Town of Mammoth Lakes, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The Town of Mammoth Lakes handles building permits within the incorporated town limits. Mono County states it does not oversee or permit work within the Town and directs applicants to the Town website instead.

Department

Town of Mammoth Lakes Community and Economic Development Department, Building Division

Address

437 Old Mammoth Road, Suite 230, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546

Phone

(760) 965-3632; main department line: (760) 965-3600

Email

buildingtech@townofmammothlakes.ca.gov

Website

https://www.townofmammothlakes.ca.gov/1311/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Download the Town of Mammoth Lakes building permit application and any job-specific forms from the Building Permit Applications and Forms page.
2. Prepare a complete electronic submittal. The Town requires the permit application for all submittals and only accepts complete submittals. Depending on scope, this can include plans, structural calculations, project information, reroof or siding forms, flue certification, EV forms, special inspection forms, and other supporting documents.
3. Email the complete electronic package to buildingtech@townofmammothlakes.ca.gov.
4. If the project also needs Planning or Engineering review, the Building Division routes it internally. If outside-agency approvals are required, the applicant must obtain them directly. The Town specifically notes common approvals from the Mammoth Lakes Fire Protection District and Mammoth Community Water District, and permits are not issued until proof of required outside approvals is submitted.
5. Respond to plan review comments if the project requires review. The Town says initial plan review typically takes 10 to 14 business days and successive reviews typically take 5 to 7 business days. Minor limited-scope permits may be issued on an expedited basis and many can be issued within 24 hours.
6. Pay fees when prompted and sign the permit document. The Town FAQ states the permit is not issued unless it is also signed by the Building Official or a representative.
7. Receive the permit packet when processed and ready for pickup, then schedule inspections by online form or phone as work progresses.

Typical processing time: Limited-scope permits can often be issued within 24 hours; initial plan review is typically 10 to 14 business days; successive reviews are typically 5 to 7 business days; deck repair review is approximately 2 to 6 weeks; and a new single-family residence can take 6 months to more than a year through plan review.

Source: Town of Mammoth Lakes Community and Economic Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

The Town of Mammoth Lakes requires a building permit for new construction, additions, alterations, repairs, remodels, plumbing, electrical work, demolition, spa installs, solar panel and battery storage installs, reroofs, siding replacement, decking replacement, woodstove and fireplace installs, and other work not exempt under California Building Code section 105.2.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Project information
• Plans
• Structural calculations
• Soils reports where applicable
• Title 24 documents
• Special inspection and testing agreement where applicable
• Job-specific checklists
• Supporting documents required for the project scope

Permit validity

Permit applications expire after 180 days. Issued permits are valid for 3 years so long as they remain active, with work or inspections performed no more than 1 year apart.

Building code

Current Town handouts and January 6, 2026 Building Division code interpretation memos state the Town is on the 2025 California Building Code Standards cycle, including the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Residential Code.

Owner-builder

Property owners may sign for permits if they submit the Owner/Builder Declaration. If an agent will sign for an owner-builder permit, the Town requires an Authorization of Agent form and owner verification. The Town will not issue the permit until the owner has read, initialed, signed, and returned the required owner-builder form.

Contractor requirements

Contractors signing permits must hold a current California State License of the correct classification for the work. The Town states general contractors cannot sign for limited-scope specialty permits unless the job legally involves at least two specialties; only property owners or properly licensed contractors may sign the permit.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$45 for some limited-scope permits and reroofs under 5 squares; $225 is the minimum fee in the Building Division valuation table for alterations, repairs, and remodels valued from $0 to $10,000.

Plan check fee

Additional plan review beyond three plan checks is charged at $90 per hour for in-house review or at the outside plan check firm's hourly rate if outsourced. Not all permits go into the formal plan check queue.

Permit fee formula

New structures and additions are based on the ICC Building Valuation Table multiplied by 0.032. Alterations, repairs, remodels, and other projects use the Town Building Division Valuation Table. Some limited-scope permits, reroofs, siding, water heaters, woodstoves, spas, demolitions, and similar items use flat fees. Large projects are cost-accounted deposits.

Reinspection fee

$45

Penalty (no permit)

Work done without a permit is charged at double the building permit fee.

Payment note

The Town provides an online payment page and states that online payment requires the building permit number, amount due, site street address, and credit card or digital checking account information. For new structures and additions, 10% of the building permit fee is collected at submittal and is non-refundable; for alterations, repairs, and remodels over $30,000, 10% is also collected at submittal and is non-refundable; the balance and other fees are due at permit issuance.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet
• Fences other than swimming pool barriers not over 7 feet high
• Oil derricks
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or IIIA liquids
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over any basement or story below and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground
• Playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Certain window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies
• Minor electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing work listed in the Town's exemption handout, such as portable appliances, minor repair work, clearing stoppages, and some like-for-like repairs that do not make equipment unsafe

Important: Exemptions do not authorize work that violates code or other laws. Emergency repairs still require the permit application by the next working business day.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Inspection request form (online)
• (760) 965-3639 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

All inspections must be called in by 5:00 PM and will be scheduled for the next business day as available.

Inspection hours

Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM-5:00 PM

Time windows

Applicants may request AM or PM inspections, and the Town will try to accommodate. The Building Division also states inspections are provided within 24 hours of customer request.

Typical inspection sequence: After permit issuance, inspections are scheduled as work progresses. The Town does not publish a universal sequence on the reviewed pages, but inspection services cover new construction, additions, remodels, and changes in use and are performed to verify compliance with approved plans and local and state code.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Current Town handouts and January 6, 2026 Building Division code interpretation memos state the Town is on the 2025 California Building Code Standards cycle, including the 2025 California Building Code and 2025 California Residential Code.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Municipal Code
• Community and Economic Development
• Building permits page
• Building permit applications and forms
• Building FAQs
• Payment and fees
• Solar expedited permitting
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Mono County