Mill Valley, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to properties within the incorporated City of Mill Valley. The city instructs applicants to confirm the address is not in an unincorporated Mill Valley area before applying.

Department

City of Mill Valley Building Division, within the Planning and Building Department

Address

Mill Valley City Hall, 26 Corte Madera Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941

Phone

415-388-4033

Email

building@cityofmillvalley.gov

Website

https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/231/Building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the property is within the City of Mill Valley and not an unincorporated area. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/232/Permit-Application-Process
2. Set up an eTRAKiT account. Contractors must email their CSLB number and primary business email; other professionals email business details; owner-builders email name, phone, and address to building@cityofmillvalley.gov to have an account created. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/232/Permit-Application-Process
3. If you are a business operating in Mill Valley, obtain or renew the City business license through OpenGov before applying for the permit. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/232/Permit-Application-Process
4. Prepare a complete submittal package. Mill Valley says most projects require plans and that only complete submittals will be processed; depending on project type this can include architectural, structural, and civil plans, structural calculations, Title 24 energy reports, product data, soils reports, and related forms. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/2041/Permit-Submittal-Instructions
5. Apply through eTRAKiT and upload the required PDF documents using the city's naming convention. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/2041/Permit-Submittal-Instructions
6. Complete plan review and respond to corrections if issued. Published review times include: express permits 1 to 3 business days; minor permits 7 to 10 business days; non-structural residential remodels 7 to 10 business days; solar and battery backup 1 to 3 business days; residential/commercial plan check 4 to 6 weeks minimum; revisions 2 to 3 weeks minimum. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/232/Permit-Application-Process
7. After approval, complete issuance requirements and wait for permit issuance before starting work, except limited emergency work or certain demolition situations handled case by case. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/FAQ.aspx

Typical processing time: 1 to 3 business days for express/solar; 7 to 10 business days for minor permits and non-structural remodels; 4 to 6 weeks minimum for residential/commercial plan check; 2 to 3 weeks minimum for revisions. Medium-to-large projects are also described in the FAQ as typically taking 4 to 6 weeks, depending on other department and agency approvals.

Source: City of Mill Valley Building Division, within the Planning and Building Department

General Requirements

Mill Valley states that, except where specifically exempt, no building, structure, or building service equipment regulated by the code may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished without the appropriate permit. The city FAQ also says to check with Building before improving property or converting/remodeling a structure, and specifically notes that water-heater replacement requires a permit.

Required Documents

• Varies by permit type, but the city commonly requires complete PDF plans and related support documents. Published examples include architectural/structural/civil plans, structural calculations, Title 24 reports, product information, soils reports and review letters, gas schematics/calculations, site plans, and project-specific forms

Permit validity

Inspection activity must begin within 180 days of permit issuance and successive approved inspections must occur every 180 days thereafter; permits can expire if more than 180 days elapse from issuance or between inspections. The FAQ also says plan-review applications expire if comments are not answered within 180 days, with one possible 180-day written extension. Project completion deadlines are also tied to project valuation under MVMC 14.05.032(G).

Building code

Mill Valley reports that in December 2022 it adopted the 2022 State of California Building Standards Building Code, with certain local amendments, including WUI-related provisions.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders must email the city to have an eTRAKiT account created. Their online application must include licensed-contractor information, and if they will perform the work themselves they must upload the city's Owner/Builder Packet.

Contractor requirements

Contractor accounts require submission of a CSLB number and primary business email. Mill Valley's online application page is addressed to registered contractors and other professionals, and businesses operating in the city must have a current Mill Valley business license before permit application.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The published 2025 fee schedule shows a basic building permit fee of $273 for valuation from $1 to $2,000. It also lists flat-fee trade permits at $142, $233, or $319 depending on permit type.

Plan check fee

65 percent of the basic permit fee.

Permit fee formula

Basic building permits are valuation-based on a sliding schedule. Trade permits are flat-fee in some categories. Additional city fees may apply, including road impact, drainage, document storage, affordable housing impact, mapping, and other charges listed in the schedule. The FAQ states road impact applies to permits with valuation of $10,000 or more and equals 1 percent of valuation; drainage applies to permits with valuation of $5,000 or more and is charged once per parcel.

Trade permit fee

The published 2025 fee schedule shows a basic building permit fee of $273 for valuation from $1 to $2,000. It also lists flat-fee trade permits at $142, $233, or $319 depending on permit type. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10293/Building-Permit-Fees-Effective-July-1-2025-PDF

Reinspection fee

Inspection fees are billed at $194 per hour where no specific fee applies; https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/756/Building-Inspections

Penalty (no permit)

inspections outside normal business hours are $221 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. Additional plan review caused by changes/additions/revisions is $194 per hour. Permit renewal/reactivation is half the building permit fee if expired less than one year, or full fee if expired more than one year. Investigation fee for work started without a permit is 3 times the building permit fee. The inspection page also notes that missed inspections or reinspections with incomplete corrections may be subject to a reinspection fee. Sources: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10293/Building-Permit-Fees-Effective-July-1-2025-PDF

Payment note

Businesses must pay the current fiscal-year Mill Valley business license before applying for permits through the online permitting system.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures such as tool sheds, storage sheds, and playhouses if they do not exceed 120 square feet, 15 feet in height, have no plumbing/electrical/heating, and are not in setback areas
• Fences less than 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work
• Window awnings meeting the city's stated residential limits
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Limited plumbing exemptions such as clearing stoppages and certain leak repairs that do not involve concealed defective piping replacement or rearrangement of pipes/fixtures
• Limited electrical exemptions such as temporary decorative lighting, certain receptacle reinstallation, minor repair work, and low-voltage communications work
• Limited mechanical exemptions such as portable heating/ventilation/cooling units and certain component replacements that do not alter original approval

Important: The city states exempt work is not authorization to violate technical codes or other laws, and separate plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits may still be required for otherwise exempt building items. It also warns that Planning or Public Works restrictions may still apply even where a building permit is not required. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/389/Required-Permits-and-Work-Exempt-from-Permits-PDF

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Schedule online through eTRAKiT (online)
• 415-388-4033 (phone)
• assistance email building@cityofmillvalley.gov. Source (online)

Scheduling deadline

Approximate inspection windows are 8:00-10:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m.-noon, 1:00-3:00 p.m., and 3:00-5:00 p.m. No inspections on Fridays. Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the day before, and can be scheduled up to 7 days ahead. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/756/Building-Inspections

Inspection hours

Approximate inspection windows are 8:00-10:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m.-noon, 1:00-3:00 p.m., and 3:00-5:00 p.m. No inspections on Fridays. Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the day before, and can be scheduled up to 7 days ahead. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/756/Building-Inspections

Time windows

Approximate inspection windows are 8:00-10:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m.-noon, 1:00-3:00 p.m., and 3:00-5:00 p.m. No inspections on Fridays. Requests must be made by 3:00 p.m. the day before, and can be scheduled up to 7 days ahead. Source: https://www.cityofmillvalley.gov/756/Building-Inspections

Typical inspection sequence: Mill Valley's FAQ says a valid sequence is phase-based. For example, in a bathroom remodel the city expects a combined "rough all" inspection once plumbing, electrical, framing, and mechanical work are complete and ready to be covered, then corrections are completed, reinspection is scheduled, and approval restarts the 180-day clock. Final inspection is required to close out the permit; some permit types also require specific final documents, such as the roof drainage certificate for certain reroofs. Reinspection note: Work covered without inspection may have to be uncovered. Missed inspections or reinspections where corrections are incomplete may be charged a fee. Permit card, approved plans, and related documents must remain onsite.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Mill Valley reports that in December 2022 it adopted the 2022 State of California Building Standards Building Code, with certain local amendments, including WUI-related provisions.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit application process
• permit submittal instructions
• forms, fees, and resources
• property and permit database / zoning lookup links
• Municipal Code
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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