Fullerton, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Issues building permits for work within Fullerton city limits. Separate outside-agency approvals may still apply for certain uses; for example, the city notes food facilities also need Orange County Health Department approval.

Department

City of Fullerton Community and Economic Development Department, Building and Safety Division

Address

303 W Commonwealth Ave, City Hall, 2nd Floor, Fullerton, CA 92832

Phone

(714) 738-6541

Email

Bpermits@cityoffullerton.com

Website

https://www.cityoffullerton.com/government/departments/community-and-economic-development/building-and-safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning and project scope first. Fullerton routes zoning questions through Planning & Zoning and posts the zoning ordinance and General Plan online.
2. Prepare a complete permit package. The city says most projects need detailed construction plans, and for most project types those plans must be prepared by a California licensed architect or engineer.
3. Submit the application. Fullerton accepts qualifying residential and commercial online permit applications through EasyDev, and the city also states building, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire permit applications and plans can be emailed to `BuildingPermits@cityoffullerton.com`.
4. City staff reviews the plans for code compliance. Small projects eligible for over-the-counter review are typically reviewed in 30 minutes or less; larger or more complex projects go through standard plan review.
5. Pay fees after approval. The FAQ states no construction may start until the permit is issued; once plans are approved and fees are paid, the permit is issued.
6. Schedule required inspections during construction and obtain final approval before closing out the permit.

Typical processing time: Over-the-counter review is available for smaller projects requiring no more than 30 minutes of review; the city does not publish a general turnaround for full plan review on the cited pages.

Source: City of Fullerton Community and Economic Development Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

Fullerton FAQs say permits are generally required for new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, ADU conversions, many miscellaneous structures and site features (including decks, patios, fences over 6 feet, fireplaces, pools, retaining walls, ADA striping/path of travel), remodels and renovations, and new/expanded/replaced electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work. Work cannot start until the permit is issued.

Required Documents

• City permit application
• complete construction plans and supporting documents required by CBC Section 107
• commonly listed examples include site plan, floor plans, roof plans, elevations, sections, means-of-egress analysis, green building requirements, Title 24 energy calculations, site grading plans, structural plans/details/calculations. Additional city forms are posted for permit applications, owner-builder permits, final inspection certifications, permit extensions, solar, EV, and other specialty scopes.

Permit validity

Under Fullerton's 2025 local amendments, a permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement. The building official may grant written extensions of up to 180 days each for justifiable cause. Plan review expires if no permit is issued within 180 days after final plan approval; one extension of up to 180 days may be granted.

Building code

The 2025 California Building Codes and City of Fullerton amendments are enforceable for residential and non-residential projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026. Projects submitted before January 1, 2026 were allowed to remain under the 2022 cycle if permitted before application expiration.

Owner-builder

Property owners may apply, but if they perform their own work they must sign the Owner-Builder Verification. The city also posts an Owner Builder authorization form, CSLB owner-builder warning, and contractor authorization form.

Contractor requirements

Property owners, licensed contractors, or authorized agents may apply. Contractors must provide a Certificate of Workers Compensation Insurance. The city also links to CSLB contractor license verification and states businesses conducting work in Fullerton must obtain a City business registration certificate before beginning business activity.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit valuation table starts at $22.00 for $1.00-$500.00 valuation; separate issuance/use fees also apply: $42.00 when no plan check is required, or $63.00 when plan check is required, plus a $15.00 permit-system surcharge and $84.00 plan processing fee.

Plan check fee

Building plan review fee is 87% of the building permit fee, minimum $45.02; this covers the first three submittals. Each submittal after the third is $154.00. Energy plan check fee is 20% of the building permit fee. Standard repeated-plan projects may be charged 45% of the original plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Building permits use a valuation-based schedule in Table 1-A plus flat issuance/use fees and surcharges. Example ranges in FY 2025-26 schedule: $22 for valuation up to $500; $86 for first $2,000 plus $12 per additional $1,000 up to $25,000; $623 for first $100,000 plus $4 per additional $1,000 above that.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee is $112.00 each. Additional plan review for changes/additions/revisions to approved plans is $216.00. Accelerated plan checks outside normal business hours are $282.00/hour plus the plan check fee. Permit extension fee is $63.00 flat.

Payment note

The city fee schedule also lists a $3.00 credit card service fee per transaction and a $25.00 returned payment / NSF fee under General and Administrative Fees.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet
• Masonry or concrete fences not over 3 feet high, and other fences not over 6 feet high, excluding pool barriers
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with qualifying height/diameter ratio
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated above-ground Group R-3 pools under 24 inches deep and up to 5,000 gallons
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Window awnings in R-3 and U occupancies meeting projection/support limits
• Minor electrical repair work such as replacement of lamps or connecting approved portable equipment to existing receptacles
• Portable heating/ventilation/cooling equipment and small self-contained refrigeration systems within code limits
• Plumbing leak stoppage/clearing and similar minor repairs that do not require replacing or rearranging valves, pipes, or fixtures

Important: Exemptions do not authorize code violations or waive other laws/ordinances. Fullerton's local amendments keep some otherwise-exempt small structures subject to Wildland-Urban Interface requirements, and separate permits may still be required for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire, grading, zoning, or accessibility-related work depending on scope.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Fullerton directs applicants to schedule/cancel inspections and retrieve results through the Voice Permits IVR inspection line at (714) 738-6543. Main inspection page (online)
• (714) 738-6543 (phone)

Inspection hours

Inspection scheduling is available 24 hours a day through the IVR system. The current inspection page states calls placed before midnight are put on the following working day's schedule. The city does not publish fixed inspector arrival windows on the cited webpage.

Typical inspection sequence: Schedule inspections before covering work. The published inspection code list shows typical sequence points such as foundation/location, underground plumbing/electrical/mechanical, rough framing/MEP, insulation, lath/drywall, specialty inspections (pool, grading, solar, sign), and `999 Permit Final`.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The 2025 California Building Codes and City of Fullerton amendments are enforceable for residential and non-residential projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026. Projects submitted before January 1, 2026 were allowed to remain under the 2022 cycle if permitted before application expiration.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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