Auburn, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Auburn Building Division handles properties within Auburn city limits. Placer County Community Development Resource Agency / Building Services handles properties in unincorporated Placer County; the county's permit page directs properties within city limits to contact the local building department.

Department

City of Auburn Building Division

Address

City Hall, 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn, CA 95603

Phone

530-823-4211

Website

https://auburn.ca.gov/411/Building-Division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create a Civic Access account or log in.
2. Select the permit type under Permit Applications and complete the prompts.
3. Add the correct applicant and contact information and contractor license certificate information in the portal profile if applicable.
4. Upload plans and supporting documents. For plan-review projects, the city encourages online or in-person submittal; basic permits without plan review are strongly encouraged online.
5. Submit the application. City staff review the submittal and update the applicant by email.
6. Pay applicable permit and plan review fees. For qualifying SB 379 solar permits, applicants first complete the Symbium step, then submit the Auburn Civic Access application and upload the Symbium approval materials before permit issuance.
7. After issuance, print the permit, begin work, and schedule inspections by portal or phone.

Typical processing time: No citywide turnaround is posted for all building permits. The city states basic permits without plan review are processed and issued in an expedited time frame when all paperwork is provided.

Source: City of Auburn Building Division

General Requirements

Auburn states that a building permit is required for all construction not specifically exempted by the California Building Code. The city also states it handles plan review, permit issuance, inspections, and code compliance for projects in the city.

Required Documents

• Plan sets
• Site or plot plan
• Exterior elevations
• Structural details including truss calculations
• Square footage and use information
• Foundation plan
• Structural, truss, and energy calculations
• Soils report when required
• Arborist report when required
• Project-specific forms on the city Forms page
• For Symbium solar permits: line drawings, equipment layouts, attachment layouts, spec sheets, placards, inspection checklist, and Symbium approval document

Permit validity

Auburn's fee schedule includes permit extension, permit reactivation, and permit reissuance fees, indicating expired permits can require additional fees to continue. The city does not restate the expiration rule on its general permit pages; because Auburn applies the 2022 California codes, standard California permit expiration rules under the adopted code should be confirmed with the Building Division for a specific project before relying on them.

Building code

Auburn project handouts reference the 2022 California Residential Code and the Auburn Municipal Code, and state plan review is for compliance with California Building, Residential, Green Building Standards, and Energy Code requirements. California HCD states the 2022 California Building Standards Code became effective January 1, 2023, with the 2022 intervening supplement effective July 1, 2024.

Owner-builder

Auburn requires a signed Owner-Builder Acknowledgment and Information Verification form before issuing an owner-builder permit. The form states the property owner is the responsible party of record, contractors must be licensed and bonded in California, and owner-builders may have employer and liability obligations.

Contractor requirements

Auburn's online application process specifically requires contractor license information in the applicant certificate and profile for contractor-filed permits. The owner-builder form states California contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded and to list their license numbers on permits and contracts.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Auburn's fee schedule does not label one universal minimum building permit fee. The lowest listed common residential permit fees are $126 for HVAC change-out and $126 for water heater change-out; the alternative one-inspection stand-alone or combination permit fee is $169. A separate permit processing fee of $70 also applies.

Plan check fee

65% of the building permit fee when applicable; includes up to three plan checks, with hourly billing for additional review.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Many common permit types are flat-fee. Other permits are valuation-based under the building permit fee tables, with additional state fees and local processing fees.

Reinspection fee

$85 each for the second reinspection or more.

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation fee for work done without permits is equal to the permit fee, in addition to applicable permit fees. Permit extension is $169. Permit reactivation can be $169 or 50% or 100% of the original base building permit fee depending on how long the permit has been expired.

Payment note

Auburn states applicants can apply, pay for, and print permits online in Civic Access. Plan check fees are due at application when applicable; permit issuance fees are paid before issuance.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Residential accessory structures that meet all Auburn flyer conditions: no power or plumbing, 120 square feet or less, single story, 15-foot maximum height, required setbacks, detached from other structures, not in conflict with right-of-way or utility easements, and not on undeveloped property
• Other work specifically exempted by the adopted California Building Code or California Residential Code permit-exemption provisions

Important: Exemptions are narrow and do not waive zoning, setback, easement, fire, or other code requirements. Auburn's accessory-structure flyer says property owners should contact the city before starting the project because lot coverage, placement, and zoning constraints still apply.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 530-823-4211 x389 (phone)
• Civic Access (online)
• Daily inspection schedule (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be made before 4:00 p.m. the business day prior. Monday inspections must be requested by 4:00 p.m. Thursday.

Inspection hours

Inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday only.

Time windows

9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The inspection route is available after 8:00 a.m. each day.

Typical inspection sequence: Auburn's general inspection page does not publish a universal sequence. Required inspections depend on the approved permit and scope of work; applicants schedule the required inspections shown for their project and complete final inspection before closeout.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Auburn project handouts reference the 2022 California Residential Code and the Auburn Municipal Code, and state plan review is for compliance with California Building, Residential, Green Building Standards, and Energy Code requirements. California HCD states the 2022 California Building Standards Code became effective January 1, 2023, with the 2022 intervening supplement effective July 1, 2024.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Auburn Zoning Ordinance
• Auburn Forms page
• Auburn Building Inspections page
• Auburn Apply for a Building Permit page
• California HCD building code adoption overview
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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