San Marino, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of San Marino Building Division is the permit authority for building work within San Marino city limits in Los Angeles County. County assessor coordination may still apply for some additions and other outside-agency approvals may be required depending on scope.

Department

City of San Marino Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

San Marino City Hall, 2200 Huntington Drive, San Marino, CA 91108

Phone

(626) 300-0700

Email

Planning@SanMarinoCA.gov

Website

https://sanmarinoca.gov/government/departments/community_development/building_and_safety.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the permit path first. San Marino states permits are required for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, reroofs, window changes, fences, pools and spas, remodels, and additions. Roofing, electrical, and plumbing permits are the only permits the city says are authorized to be issued online; all other permits are issued in person.
2. Create a CommunityCore account if you will use the online workflow. The city says contractors are encouraged to start online, and CommunityCore lets applicants and owners track status, make payments, schedule inspections, and view inspection results.
3. Prepare the application package. The city's Permit/Plan Check Application asks for project description, valuation, owner and contractor information, trade counts, and declarations. For plan check submittals, the city says to submit the application, 2 sets of plans and any applicable calculations; for additions, submit an extra site plan and floor plans for the County Assessor; if the project already has Design Review Committee or Planning Commission approval, copy that approval letter onto the plans. The February 2026 OTC guideline says OTC sign-in requires a completed application and 3 plan copies.
4. Submit based on project type. For projects requiring planning review and/or plan check, San Marino says applications may be accepted online but hard-copy plans must still be submitted at the public counter before review proceeds. Standard plan check submittals may be brought Mon.-Thurs. from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. OTC plan check sign-in is Tuesday starting at 7:00 a.m., with only the first 5 applicants guaranteed to be seen.
5. Respond to plan review and pay fees. CommunityCore users can download corrections, make payments, and download approved plans. For SolarAPP+ permits, the city says internal processing typically takes 24-72 hours after CommunityCore submission, then an invoice is emailed and permit documents are released after issuance fees are paid.
6. Keep approved plans and permit records on site and request required inspections as construction progresses. The city states one or more inspections are required for all permits, and all building inspections must be completed before a certificate of occupancy inspection is scheduled.

Typical processing time: San Marino publishes a 24-72 hour internal processing estimate for SolarAPP+ permits after CommunityCore submission. I did not find a city-posted general turnaround for ordinary building plan check applications.

Source: City of San Marino Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

San Marino's Building Division page says permits are required for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, reroofs, window changes, fences, pools and spas, remodels, and additions. The permit application also covers new construction, additions, remodels, tenant improvements, demolition, reroof, repair, sign, and miscellaneous work.

Required Documents

• Permit/Plan Check Application and Declaration
• project valuation
• owner, contractor, and applicant contact information
• contractor license information or owner-builder declaration
• workers' compensation declaration
• plans and applicable calculations
• for additions, an additional site plan and floor plans for the County Assessor
• and any Design Review Committee or Planning Commission approval letter when applicable. OTC guideline calls for a completed application and 3 plan copies
• the general plan-check instructions call for 2 plan sets plus calculations.

Permit validity

San Marino provides an online permit-extension request form, but the current city pages reviewed do not publish a clear citywide building-permit expiration period. Because the site currently mixes older 2022 code references with a January 1, 2026 notice for the 2025 code cycle, applicants should confirm the currently enforced expiration and extension timeline with the Building Division before relying on older California-code default periods.

Building code

San Marino's Building Division page currently posts a notice that all permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes. The same city page still contains older text stating construction is governed by the 2022 California Building Codes and local amendments in Chapter 25 of the San Marino City Code. As of March 21, 2026, the current city notice indicates the 2025 code cycle applies to new applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, with local amendments still sourced through Chapter 25.

Owner-builder

The city's application includes an Owner-Builder Declaration requiring the applicant to state the statutory basis for exemption from contractor licensure, including either self-performing work without intent to sell or contracting exclusively with licensed contractors.

Contractor requirements

The application requires the contractor's California state license number and license class. The form also includes a Licensed Contractor's Declaration stating the contractor must be licensed under Chapter 9 of Division 3 of the California Business and Professions Code and have a license in full force and effect.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not separately stated on the city fee schedule page reviewed for general building permits

Plan check fee

The same fee schedule notes Los Angeles County currently has an expedited plan check fee equal to an additional 50% of the standard plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

The effective July 13, 2025 city fee schedule states Building Plan Check/Inspection fees are charged at 85% of Los Angeles County Building and Grading fees.

Reinspection fee

Fire reinspection is $80 per re-inspection; fire flow test witness is $170 per test; special permit investigation is $240 per investigation.

Payment note

The city states updated fees took effect July 13, 2025 and all credit-card transactions are subject to a 3% processing fee. CommunityCore also supports online payments for active applications, and SolarAPP+ applicants are invoiced by email before permit release.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 13, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• San Marino's reviewed city pages do not publish a standalone exempt-work list for building permits.
• The city instead points applicants to the adopted California Building Standards Codes and Chapter 25 local amendments, so permit exemptions are governed by the adopted state code sections as modified locally.

Important: Because I did not locate a San Marino-published exemption handout or a city-posted excerpt of the currently enforced 2025 exemption sections, applicants should confirm any claimed permit exemption directly with the Building Division before proceeding. Separate planning, tree, fire, grading, or public works approvals may still be required even where a building permit is not.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building or solar inspection request form (online)
• CommunityCore for registered online permits (online)
• Fire inspection request form (online)
• fire@SanMarinoCA.gov (email)
• (626) 300-0700 (phone)
• (626) 300-0753 (phone)
• (626) 300-0735 (phone)

Inspection hours

Building inspector office hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Building inspections are scheduled Monday-Thursday only; there are no Friday building inspections. Inspection lists are completed at 7:30 a.m., and applicants may call after 7:30 a.m. on the inspection day to request a time window.

Time windows

Building inspector office hours are Monday-Thursday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. Building inspections are scheduled Monday-Thursday only; there are no Friday building inspections. Inspection lists are completed at 7:30 a.m., and applicants may call after 7:30 a.m. on the inspection day to request a time window.

Typical inspection sequence: The city says one or more inspections are required for all permits. Its public guidance specifically references rough and final inspections, plus separate fire and solar inspection workflows where applicable. All building inspections must be completed before a certificate of occupancy inspection can be scheduled with the Fire Department.

Additional Resources

• Building code: San Marino's Building Division page currently posts a notice that all permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes. The same city page still contains older text stating construction is governed by the 2022 California Building Codes and local amendments in Chapter 25 of the San Marino City Code. As of March 21, 2026, the current city notice indicates the 2025 code cycle applies to new applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, with local amendments still sourced through Chapter 25.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Community Development Department
• Applications and guidelines page
• Chapter 25 San Marino City Code
• Permit application PDF
• OTC plan check guideline PDF
• Fine and fee schedule page
• Public records request page for permit history
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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