City Building Permits

Seaside, CA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Seaside, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California Monterey County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Handles building permits and inspections within the incorporated City of Seaside. Planning permit review, when required, occurs before the City accepts related building permit or business license applications. Unincorporated Monterey County is outside City jurisdiction.

Department
City of Seaside Building & Code Enforcement Department
Address
440 Harcourt Avenue, Seaside, CA 93955
Phone
831-899-6825
Website
https://www.ci.seaside.ca.us/176/Building-Code-Enforcement

Online Permit Portal

Open SmartGov

Platform: SmartGov • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person

Application Process

  1. Confirm whether the job needs only a building permit or also planning review; Seaside states planning permit review happens first when required.
  2. Create or sign in to the City's SmartGov portal, or download the residential/commercial application and submittal forms from the Building Applications & Forms page.
  3. Submit the completed application with project description, valuation, plans, and supporting documents. The residential application says plan review submittals require four plan sets, two copies of supporting documents such as calculations/truss drawings/energy documents, and one copy for Fire/Planning/Engineering routing.
  4. Wait for City plan review. Seaside's posted average turnaround is 20-30 business days for the initial review and 10-20 business days for each subsequent review.
  5. Respond to correction comments if issued. The City states it will contact the applicant when the permit is ready to be issued.
  6. Pay issuance fees and obtain the permit before starting work.
  7. Schedule required inspections by phone at least 24 hours ahead, complete required stage inspections, and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Average initial plan review 20-30 business days; resubmittals 10-20 business days.

Source: City of Seaside Building & Code Enforcement Department

General Requirements

Seaside Municipal Code Chapter 15.05 says no building or structure may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, demolished, or changed from one use to another until a development permit has been secured from the building official. The City also advises owners to check with Building & Code Enforcement before starting any building project or major repairs.

Required Documents

  • Completed residential or commercial permit application
  • project valuation
  • detailed scope
  • applicant/owner/contractor information
  • contractor license number if a contractor is used
  • plans drawn to scale
  • and supporting documents such as structural calculations, truss drawings, and energy compliance documents. Depending on scope, Seaside also links plan review submittal packages, stormwater forms, special inspection forms, and trade-specific templates.
Permit validity
Plan review expires if no permit is issued within 180 days after application, with limited written extensions. Issued permits expire if the project does not receive approval for one required inspection within 180 days of permit issuance; the building official may grant extensions under the City's amended code.
Building code
Seaside states it has adopted the 2022 California Code of Regulations, Title 24, with local amendments, effective January 1, 2023.
Owner-builder
The residential permit application includes an "Owner / Builder" designation, but the City pages reviewed do not publish a separate local owner-builder instruction sheet. Owner-applicants should expect to sign the application certification and provide full project/ownership information.
Contractor requirements
The residential application requests the contractor's license number, and Seaside links the California Contractors State License Board and a contractor business license tax certificate application. In practice, contractor-performed work should identify the CSLB license holder and meet any City business license requirements.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
No single universal minimum building permit fee is published for all permit types. The 2025-2026 schedule is mostly type-based; examples of lower listed flat fees include $223 for reroof (first 10 squares), above-ground residential pools/spas, and non-illuminated signs, while many common minor repair permits are $338.
Plan check fee
Standard plan review is listed at 25% of the original fee; expedited plan review is 1.5x the plan check fee; additional plan check is $339/hour minimum.
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Many permits are flat fees by permit type; some permits are valuation/type/square-footage based; engineering review may be actual cost or deposit based.
Reinspection fee
Additional inspection/reinspection is $339/hour minimum.
Penalty (no permit)
Work without a permit investigative fee is equal to the permit fee, not to exceed $500.
Payment note
The fee schedule page says credit cards are not accepted for developer deposits or transient occupancy tax. For internet payments made in error, approved refunds are returned to the original payment card in 10-14 days, and transaction fees are non-refundable. Building permit refund policy states most building/trade permits are refunded at 80% if canceled after payment; plan reviews are non-refundable, and no refunds are given once work starts and inspections have been requested.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • One-story detached accessory structures and portable storage sheds, playhouses, and similar accessory structures for single-family dwellings when under 120 square feet gross floor area.
  • Residential retaining walls not over 4 feet high, measured from the bottom of footing to the top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
  • Residential decks, platforms, on-site paths, and driveways not over 18 inches above natural grade, not part of an accessible route, not serving as a required landing, not exceeding lot coverage limits, and meeting setbacks.
  • Residential painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, and countertops, except kitchen countertops with electrical receptacle spacing requirements.

Important: Exemptions do not authorize code violations. Exempt structures still must comply with setbacks, lot coverage, height, and clearance rules. Unpermitted accessory structures cannot include electrical, plumbing, or mechanical features that would otherwise require permits, and land/sea cargo containers do not qualify as exempt residential accessory structures.

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • SmartGov (online)
  • 831-899-6723 (phone)
Scheduling deadline
Monday-Friday by appointment in these windows: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, and 1:00 PM-3:00 PM. Call at least 24 hours in advance.
Inspection hours
Monday-Friday by appointment in these windows: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, and 1:00 PM-3:00 PM. Call at least 24 hours in advance.
Time windows
Monday-Friday by appointment in these windows: 8:00 AM-10:00 AM, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM, and 1:00 PM-3:00 PM. Call at least 24 hours in advance.

Typical inspection sequence: The City does not publish one universal sequence for all project types on its main inspection page. In practice, inspections are stage-based and tied to the permitted scope before work is concealed, then followed by final inspection. For larger projects this commonly means foundation/site work as applicable, rough framing and rough trade inspections, insulation or other required intermediate inspections, and final. Seaside also publishes permit-specific inspection sheets such as reroof procedures.

When requesting inspection, provide requested date/time, permit number, job site address, work to be inspected, and contact name/phone. Additional inspections or reinspections are billed per the fee schedule at $339/hour minimum.

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Seaside Building & Code Enforcement Department before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Seaside can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

Learn how Jaspector works
Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

Other cities in Monterey County

soledad carmel-by-the-sea del-rey-oaks gonzales
View all Monterey County jurisdictions →