Pico Rivera, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Pico Rivera. Separate county or outside-agency approvals may still be required for some projects, including LA County Fire, South Coast AQMD for demolition, and other outside agencies as applicable.

Department

City of Pico Rivera Building Division

Address

6615 Passons Boulevard, Pico Rivera, CA 90660

Phone

(562) 801-4360

Email

buildingdivision@pico-rivera.org

Website

https://www.pico-rivera.org/building-safety/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning and project eligibility. For residential additions and similar work, the City directs applicants to first obtain Planning Division zoning consistency review.
2. Prepare the permit application on the City's Building Division form. The code requires a written application describing the work, property, occupancy, valuation, signature, and other data required by the building official.
3. Submit required plans and supporting documents. For residential plan check projects, the City instructs applicants to email full construction plans, Title 24 documents, structural calculations, the Planning-approved set, and a completed building permit application to the Building Division.
4. Pay plan check and permit fees. The City provides plan check fees upon submission; permit issuance follows after approvals and fee payment.
5. Respond to corrections and resubmit if needed. The Building Division uses plan review and may require revised documents.
6. Receive permit and keep approved documents at the jobsite. The municipal code requires the permit or copy to remain on site until completion.
7. Schedule inspections before covering work. For most building inspections, the City says requests are made by phone or at the public counter; some online permit types such as residential solar and certain portal-based permits allow online inspection requests.

Typical processing time: The City does not post one citywide turnaround for all building permits. It says some minor permits may be issued over the counter or within a few days. For the City's pre-approved ADU intake, Planning review is stated as 2 to 5 business days for completeness; for residential solar, SolarAPP+ permits are typically processed in 2 to 3 days and non-SolarAPP+ residential solar permits in about 2 to 4 business weeks.

Source: City of Pico Rivera Building Division

General Requirements

Pico Rivera Municipal Code Title 15 requires a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, and before installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the application must identify the work, property, intended use/occupancy, valuation, applicant signature, and other required data. Construction documents and other information required by Section 106 must accompany the application. For residential additions, the City specifically requires a site plan to Planning first, then full detail construction plans, Title 24 documents, structural calculations, the Planning-approved set, and a completed building permit application emailed to the Building Division.

Permit validity

Current posted city materials are not fully consistent. The municipal code says permit applications expire if not pursued within 180 days after filing, and a permit can expire if work is suspended for 12 months or more, with full fees due for a new permit after expiration. The current City building permit application form also states the permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 12 months from validation or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement.

Building code

Pico Rivera has adopted the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code in Title 15, with related adopted state construction codes and local amendments. The City website also links the California Residential, Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, CALGreen, and LA County Fire Code resources.

Owner-builder

The City's application form includes an owner-builder declaration. Owners must state the legal basis for exemption from contractor licensing, including self-performance by the owner or employees when the work is not intended for sale, or use of licensed contractors. The form warns of limits on selling owner-built improvements.

Contractor requirements

The application requires either a licensed contractor declaration or a valid owner-builder exemption statement. The City's express permit criteria also state the contractor must provide an active California State Contractor's License and City Business License information.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The published FY 2025-26 building fee schedule shows Permit issuance at $63 for building permits and $62 for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits, plus applicable permit-item charges and surcharges. The lowest posted valuation-based building permit fee is $29 for projects under $500 valuation.

Plan check fee

Regular building plan check is 100% of the building permit fee, minimum $400. Expedited building plan check is 100% of the building permit fee plus 50% of the plan check fee. Stand-alone electrical, mechanical, and plumbing plan check fees are 100% of the respective permit fee.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based using brackets. Trade permits are generally flat/itemized by fixture, equipment, circuit, service size, or system type.

Trade permit fee

Building permit fees are valuation-based using brackets. Trade permits are generally flat/itemized by fixture, equipment, circuit, service size, or system type.

Reinspection fee

Reinspections and miscellaneous inspections are charged at fully burdened hourly rates where no specific fee applies.

Penalty (no permit)

The code separately authorizes investigation fees for work started without a permit.

Payment note

The City adds a 3% technology surcharge to applicable building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees. Plan check fees are provided upon submission according to the Building Division.

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, if not over 120 square feet; Pico Rivera adds zoning consistency review and fee.
• Wooden or chain link fences not over 7 feet high, and masonry garden walls less than 3 feet high; Planning approval is still required.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids.
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement or story below, and not part of an accessible route.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work.
• Above-ground prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 18 inches deep and do not exceed 5,000 gallons.
• Treehouses, swings, and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.
• Window awnings meeting the code's projection and occupancy limits.
• Minor electrical repair work, temporary testing systems, and limited low-voltage systems.
• Portable heating appliances and minor gas replacements that do not alter approval or make equipment unsafe.
• Portable heating, ventilation, cooling equipment, portable evaporative coolers, and limited mechanical part replacement that does not alter approval or make equipment unsafe.
• Limited plumbing leak repairs and stoppage clearing where no concealed defective piping is replaced and no valves, pipes, or fixtures are rearranged.

Important: The code states exemptions do not authorize violations of the code or other laws, and separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required unless separately exempt. Pico Rivera also requires zoning/Planning review for some otherwise exempt work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• the City FAQ says inspections can only be scheduled by speaking directly to a Counter Services Representative. For online solar/portal permits, the City instructs applicants to request inspection through the permit portal or SolarAPP+ account (online)
• the City FAQ says inspections can only be scheduled by speaking directly to a Counter Services Representative. For online solar/portal permits, the City instructs applicants to request inspection through the permit portal or SolarAPP+ account: https://nextgen311.pico-rivera.org/FrontPortal/Page/RenderPage?tabId=36 and (online)
• (562) 801-4360 (phone)
• 311 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

The City FAQ says requests received before 3 p.m. are typically scheduled for the next business day; requests after 3 p.m.

Inspection hours

The City FAQ says requests received before 3 p.m. are typically scheduled for the next business day; requests after 3 p.m. are typically scheduled for the second business day. The solar checklist lists the permit counter at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Time windows

The City FAQ says requests received before 3 p.m. are typically scheduled for the next business day; requests after 3 p.m. are typically scheduled for the second business day. The solar checklist lists the permit counter at 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: The municipal code's standard sequence includes footing/foundation, concrete slab and under-floor, lowest floor elevation in flood hazard areas, frame, lath/gypsum board, fire-resistant penetrations, energy efficiency, other required special inspections, and final inspection. For residential solar, the City says one inspection typically covers solar PV system, electrical, structural, and fire safety compliance.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pico Rivera has adopted the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code in Title 15, with related adopted state construction codes and local amendments. The City website also links the California Residential, Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, CALGreen, and LA County Fire Code resources.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Residential construction guidance
• Building permit application form
• City user fees page
• Pre-approved ADU program
• Official zoning map
• Building code / municipal code Title 15
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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