Del Rey Oaks, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Del Rey Oaks. Del Rey Oaks administers permits locally, with building services performed under contract with the City of Monterey.

Department

City of Del Rey Oaks Building Department / City Clerk counter; the city contracts with the City of Monterey to provide building services, plan check, and inspections

Address

650 Canyon Del Rey Blvd, Del Rey Oaks, CA 93940

Phone

(831) 394-8511

Email

KMinami@delreyoaks.org , LBatra@delreyoaks.org

Website

https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Contact City Hall/City Clerk first to determine whether the project needs Architectural Review, plan check, or other approvals before permit issuance. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit
2. If Architectural Review is required, submit the required land use materials to the City Clerk's Office, including an environmental effects assessment, site plan, floor plan, plot plan, and landscape plan. Planning Commission approval is required. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit
3. If plan check is required, submit 3 plan sets with project address, square footage, foundation plan, detail sheet, owner/contractor information, and energy calculations where floor area is added. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit
4. Provide any additional outside approvals the city identifies as necessary. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit
5. Before permit issuance, contractors must provide a California state license number, workers' compensation certificate, and current Del Rey Oaks business license. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit
6. Pay permit and related fees, then schedule required inspections with at least 24 hours' notice. Final inspection is required for all permits. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit

Typical processing time: Plans are normally returned in about 7 to 15 days, depending on project size. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit

Source: City of Del Rey Oaks Building Department / City Clerk counter; the city contracts with the City of Monterey to provide building services, plan check, and inspections

General Requirements

The city states a building permit is required before proceeding with construction or remodeling work so plans can be checked for zoning, land use, and construction compliance. Separate electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits are required for covered specialty work unless exempt under the applicable California code. Sources: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/electrical-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/plumbing-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/mechanical-permit

Required Documents

• For building permit review, the city lists project address, square footage of new work, foundation plan, detail sheet, owner and contractor contact information, and 2 sets of energy calculations when adding floor area. Architectural review materials may also be required. Contractors must also provide state license, workers' compensation certificate, and current city business license before issuance.

Permit validity

A publicly posted adoption ordinance shows permits expiring if no required inspection approval is obtained within one year, with written extension procedures; the current fee schedule also lists permit extension, reactivation, and reissuance fees. Because the indexed ordinance available online appears older, applicants should confirm the current expiration rule with City Hall for a live project. Sources: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/1391 ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

Building code

Del Rey Oaks enforces the California Building Standards Code with local amendments through its municipal code and contracted Monterey building services. Publicly indexed city ordinance material online shows adoption of California building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire, historic building, and existing building codes with local amendments. Because the indexed ordinance available online is an older adoption package, applicants should confirm the current edition in force with City Hall for project-specific reliance. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/1391

Owner-builder

No Del Rey Oaks-specific owner-builder summary was clearly posted on the city permit pages reviewed.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must provide their state license number, workers' compensation insurance certificate, and current City of Del Rey Oaks business license before permit issuance. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$170 base building permit fee for valuation from $1 to $2,000 under the current building fee table, plus additional processing and other applicable surcharges. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

Plan check fee

Building plan review fee is 75% of the building permit fee when applicable; expedited plan check is 1.5x the standard plan check fee. Additional planning and public works review fees may apply depending on project type. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

Permit fee formula

General building permits are valuation-based. Current base permit table starts at $170 for $1-$2,000 valuation and scales upward by valuation bracket; plumbing, electrical, and mechanical inspection fees for permits not otherwise listed are each calculated as 10% of the base permit fee. Determination of valuation is based on the higher of applicant-estimated value or ICC/R.S. Means-based valuation. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee after the first reinspection is $170 each missed inspection fee is $170 after-hours inspection is $204 per hour with a 4-hour minimum.

Penalty (no permit)

investigation fee for work without permits is equal to the permit fee in addition to standard permit fees

Payment note

Current fee schedule includes a $71 permit processing fee, 5% general plan maintenance fee, 5% technology fee on plan review and permit fees, applicable state surcharges, and a 3% credit card transaction processing fee. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Del Rey Oaks does not publish a single consolidated general building-permit exemption list on its building permit page; instead, its specialty permit pages give examples of exempt work and refer back to the California Plumbing, Electrical, and Mechanical Codes.
• Electrical examples the city says do not require an electrical permit: like-for-like replacement of broken outlets, light fixtures, and switches; replacement of approved fuses and defective breakers; replacing light bulbs/fluorescent tubes; replacing an existing garbage disposal or dishwasher, or similar appliance of 30 amps or less; replacing an existing doorbell. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/electrical-permit
• Plumbing examples the city says do not require a plumbing permit: repairing leaks where the work does not involve replacement or rearrangement of pipes, valves, or fixtures; clearing stoppages; stopping leaks in drains, soil, waste, or vent pipe. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/plumbing-permit
• Mechanical examples the city says do not require a mechanical permit: replacing a minor part that does not change listed equipment or make it unsafe; installing portable air conditioners, portable heating/cooking/drying appliances, room air cleaners, whole-house window fans; changing furnace filters. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/mechanical-permit

Important: Exemptions are narrow and trade-specific. Del Rey Oaks directs applicants to contact City Hall if they are unsure whether a permit is required, and separate planning, encroachment, or other approvals may still apply. Sources: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/electrical-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/plumbing-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/mechanical-permit

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Building permit information page (online)
• (831) 920-1815 (phone)
• (831) 394-8511 (phone)

Inspection hours

Not publicly stated on the building permit page.

Typical inspection sequence: The city does not publish a full sequence on the page reviewed; at minimum, one required inspection must be obtained to keep the permit active under the city's posted local amendment materials, and final inspection is required for all permits. Sources: https://www.delreyoaks.org/cityhall/page/building-permit ; https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/1391

Reinspection fee applies after the first reinspection; current fee is $170 each. Missed inspection fee is also $170. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/10686

Additional Resources

• Building code: Del Rey Oaks enforces the California Building Standards Code with local amendments through its municipal code and contracted Monterey building services. Publicly indexed city ordinance material online shows adoption of California building, residential, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire, historic building, and existing building codes with local amendments. Because the indexed ordinance available online is an older adoption package, applicants should confirm the current edition in force with City Hall for project-specific reliance. Source: https://www.delreyoaks.org/media/1391
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Encroachment permit page
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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