after submittal.
6. Respond to plan check comments and obtain any required clearances from other city divisions or outside agencies before permit issuance.
7. Pay permit and related fees. Some simple permits that do not require plan check may be issued over the counter by appointment.
8. After issuance, request inspections online or through the inspection request line and obtain final sign-off from all required divisions.

Typical processing time: The city states permits can be issued over the counter for qualifying simple work, while projects requiring plan check and discretionary review can take several months.

Source: City of Monterey Park Community Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Monterey Park requires a permit for most construction, installation, alteration, repair, relocation, or demolition of buildings or structures, plus separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits for their respective work. Separate grading permits are required when cut/fill exceeds 50 cubic yards, and separate fire permits are required for sprinkler or fire alarm systems.

Required Documents

• Depending on scope, the city requires a building or trade permit application, complete plan set, supporting documents such as structural and energy calculations, declaration form, contractor license copy or agent authorization, and in some cases a Planning-approved site plan. Additional outside clearances may be required before issuance.

Permit validity

Permit applications are deemed abandoned 180 days after filing. Issued permits expire if work is not commenced within 180 days, or within 365 days for residential permits, or if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement.

Building code

The city states the 2025 California Building Standards Code took effect on January 1, 2026, with local amendments in Title 16 of the Monterey Park Municipal Code.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders are subject to California Health and Safety Code Section 19825 disclosures and verification requirements. Monterey Park provides a separate owner-builder acknowledgement process, and owner-builders are directed to use the city's One Stop Permit Center rather than SolarAPP+.

Contractor requirements

The city states permits for certain work may be issued only to persons licensed by the state for the proper trade. For online submittals without plan review, the city requires a contractor license copy or authorization letter if an agent is pulling the permit. SolarAPP+ also requires a valid City of Monterey Park business license for contractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit fee schedule starts at $90.02 for $1,000 valuation. Trade permit issuance fee is $66.88.

Plan check fee

Building plan check fee is 81.2% of the building permit fee. Minimum plan check fee per trade is $280.41. Plan revisions after permit issuance are billed at $145.47 per hour, minimum 0.5 hours.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based, with the posted table running through $100,000 valuation and then $13.30 for each additional $1,000 valuation or fraction thereof above $100,000. Additional state and local surcharges apply, including records management, general plan revision surcharge, and state surcharges.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fee schedule starts at $90.02 for $1,000 valuation. Trade permit issuance fee is $66.88.

Payment note

After online submittal, the city states applicants receive email payment instructions. The city also notes that Friday appointment payments must be made through the online portal, and credit card payments are capped at $10,000.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 120 square feet, subject to zoning compliance
• Other work listed in Monterey Park Municipal Code Section 16.01.040 / Section 105.2 as exempt from permit

Important: Monterey Park states permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates code or other laws. Its Building Permits page also notes that building permit exemptions do not eliminate separate electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permit requirements where those trades are involved.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online at (online)
• 626-307-1229 (phone)
• 626-307-1300 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspection requests received before 4 p.m.

Inspection hours

Inspection requests received before 4 p.m. on a business day except Friday should be scheduled for the following business day. Inspections are performed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A three-hour window may be available after 8 a.m. on the inspection day, and the city may provide an a.m. or p.m. window once scheduled.

Time windows

Inspection requests received before 4 p.m. on a business day except Friday should be scheduled for the following business day. Inspections are performed between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. A three-hour window may be available after 8 a.m. on the inspection day, and the city may provide an a.m. or p.m. window once scheduled.

Typical inspection sequence: Request required progress inspections during construction, obtain any special inspections when applicable, then obtain final sign-off. The city notes final sign-off often requires approvals from other divisions in addition to Building & Safety.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The city states the 2025 California Building Standards Code took effect on January 1, 2026, with local amendments in Title 16 of the Monterey Park Municipal Code.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building permits overview
• Permit application page
• Permit issuance
• Clearance from other agencies
• Plan check and permit expirations
• Building code adoption page
• Building contacts and counter hours
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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