Monterey, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

This office handles building permits within the incorporated City of Monterey. Projects in unincorporated Monterey County are handled by Monterey County, not the City.

Department

City of Monterey Community Development Department, Building Permit & Inspection Services / Building and Safety Office

Address

580 Pacific Street, Room 4, Monterey, CA 93940

Phone

(831) 646-3890

Email

gogreen@monterey.gov

Website

https://monterey.gov/your_city_hall/departments/community_development/building_and_safety_services/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project is a building permit, encroachment permit, residential property inspection, or planning permit matter. The City's Permit Center separates these intake paths.
2. Prepare the application package. For building permits, the City requires a completed building permit application, one PDF plan set signed by the design professional, and supporting documents such as energy compliance forms and existing photos.
3. Submit the package. The current plan-submittal page says complete applications may be submitted by email to gogreen@monterey.gov, and the City's online permit portal also allows users to search, apply, upload documents, pay fees, and track status for building permits.
4. Include all project-specific outside-agency approvals that apply before permit issuance. The City lists possible clearances from Monterey Peninsula Water Management District, Monterey One Water, Monterey Bay Air Resources District, TAMC, and City sewer/stormwater review.
5. Pay fees when contacted. The City states applicants will be contacted with fee payment information after submittal.
6. Respond to corrections and resubmit in the same sheet order if revisions are required.
7. After issuance, keep plans and the job card at the site and request inspections as work progresses.

Typical processing time: The City webpages reviewed do not publish a standard plan-review turnaround. The City does say required checklists help facilitate an expedited plan review process.

Source: City of Monterey Community Development Department, Building Permit & Inspection Services / Building and Safety Office

General Requirements

The City's plan-submittal page says the building permit application is used for reroofs, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, solar PV systems, temporary tent structures, and all other building projects, residential and commercial, small and large. The building permit application also states it is unlawful to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, or demolish a building or structure, or install regulated equipment, without first obtaining the required permit.

Required Documents

• Completed application
• applicant contact information with a primary email
• digital plans in PDF only
• one signed plan set
• supporting documents such as energy compliance forms and photos
• and project-specific materials such as site plan, floor plans, elevations, geotechnical report for additions or new construction over 500 square feet, water/sewer/air district clearances, stormwater items, and other routed approvals depending on scope.

Permit validity

The permit application says applications expire if no permit is issued within 180 days after filing, unless extended in writing for up to 180 days. The City's residential property inspections page states permits expire one year after permit issuance or the last inspection.

Building code

Monterey's codified Chapter 9 currently posted online states the City adopted the 2022 California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Green Building Standards Code, and California Energy Code, generally effective for applications on or after January 1, 2023. However, the City Council agenda for October 21, 2025 shows first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code package; because I did not verify a newer codified code page showing final adoption and effective date, applicants should confirm with Building and Safety which code cycle is being applied to new 2026 applications.

Owner-builder

The City publishes an owner-builder package and states it will not issue a permit until the property owner has read, initialed, signed, and returned the required owner-builder acknowledgment. The package also requires identification, notarization, or other acceptable verification when the permit is issued to verify the owner's signature.

Contractor requirements

The City states only licensed contractors or building owners may take out a building permit. The owner-builder package says contractors must be licensed and bonded in California and list their license numbers on permits and contracts; owners using the owner-builder route remain legally and financially responsible and must verify workers' compensation coverage where applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$106.09 appears to be the minimum listed building-permit fee in the FY26 valuation table

Plan check fee

valuation-based project plan-check schedule; hourly plan check fee is $88.35 where billed hourly

Permit fee formula

mixed; building permit and plan check fees are primarily valuation-based under the FY26 schedule, while many minor permits and special services are flat-fee or hourly

Reinspection fee

missed inspections or work not complete $133.60

Penalty (no permit)

investigative fee for work without permit(s) $170.60

Payment note

The City says applicants will be contacted with fee payment information after submittal. The FY26 master fee schedule states fees are subject to a 2.9% service fee.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• The City webpages reviewed do not publish a current standalone "work exempt from permit" handout for general building work.
• Under the California code framework adopted by Monterey Chapter 9, common residential permit exemptions generally include very small detached accessory structures, limited nonstructural finish work, some low fences and retaining walls below code thresholds, shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, and certain minor trade repairs.

Important: This is an inference from Monterey's adoption of the California code framework rather than from a current City exemption handout. Exemptions do not override zoning, stormwater, sewer lateral, right-of-way, historic, water district, fire, or other local approval requirements, and applicants should confirm the current exemption list with Building and Safety before proceeding without a permit.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Monterey Online Service Center / myMonterey Portal (online)
• (831) 646-3890 (phone)
• (831) 646-3891 (phone)
• gogreen@monterey.gov (email)

Inspection hours

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and closed Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for staff training. Permit hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; afternoons Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Inspection requests should be called in no later than 4:00 p.m. the business day before the desired inspection date; requests received before 2:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.

Time windows

Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., and closed Wednesday 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. for staff training. Permit hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.; afternoons Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Wednesday 2:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Inspection requests should be called in no later than 4:00 p.m. the business day before the desired inspection date; requests received before 2:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.

Typical inspection sequence: The City does not publish a full inspection-card sequence on the pages reviewed, but its adopted California residential inspection framework includes foundation, under-floor/slab, frame and masonry, lath/gypsum board where applicable, and final inspection stages. The City also says plans and the job card must be left at the site and someone must be present for inspections.

The FY26 fee schedule charges $133.60 for missed inspections or work not complete.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Monterey's codified Chapter 9 currently posted online states the City adopted the 2022 California Building Code, California Residential Code, California Plumbing Code, California Electrical Code, California Mechanical Code, California Green Building Standards Code, and California Energy Code, generally effective for applications on or after January 1, 2023. However, the City Council agenda for October 21, 2025 shows first reading of an ordinance to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code package; because I did not verify a newer codified code page showing final adoption and effective date, applicants should confirm with Building and Safety which code cycle is being applied to new 2026 applications.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit Center
• Plan submittal
• Building forms
• Residential property inspections
• Online portal
• City code Chapter 9
• Code adoption page
• Exemption for pending applications under 2022 code cycle
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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