Pacific Grove, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits are issued by the City for work within Pacific Grove city limits. Planning, coastal, tree, stormwater, water, fire, and air-district approvals may also apply depending on scope and location.

Department

City of Pacific Grove Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

City Hall, 300 Forest Ave., 2nd Floor, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Phone

Main line (831) 648-3191; inspections (831) 648-3194

Email

building@cityofpacificgrove.org

Website

https://www.cityofpacificgrove.gov/our_city/departments/community_development/building_permits___inspections/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Check with Planning early if the project involves new construction, exterior changes, land use issues, historic resources, or coastal-zone property. The Planning Division states that all plans for new construction or alterations are reviewed for compliance, and most planning projects require a planning permit application and fee.
2. Submit the building permit application through the City's iWorQ portal. The portal instructs applicants to fill out the online form completely and attach plans and supplemental documentation.
3. Do not pay immediately. The building permit portal says not to pay fees until the Building Department gives permission.
4. After submittal, follow up with the Building Office within 24 hours, call the Building Division to make payment, and stop by the Building Office to complete the process.
5. After permit issuance, coordinate required inspections with the Building Division inspection line.
6. If a planning permit is needed, submit the planning application and supporting documents to planning@cityofpacificgrove.org; the Planning Division notes that the submittal checklist and project data sheet may also be required for projects going to the Architectural Review Board.

Typical processing time: No standard turnaround time was posted on the city pages reviewed.

Source: City of Pacific Grove Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

Pacific Grove's portal publishes building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, reroof, solar, encroachment, sidewalk, tree, and related permit types. The Planning Division states that all plans for new construction or alterations are reviewed for compliance, and many projects also need planning approval. The City adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code effective January 1, 2026, so local permit triggers follow those adopted state codes plus Pacific Grove's local amendments.

Required Documents

• Building permit application with project address/APN, project type/use, valuation, project description, owner/applicant/contractor information, contractor license class/number/expiration or owner-builder designation, and uploaded plans/supplemental documentation. Depending on scope, the city form also flags possible MPWMD permits, erosion/sediment control plan, stormwater pollution control plan, and MBARD asbestos confirmation before issuance. Planning may also require a planning application, fee, submittal checklist, and project data sheet.

Permit validity

The city's building permit application states the application expires within 180 days from the application date if a permit is not obtained. The current fee schedule also lists a building permit extension fee of $944 per 90 days and a general permit extension fee of $232.

Building code

Ordinance No. 25-019 amended PGMC Chapters 18.04 and 18.32 to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 1 through 12, plus the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, with local amendments to Parts 2.5 and 9; effective January 1, 2026.

Owner-builder

The city application includes an owner-builder option, and the fee schedule adds a 20% owner/builder surcharge in addition to the permit fee.

Contractor requirements

The city application requires contractor license class, license number, and expiration date unless the applicant is proceeding as owner-builder or lists contractor as TBD.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$196 minimum valuation-based building permit for both combination permits and single M/E/P permits at the lowest valuation tier; some flat-fee miscellaneous permits are higher

Plan check fee

Single-family residential plan check is 75% of the building permit fee; commercial plan check is 95% of the building permit fee.

Permit fee formula

Combination building permits are valuation-based; single M/E/P permits are also valuation-based; many miscellaneous permits are flat-fee. Examples in the FY 2025-26 schedule include electrical/plumbing/mechanical permits not requiring plan check at $243 each, solar photovoltaic at $686, single-family reroof at $686, and non-structural kitchen/bath remodel at $1,400.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee under CBC Section 108.8 is $141.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigative fee for work without proper city permits is the permit cost plus staff investigation time.

Payment note

The portal instructs applicants to call the Building Division to make payment and then stop by the Building Office to complete the process. The city master fee schedule also applies credit card processing fees: $2 for $1-$50, $3 for $51-$100, $5 for $101-$200.01, and 3.5% above $201.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Because Pacific Grove adopted the 2025 California Building and Residential Codes by reference, standard CBC/CRC permit exemptions generally apply unless another city approval is still required.
• Typical exempt items include one-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet.
• Fences not over 7 feet high are typically exempt.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, are typically exempt if they are not supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids.
• Sidewalks, driveways, and platforms not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below are typically exempt, subject to accessibility and public-right-of-way rules.
• Finish work such as painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops, and similar work is typically exempt.
• Small prefabricated swimming pools under 24 inches deep are typically exempt.
• Playground equipment for detached one- and two-family dwellings is typically exempt.
• Some minor electrical, mechanical, and plumbing repairs are typically exempt under the adopted California codes.

Important: Exempt from building permit does not mean exempt from zoning, coastal development, historic review, tree, stormwater, fire, public works, utility, or other legal requirements. Pacific Grove's own application form also flags separate MPWMD, MBARD, and stormwater-related approvals depending on the project.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• iWorQ Citizen Portal (online)
• (831) 648-3194 (phone)
• (831) 648-3191 (phone)

Inspection hours

Building counter hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed Fridays.

Time windows

Building counter hours are Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.; closed Fridays.

Typical inspection sequence: The city does not publish a single universal sequence on the reviewed pages. Sequence depends on permit scope and approved plans, but applicants should expect inspections to track the permitted work and applicable trade rough/final approvals.

Reinspection fees are charged under CBC Section 108.8 at $141. The Fire fee schedule separately lists subsequent reinspection and missed-inspection charges for fire-prevention inspections.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Ordinance No. 25-019 amended PGMC Chapters 18.04 and 18.32 to adopt the 2025 California Building Standards Code, Title 24, Parts 1 through 12, plus the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, with local amendments to Parts 2.5 and 9; effective January 1, 2026.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit Center: Community Development Department: https://www.cityofpacificgrove.gov/our_city/departments/community_development/index.php Ordinance No. 25-019 adopting 2025 Title 24 locally: https://files.cityofpacificgrove.org/Document_Center/Resolutions%20%26%20Ordinances/Ordinances/2025/25-019%20CA%20Bldg%20Standards%20Code%20Ord.pdf?t=202511191349540 City GIS applications: https://citypacificgrove.maps.arcgis.com Active construction map/page: https://www.cityofpacificgrove.gov/
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Monterey County