San Fernando, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Department

Jurisdiction covers permitting within the City of San Fernando, Los Angeles County. Building permits are handled by Community Development/Building and Safety; permits for work in the public right-of-way, utility connections, service requests, and related engineering permits are handled by Public Works.

Website

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the permit is a Building and Safety permit through Community Development or a right-of-way/utility/service permit through Public Works.
2. Create a free OPC account if you need to apply online, track status, view financials, or request inspections.
3. Submit the building permit application or upload plans for plan check through the OPC, or appear at the applicable counter during posted hours if in-person help is needed.
4. For Public Works construction permits, submit plans and any required traffic control materials; if work affects regular traffic flow, include a Traffic Control Plan stamped by a Registered Traffic Engineer.
5. Pay applicable permit and review fees. The City's fee schedule states application fees must be paid before staff or consultant time begins, and processing/review fees are non-refundable.
6. Respond to plan-check comments and obtain permit issuance. The City notes immediate permit issuance cannot be guaranteed.
7. Complete required inspections before concealment/final completion. Building inspections can be requested through the OPC if the account email is associated with the permit; Public Works inspections are coordinated with Public Works.

Typical processing time: Public Works construction plans require a 10-day review before permit issuance; traffic control plans require about 5 days for review. No general Building and Safety turnaround is published. ADU/JADU applications in the zoning code are stated to be approved or denied within 60 days after acceptance of a complete application when qualifying conditions are met.

Source: Jurisdiction covers permitting within the City of San Fernando, Los Angeles County. Building permits are handled by Community Development/Building and Safety; permits for work in the public right-of-way, utility connections, service requests, and related engineering permits are handled by Public Works.

General Requirements

Building permits are required for construction work reviewed by the Building and Safety Division, and the City strongly directs applicants to use the OPC to submit building permit applications and plan-check uploads. Public Works construction permits are required for work within the public right-of-way, including trenching, utility work, sewer installation or repair, and construction/repair of streets, sidewalks, curb ramps, curb and gutter, and driveway approaches. Public Works service request permits are also required for certain meters, hydrants, fire service lines, additions/change-in-use utility-related items, fire flow tests, and sanitary sewer dye tests.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the City requires the permit application and plans sufficient for review. Public Works requires construction plans for ROW work
• traffic-impacting work requires a Traffic Control Plan stamped by a Registered Traffic Engineer
• sewer installation/repair requires a bonded sewer contractor
• all Public Works construction permits require liability insurance naming the City of San Fernando as additional insured and certificate holder. The fee schedule notes applications and review fees start staff/consultant work and are paid up front.

Permit validity

Based on the March 17, 2025 code-adoption materials incorporating Los Angeles code provisions, permits are generally valid for 2 years from issuance, but expire after 12 months if work has not commenced or if work is suspended, discontinued, or abandoned for 12 continuous months; extensions may be granted for unusual construction difficulties.

Building code

The City states on its Community Development page that it enforces the 2022 California Building Code and 2017 California Fire Code. More recent 2025 City Council materials indicate the City adopted by reference the City of Los Angeles Fire Code as in effect October 4, 2023, and adopted Los Angeles amendments to the 2022 California Building and Residential Codes effective in 2025.

Owner-builder

The OPC states homeowners may create accounts and access permit/case information; the City's public pages do not publish a separate owner-builder instruction sheet. Confirm owner-builder declaration requirements with Building and Safety before submittal.

Contractor requirements

The OPC states California licensed contractors and homeowners have access to online building permit functions. Public Works specifically requires a bonded sewer contractor for sewer installation and repairs.

Fees

Plan check fee

Building plan-check fee is 46% of the total building fee and includes the initial review plus 2 re-checks. Additional plan-check time is billed hourly. Public Works also lists actual-cost grading plan check fees, a $2,325 site plan checklist fee, and other flat or actual-cost engineering review fees.

Permit fee formula

Building fees are valuation-based. The fee schedule states building plan-check fees are 46% of the total building fee and building permit fees are 54% of the total building fee, plus issuance fees. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, Public Works, and utility-related permits also include flat-fee items for specific scopes.

Trade permit fee

Building fees are valuation-based. The fee schedule states building plan-check fees are 46% of the total building fee and building permit fees are 54% of the total building fee, plus issuance fees. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, Public Works, and utility-related permits also include flat-fee items for specific scopes.

Payment note

Application fees must be paid before staff or consultant time begins. Processing and review fees are non-refundable; after 6 months, all other fees are non-refundable per City Code section 2-681. The Administrative Services page states Building and Planning fees are paid at the Administrative Services Counter.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• The City's public-facing materials do not publish a standalone local exemption handout for San Fernando Building and Safety work.
• The March 17, 2025 adopted Los Angeles building-code attachment confirms at least one local exemption: swimming, bathing, and wading pools not exceeding 24 inches in depth and 250 square feet in surface area.
• Public Works notes that some approvals are still required even when no fee applies, including parkway tree planting permits and parkway modification permits.

Important: Because San Fernando adopted Los Angeles code amendments and the publicly available city pages do not provide a full exemption list, applicants should verify any claimed exemption with Building and Safety before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building inspections can be requested through the OPC at (online)
• Inspector@sfcity.org (email)
• (818) 898-1227 (phone)
• (818) 898-1222 (phone)
• (818) 898-1293 (phone)

Inspection hours

Building inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 11:30 am. Building and Safety counter hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. Public Works regular business hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

Typical inspection sequence: Plan review and permit issuance first, then trade/phase inspections during construction, then final inspection. For Public Works permits, inspection timing is coordinated with the department as part of right-of-way or utility work.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The City states on its Community Development page that it enforces the 2022 California Building Code and 2017 California Fire Code. More recent 2025 City Council materials indicate the City adopted by reference the City of Los Angeles Fire Code as in effect October 4, 2023, and adopted Los Angeles amendments to the 2022 California Building and Residential Codes effective in 2025.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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