Pomona, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits are issued by the City of Pomona for work within city limits. Some projects are also routed to Planning, Public Works, Water, and, when fire review is required, Los Angeles County Fire Department through its EPIC portal.

Department

City of Pomona Development Services Department, Building and Safety Division

Address

City Hall, 505 South Garey Avenue, Pomona, CA 91766

Phone

909-620-2371

Email

Building@pomonaca.gov

Website

https://www.pomonaca.gov/government/departments/development-services/building-and-safety-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm permit type and download the applicable City of Pomona forms from the Building Application & Forms page, including the permit application and any project-specific handouts or checklists.
2. Prepare the submittal package. Pomona's commercial electronic submittal instructions call for an application, first submittal plans, and supporting PDFs as needed such as structural calculations, soils reports, and Title 24 documents.
3. Submit electronically through Pomona's EnerGov Self Service portal or, for commercial electronic plan submittals, by email to Building@pomonaca.gov as directed by the Building and Safety Division.
4. Pay the invoice. Pomona's commercial submittal instructions state the invoice is sent by email and payment is made in person with the cashier at 505 S. Garey Ave.
5. After payment, provide the required hard-copy plan set if requested. Pomona's commercial instructions require one hard set of plans after payment.
6. The City routes plans to the applicable reviewing divisions. The commercial submittal instructions list Building and Safety, Planning, Public Works, Water, and direct applicant submission to Los Angeles County Fire when fire review is required.
7. Once the permit is issued, keep the permit/job card and approved plans on site and schedule inspections before covering work.

Typical processing time: No citywide turnaround estimate was posted on the cited Pomona pages reviewed.

Source: City of Pomona Development Services Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

Pomona enforces the 2025 California Building Codes beginning January 1, 2026. Permits are generally required for construction, alteration, enlargement, repair, demolition, relocation, grading, reroofing, and regulated electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work unless the work is specifically exempt under the adopted California codes.

Required Documents

• Common submittal items listed by Pomona include a permit application, plans, supporting documents as needed, licensed contractor declaration, owner-builder authorization when applicable, construction waste management plan for applicable projects, and project-specific forms or handouts.

Permit validity

California Health and Safety Code section 18938.6 provides that a permit remains valid if work is commenced within 12 months after issuance, unless the work is abandoned; Pomona also provides a Permit Extension Request form and charges a plan check and permit extension review fee.

Building code

Pomona's Building and Safety Division began enforcing the 2025 California Building Codes on January 1, 2026.

Owner-builder

Pomona publishes an Owner Builder Authorization form and a Helpful Tips for the Owner-Builder handout. The handout states most inspections require someone over 18 to be present, and approved plans and the permit/job card should be on site when inspections occur.

Contractor requirements

Pomona requires a Licensed Contractors Declaration. The form requires the contractor to affirm California contractor licensure and workers' compensation compliance, or to certify non-employment if applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$132.15 under the FY 2025-26 proposed Master Fee Schedule

Plan check fee

Building plan check is 75% of the building permit fee, with a minimum of $132.15; additional review is $132.15 per hour.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based. FY 2025-26 schedule shows $52.60 for valuation up to and including $700, then escalating bracket formulas; Pomona uses ICC Building Valuation Data to evaluate valuation.

Reinspection fee

Building reinspection is $132.15 per request.

Payment note

Pomona's commercial electronic submittal instructions say the invoice is sent by email and payment must be made in person with the cashier at City Hall.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet, provided they do not create a floor area used for sleeping, are not part of required egress, and do not contain plumbing, mechanical, or electrical work.
• Fences not over 7 feet high.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain fluids.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter ratio does not exceed 2 to 1.
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work.
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground.
• Playground equipment for detached one- and two-family dwellings.
• Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies projecting 54 inches or less and not requiring additional support.
• Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.

Important: These are standard California code exemptions and do not waive compliance with zoning, fire, floodplain, right-of-way, utility, or trade-permit requirements. Exempt work can still require separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or fire approvals depending on scope.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online inspection request page (online)
• Daily inspections list (online)
• 909-620-2422 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests for next-business-day inspection must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. After-hours inspections must be requested at the Building and Safety counter 48 hours in advance and extra fees apply.

Inspection hours

Inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Requests for next-business-day inspection must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. Requests submitted after 4:00 p.m. are scheduled in 2 business days. For Monday inspections, requests must be submitted by Thursday at 4:00 p.m. After-hours inspections must be requested at the Building and Safety counter 48 hours in advance and extra fees apply.

Time windows

Inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Requests for next-business-day inspection must be submitted before 4:00 p.m. Requests submitted after 4:00 p.m. are scheduled in 2 business days. For Monday inspections, requests must be submitted by Thursday at 4:00 p.m. After-hours inspections must be requested at the Building and Safety counter 48 hours in advance and extra fees apply.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequencing is footing/foundation, rough framing and rough trade inspections as applicable, then insulation or lath where required, and final inspection. Exact sequencing varies by project type and approved plans.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Pomona's Building and Safety Division began enforcing the 2025 California Building Codes on January 1, 2026.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building application forms
• Current California codes
• Building codes and design criteria handout
• Master fee schedule FY 2025-26 PDF
• Department directory
• California Health and Safety Code section 18938.6
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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