Redondo Beach, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Issues building permits for work within the City of Redondo Beach city limits; some projects also require Planning, Engineering, Fire, Addressing, Waterfront, and coastal/zoning review depending on scope and location.

Department

City of Redondo Beach Community Development Department, Building Division / Building and Safety

Address

415 Diamond Street, Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Phone

(310) 318-0636

Email

BuildingRedondo@redondo.org

Website

https://www.redondo.org

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create or log into a CTS Portal account and start a new application at https://redondo.cts.city.
2. Enter the project type, address, applicant relationship, and required project details, including valuation and APN/parcel information as applicable.
3. Upload the complete submittal package in PDF format. City guidance calls for plans, structural calculations, energy calculations, soils report, survey, and MEP fixture count forms as applicable. Files over 100 MB must be sent to BuildingRedondo@redondo.org by Dropbox link.
4. Submit through the CTS Portal. If the package is incomplete, the City rejects it through CTS Messages and email.
5. If accepted, pay assessed plan check fees. The City states plan review then routes to applicable reviewers, including Building, Engineering, Planning, Fire, Addressing, Waterfront, and MEP as needed.
6. Monitor status and correction requests in CTS. After all departments approve, satisfy any remaining requirements and final payment; then the permit and approved plans are issued.
7. Older City planning materials cite plan check at about 3-4 weeks and building permit issuance at about 4-6 weeks, but current turnaround is not otherwise published and will vary by scope.

Typical processing time: City planning source cites 3-4 weeks for plan check and 4-6 weeks for building permits.

Source: City of Redondo Beach Community Development Department, Building Division / Building and Safety

General Requirements

Redondo Beach requires a permit unless the work is specifically exempt under RBMC Section 9-1.02 / CBC 105.2. City guidance also says a construction permit is required for all new construction, and permits are often required for alteration, repair, replacement, additions, and changes to plumbing, electrical, or mechanical systems.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• construction documents
• statements of special inspections
• geotechnical reports
• and other supporting data as required. For new commercial buildings, commercial tenant improvements, and residential Group R-2 projects, plans must be prepared by a registered design professional. The City also requests project-specific uploads such as structural calculations, energy calculations, soils reports, surveys, planning-stamped plan sets, and MEP fixture counts when applicable.

Permit validity

Current municipal code states permits become invalid if work does not start within 12 months, or if work is suspended/abandoned for 12 months after commencement. The Building Official may grant written extensions of up to 180 days each, not exceeding two calendar years total. Applications with no permit issued within 12 months expire by limitation. Permit forms reviewed by the City still contain older 180-day language, so applicants should rely on the current code text.

Building code

Redondo Beach has adopted the 2025 California Building Code-based local amendments, effective January 1, 2026, and replaced administrative sections with Chapter 1, Division II of the California Building Code 2025 Edition. Related California code sets are also incorporated by reference.

Owner-builder

Permit applicants must either provide contractor license information or sign an owner-builder declaration stating the legal basis for exemption. Owner-builders using their own labor cannot intend the improvement for sale; if sold within one year, the owner-builder bears the burden of proving it was not built for sale. Owners may also act as owner-builders if they contract exclusively with licensed contractors.

Fees

Plan check fee

Required when submittal documents are required. A reviewed Redondo permit example shows "BLD PLN CK - 100% OF BLDG FEE," with additional energy, CALGreen, and planning plan check fees depending on project scope.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Redondo Beach municipal code states permit, plan review, investigation, penalty, and violation fees are set by the City Master Fee Schedule. Applicants must provide estimated permit valuation including labor and materials, and the Building Official may reject underestimated valuations. Residential remodel valuation is set at 65% of new construction cost for valuation purposes under RBMC 9-1.03.

Reinspection fee

The permit form states a reinspection fee may be charged for negligence, incomplete work, or failure to make corrections.

Payment note

The CTS process document says plan check fees are paid by Visa or MasterCard through the portal. A current EVCS checklist also lists Mastercard, Visa, check, or cash as accepted payment methods for required fees.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 120 square feet, only where adjacent grade is 10% slope or less, no electrical/mechanical/plumbing work is included, and the structure complies with zoning.
• Wood fences up to 6 feet high, including concrete or masonry pilasters, unless built on a slope or retaining earth.
• Masonry and concrete fences up to 5 feet high, unless built on a slope or retaining earth.
• Prefabricated above-ground swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 18 inches deep and no more than 5,000 gallons.

Important: These are Redondo-specific amended exemptions from RBMC 9-1.02. Even exempt work must still comply with zoning and other applicable code requirements, and other permit types or reviews may still apply.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building permit forms list the Inspection Request Line at (310) 318-0607. The reviewed official sources did not clearly publish an online building inspection scheduling page for standard permits, though permit status and messages are handled in CTS Portal at (online)
• (310) 318-0607 (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by scope. The City sources reviewed do not publish a single universal building inspection sequence; applicants should expect inspections tied to the approved permit scope and correction notices before final.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Redondo Beach has adopted the 2025 California Building Code-based local amendments, effective January 1, 2026, and replaced administrative sections with Chapter 1, Division II of the California Building Code 2025 Edition. Related California code sets are also incorporated by reference.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://ecode360.com/42663741
• https://www.redondo.org/Documents/Departments/Community%20Development/Planning/Residential%20Design%20Guidelines/ORS_08-31-23_Final.pdf
• https://www.redondo.org/Attachment%202%20-%20EV%20Charging%20Station%20Checklist.pdf
• https://www.redondo.org/Documents/Departments/Community%20Development/Planning/General%20Plan%20And%20Long-Range%20Planning/Local%20Coastal%20Program%20with%20amendments.pdf
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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