Hemet, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within City of Hemet limits. City FAQ states Hemet jurisdiction generally covers 3-digit and 4-digit street addresses; 5-digit Hemet mailing addresses are typically in unincorporated Riverside County and should be referred to Riverside County permitting.

Department

City of Hemet Building & Safety Division

Address

445 E Florida Avenue, City Hall, Hemet, CA 92543

Phone

(951) 765-2475

Email

bldgstaff@hemetca.gov

Website

https://www.hemetca.gov/68/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm scope with Building & Safety and any related City divisions. Hemet's residential submittal guide says applicants should check with Fire, Engineering/Public Works, and Planning before submitting because separate approvals, fees, or outside-agency clearances may be required.
2. Prepare the application package. For over-the-counter permits, the City says the applicant completes a permit application and submits required plans/documents by email, in person, or through the portal if eligible. For plan-review projects, Hemet requires electronic submittal through eTRAKiT and project-specific plan sets and supporting documents.
3. Submit plans digitally through eTRAKiT for portal-based projects. Hemet's Building & Safety page states paper plans are no longer accepted for plan review and that this procedure started October 1, 2024. Small projects may still qualify for over-the-counter plan check.
4. Respond to corrections and resubmit electronically if required. The Plan Review page directs applicants to resubmit corrected plans through eTRAKiT with responses to plan-check comments.
5. After departmental approval, provide any remaining outside-agency releases and pay invoiced fees. Hemet lists examples such as Health Department clearances, school-fee receipts, and TUMF receipts.
6. Obtain the issued permit, job card, and approved plans before starting work. Hemet warns that work performed before City notification is treated as work without a permit and may trigger a special investigation fee.
7. Schedule inspections by portal or phone as the project progresses. Contractors can schedule online through eTRAKiT after registration, and Building & Safety also maintains an automated inspection request line.
8. Processing time estimate if available: Hemet publishes an approximately 2-week delay for emailed over-the-counter permit submittals. Small projects may qualify for same-day over-the-counter review; the City does not publish a single standard turnaround for full plan-review permits.
9. Source URL: https://www.hemetca.gov/976/Plan-Review ; https://www.hemetca.gov/977/Permit-Issuance ; https://www.hemetca.gov/68/Building-Safety ; https://www.hemetca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10284/Submittal-Requirements-Single-Family-Residential

Source: City of Hemet Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Hemet's Building & Safety handout says permits and inspections are required for many residential and commercial projects, including new buildings, patio covers, enclosed patios, garage conversions, additions and alterations, pools and spas, sheds/storage buildings over 120 square feet, carports/garages/barns/accessory buildings, fire sprinklers and alarms, electrical/plumbing/mechanical/structural repairs, reroofing of 100 square feet or more, and windows. The City notes the list is not complete.

Required Documents

• Typical submittals include a permit application, site/plot plan, construction plans, structural calculations if required
• Title 24 energy forms, soils report where applicable, contractor/owner information, and any required outside-agency approvals. Hemet's residential checklist also requires project-specific items such as grading-plan references, planning approvals, and utility/septic information where applicable.

Permit validity

Hemet's May 2024 expired-permit bulletin states permits become invalid unless work is commenced within 365 days, and permits also lapse if no inspection of significant progress is obtained for 180 days. Demolition/moving permits are limited to 60 days. A written extension may be granted for up to 180 days for good cause; renewals within 180 days of expiration are generally charged at 50% of a new permit, and older expirations are charged as a new permit.

Building code

Hemet's current residential submittal requirements cite the 2022 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, and Energy Codes, plus Hemet adoption and amendments.

Owner-builder

Hemet FAQ says a homeowner pulling the permit must provide a grant deed showing ownership and a current driver's license. If someone else will pull the permit on the owner's behalf, the City requires a notarized authorization letter with those items.

Contractor requirements

Hemet FAQ says contractors must hold a valid California Contractors State License, a City of Hemet business license, and a notarized authorization letter if the person obtaining the permit is not the license holder.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The FY 2025-26 fee schedule linked from the City fee page shows a minimum commercial permit fee of $444 and a minimum residential permit fee of $247.

Plan check fee

Separate plan-review fees apply. The FY 2025-26 schedule states plan review fees generally include up to two plan checks; additional review is billed hourly. Expedited plan review is 1.5x the base plan-review fee.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Hemet uses flat fees for many common permit types and valuation-based components for items such as technology fees, training fees, strong-motion instrumentation, and many new-construction permit calculations.

Reinspection fee

FY 2025-26 reinspection fee is $99 each. Hemet also lists a missed inspection fee, excess plan-review fee for third and later reviews, work-done-without-permit charges, and a permit/plan-review extension fee; the May 2024 extension bulletin shows an extension request fee of $92, while the FY 2025-26 fee schedule reflects $99.

Payment note

Permit technicians calculate fees and issue an invoice. Permit issuance occurs after payment and any outstanding releases are provided. The FY 2025-26 schedule includes a 3% credit-card transaction processing fee. The online portal materials describe payments as limited/rolling, so applicants should follow current City invoice instructions.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses where floor area does not exceed 120 square feet and zoning setbacks are met.
• Certain fences of approved materials not over 7 feet high, subject to the City's local limitations described in its code-adoption comparison materials.
• Sidewalks and driveways.
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work.
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep.
• Ordinary repairs that do not remove structural elements, affect egress, or involve plumbing, gas, electrical, mechanical, or other work affecting public health or safety.

Important: Hemet's current permit handout says its permit-required list is not complete and applicants should verify with Building & Safety. The exempt-work bullets above come from City code-adoption comparison materials and may be narrowed by zoning, fire, or other local requirements, so project-specific confirmation is still advisable.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• https://cohchcrwweb.cityofhemet.org/eTRAKiT3/ (online)
• (951) 765-2428 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Building inspections are generally performed Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. The Scheduled Daily Inspection List is updated daily and inspection times should be posted by about 8:30 a.m. Hemet FAQ also states inspection requests left by 3:00 p.m. are inspected the following business day.

Typical inspection sequence: Hemet does not publish one universal sequence on the main permit pages, but inspections follow construction progress and approved plans; applicants should keep the City-issued job/inspection card and approved plans on site and provide access to the inspection area.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Hemet's current residential submittal requirements cite the 2022 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fire, and Energy Codes, plus Hemet adoption and amendments.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.hemetca.gov/68/Building-Safety
• https://www.hemetca.gov/976/Plan-Review
• https://www.hemetca.gov/977/Permit-Issuance
• https://www.hemetca.gov/535/Inspection-Request-or-Status
• https://www.hemetca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10284/Submittal-Requirements-Single-Family-Residential
• https://www.hemetca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8914/Do-I-need-a-permit-English
• https://www.hemetca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10417
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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