Santa Clarita, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Santa Clarita. Properties outside city limits but in the Santa Clarita Valley may instead fall under Los Angeles County Building and Safety; the City provides a residency-status checker on its Building Codes page.

Department

City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division

Address

Santa Clarita City Hall, 23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 140, Santa Clarita, CA 91355

Phone

(661) 255-4935

Email

buildingpermits@santaclarita.gov

Website

https://santaclarita.gov/building-safety/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is within Santa Clarita city limits and check zoning, site conditions, and whether outside agency clearances will be required.
2. Prepare the permit application and required supporting documents. For most projects, detailed construction plans are required; for many project types, plans must be prepared by a California licensed architect or engineer.
3. Submit through the City's online permit portal, or use the Permit Center counter for paper/in-person workflows and qualifying over-the-counter reviews.
4. Pay applicable plan review fees at submittal when plans are required. Incomplete or revised plans can trigger added plan review fees.
5. Obtain all required agency clearances before permit issuance. Depending on the project, referrals may include City Planning, City Engineering Services, Environmental Services, Urban Forestry/Oak Trees, Los Angeles County sanitation or septic approvals, water purveyor approvals, and other agency sign-offs.
6. After plan approval and clearance completion, pay permit fees and obtain the issued permit. The permit holder must post the construction placard and keep the inspection record card available on site.
7. Schedule inspections as work progresses, then obtain final inspection approval to close the permit; commercial spaces and new residential buildings may also receive a Certificate of Occupancy when applicable.

Typical processing time: Small projects needing no more than 30 minutes of review can often be handled over the counter during morning counter hours. Expedited review is available for projects over $100,000 valuation at an added 50% of the plan review fee and targets half of the current turnaround time for similar projects. The City's stop-work guidance notes that other projects can take several weeks.

Source: City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Santa Clarita requires a permit before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing the occupancy of a building or structure, and before regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work. City guidance specifically flags examples such as room additions and remodels, patio covers and trellises, accessory structures over 120 square feet, new or remodeled pools, block walls over 42 inches, and ADUs/JADUs.

Required Documents

• At minimum, a permit application. Where applicable, construction documents, statement of special inspections, geotechnical report, trade information sheets, and any outside-agency clearance documents. The application form also calls for owner, contractor, and design professional information.

Permit validity

A permit becomes invalid unless work is commenced within 12 months after issuance, as evidenced by a valid inspection. If work starts and is then suspended or abandoned for 180 days, the permit becomes inactive. Extensions may be granted in periods up to 180 days each. The City also has a permit reactivation form/process.

Building code

The 2025 California Building Codes and City of Santa Clarita amendments apply to residential and non-residential projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026. Projects submitted before that date follow the 2022 codes.

Owner-builder

Owner-builder issuance is limited to lawful California owner-builder situations. A homeowner may pull the permit only if doing the work personally, using his or her own employees for wages only, or contracting with duly licensed subcontractors/contractors as allowed by state law. The City states it will not issue tenant-improvement permits to tenants acting as owner-builders.

Contractor requirements

The City cites California Business and Professions Code section 7028 and states permit-related construction work must be performed by a licensed contractor unless a statutory owner-builder exemption applies. The City links applicants to CSLB license verification resources.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit fees start at $146 for valuation from $0 to $5,000, with additional issuance, inspection, and related charges. The fee brochure also lists a $37 permit issuance fee.

Plan check fee

Plan review fees are due at submittal when plans are required. Expedited plan review adds 50% of the plan review fee. Additional plan review fees may be charged for incomplete, revised, or deferred submittals.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Building permit fees are valuation-based for many building projects; trade permits use flat/itemized charges; record maintenance is 10% of related permit fees; some special reviews are hourly or flat-plus-hourly.

Trade permit fee

Mixed. Building permit fees are valuation-based for many building projects; trade permits use flat/itemized charges; record maintenance is 10% of related permit fees; some special reviews are hourly or flat-plus-hourly.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees may be assessed if work is not ready, prior corrections are incomplete, approved plans are unavailable, site access is unavailable, or inspected work deviates from approved plans.

Payment note

Plan check fees are collected on new submittals. The fee brochure lists separate application-processing, issuance, record-maintenance, extension, and specialty-review charges; applicants should expect project-specific fees based on scope and agency referrals.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Fixed or moveable cases, racks, shelving, and partitions not exceeding 6 feet in height, provided required aisles, clearances, and egress are maintained.
• Decorative moldings, trim, window treatments, wall coverings, painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, hardwood or tile flooring, countertops, and similar interior finish work.
• Low-voltage wiring for telephone, data, intercom, sound, and security systems.
• Portable equipment such as portable heating appliances or ventilation equipment.
• General building maintenance and minor repair work.

Important: Exempt work must still comply with code requirements. The City points applicants to Santa Clarita Municipal Code section 105.2 and notes that when in doubt, they should contact Building & Safety.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Phone hotline at (661) 286-4097. The City directs permit holders to call before 2:30 p.m. one working day before the requested inspection date. Permit records and application status can also be viewed through the online permit portal (online)
• (661) 286-4097 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

The City directs permit holders to call before 2:30 p.m. one working day before the requested inspection date.

Inspection hours

Inspection requests are made through the 24-hour hotline. Building inspectors are available by telephone or at the counter 7:30-8:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3:00-3:30 p.m. Friday.

Time windows

Inspection requests are made through the 24-hour hotline. Building inspectors are available by telephone or at the counter 7:30-8:00 a.m. and 3:30-4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 3:00-3:30 p.m. Friday.

Typical inspection sequence: For active permits, the City requires inspections as work progresses. Its published guidance references a preliminary site visit where needed, rough inspections for framing, electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical work before concealment, and a final inspection when construction is complete.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The 2025 California Building Codes and City of Santa Clarita amendments apply to residential and non-residential projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026. Projects submitted before that date follow the 2022 codes.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://santaclarita.gov/building-safety/plan-review-information/
• https://santaclarita.gov/building-safety/forms-applications/
• https://santaclarita.gov/building-safety/info-bulletins-details/
• https://santaclarita.gov/building-safety/building-codes-design-criteria/
• https://santaclarita.gov/informationservices/geographic-information-systems-gis/
• https://santaclarita.gov/informationservices/geographic-information-systems-gis/map-gallery/
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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