Fountain Valley, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Fountain Valley. Unincorporated Orange County areas are handled by Orange County, not the city.

Department

City of Fountain Valley Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

10200 Slater Avenue, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Phone

714-593-4429

Email

planning.building@fountainvalley.gov

Website

https://www.fountainvalley.gov/393/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create an account at the city's permit portal, verify your email, and log back in. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center
2. Complete the permit application and upload PDF plans. The city says uploaded plan documents should include the plan review checklist, MEP and structural sheets, structural calculations, Title 24 documents, and geotechnical/soils/HOA documents when applicable. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center
3. Pay the plan check fee online by Visa or MasterCard. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center
4. Resubmit corrected documents through the Permit Center if plan check comments are issued, then download returned approved documents when review is complete. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center
5. After permit issuance, request inspections through the same portal using the email address associated with the permit. Requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. for Monday-Thursday inspections. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/396/Building-Inspections
6. If the project needs Fire Department review, the city states paper plans must be submitted separately. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center

Typical processing time: No general processing-time estimate was posted on the city pages reviewed. The city does identify an expedited permit track for standard scopes such as reroofs, water heaters, repipes, panel upgrades, rewires, residential EV chargers, standard block walls, standard furnace and A/C change-outs, and standard patio covers. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center

Source: City of Fountain Valley Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

Permits are required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, and to install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/397/Building-Permits

Required Documents

• The city publishes a permit application, owner-builder form, plan check submittal checklist, sub-contractors form, waste management plan, BMP agreement, and project-specific handouts. For online plan check, the city specifically calls for PDF plan documents that may include plan review checklist, MEP/structural sheets, structural calculations, Title 24 documents, geotechnical report, soils report, and HOA approval documents when applicable. Source URLs: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/402/Permits-Handouts and https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center

Permit validity

Fountain Valley's fee schedule includes plan check renewal and building permit renewal fees, but the city pages reviewed do not publish the lapse period. Based on the city's adoption of the 2022 California Building Code without a local expiration amendment identified in Chapter 18.04, the default CBC expiration rules may apply; confirm the exact lapse/extension deadline with the Building Division before relying on it. Source URLs: https://ecode360.com/42935901 and https://www.fountainvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21090/Fee-Schedule-FY24-25-Final-v4

Building code

Fountain Valley adopted the 2022 California Building Code with local amendments in Chapter 18.04 and the 2022 California Residential Code with local amendments in Chapter 18.12. The city's permit materials also note the 2022 California building codes are in effect. Source URLs: https://ecode360.com/42935901, https://ecode360.com/42936065, and https://www.fountainvalley.gov/402/Permits-Handouts

Owner-builder

The city requires a signed Owner-Builder Disclosure Form before permit issuance. The form states the permit will not be issued until the owner reads, initials, signs, and returns the form, and that an owner's original driver's license, notarization, or other acceptable verification is required. The form also states owner-builders are legally and financially responsible, may be treated as employers if non-licensed workers are hired for work valued at $500 or more, and cannot have an agent execute the notice without prior permitting-authority approval. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/467

Contractor requirements

The city owner-builder form states contractors are required by California law to be licensed and bonded and to list their license numbers on permits and contracts. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/467

Fees

Minimum permit fee

For valuation-based building permits, the published lowest total fee is $167.06 for projects up to $3,000 valuation, consisting of $89.13 inspection fee, $57.93 plan check fee, and $20 permit issuance fee.

Plan check fee

For valuation-based building permits, plan check is 65% of the inspection fee. The fee schedule also lists plan check renewal at 100% of the original plan check fee and repetitive plan check at 25% of the plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Many building permits are valuation-based using the city's Building Valuation Fee Table and ICC Building Valuation Table; others are flat-rate permits for scopes such as reroofing, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical items.

Penalty (no permit)

Work started before permit issuance is subject to double permit fees under FMC Chapter 18.04. The fee schedule also lists after-the-fact building permits at 2 times the calculated building permit fee, off-hours inspection requests at $125 per hour with a 2-hour minimum, and special building investigation inspection at $125 after-hours with a 3-hour minimum. Source URLs: https://ecode360.com/42935901 and https://www.fountainvalley.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21090/Fee-Schedule-FY24-25-Final-v4

Payment note

The Permit Center page says plan check fees are paid online by Visa or MasterCard. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/398/Plan-Check-Center

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses if not over 120 square feet and not over 7 feet ceiling height; check Planning for setback requirements.
• Fences not over 6 feet high and block walls not over 3 feet high.
• Oil derricks.
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or III-A liquids.
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and the height-to-diameter or width ratio does not exceed 2:1.
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a 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.
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, excluding service systems.
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.
• Window awnings for Group R-3 and U occupancies if projecting no more than 54 inches and requiring no additional support.
• Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high.

Important: The city states separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits may still be required for otherwise exempt items, and exemption does not authorize work that violates any code or ordinance. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/397/Building-Permits

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online through the Permit Center at https (online)
• Online through the Permit Center at https (online)
• 714-593-4429 (phone)
• 714-593-4541 (phone)
• 714-593-4432 (phone)

Inspection hours

Inspection requests must be submitted by 3:00 p.m. for Monday-Thursday inspections. The posted daily inspector contact window is 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Building counter hours are Monday-Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., closed Friday. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/396/Building-Inspections

Typical inspection sequence: The city instructs permit holders to locate the project in the portal and use "Schedule an Inspection" for the applicable stage. The daily inspection schedule is posted both on the city website and in the portal account. Stage order is project-specific and tied to the approved permit and scope. Source URL: https://www.fountainvalley.gov/396/Building-Inspections

Additional Resources

• Building code: Fountain Valley adopted the 2022 California Building Code with local amendments in Chapter 18.04 and the 2022 California Residential Code with local amendments in Chapter 18.12. The city's permit materials also note the 2022 California building codes are in effect. Source URLs: https://ecode360.com/42935901, https://ecode360.com/42936065, and https://www.fountainvalley.gov/402/Permits-Handouts
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Municipal code Title 18 Building Codes and Regulations
• Building permit information page
• Permits and handouts page
• After-the-fact permit process
• Ask a Counter Question / counter contact page
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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