Riverside, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Riverside Building & Safety Division handles permits for properties within the incorporated City of Riverside. Unincorporated areas are handled by the County of Riverside Building & Safety.

Department

City of Riverside Community & Economic Development Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

3900 Main Street, 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92522

Phone

(951) 826-5800

Email

B&SInfo@riversideca.gov

Website

https://riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether Planning clearance or other agency approval is needed. Riverside states Planning Division clearance is required for most building permit applications before Building & Safety plan check or permit approval, and Fire, Public Works, or Health approvals may also be required.
2. Prepare a complete submittal package. For online applications, Riverside says a complete submittal includes all required plan sheets plus supporting documents such as structural calculations, energy compliance reports, and geotechnical reports when applicable.
3. Submit through the Public Permit Portal or at the One Stop Shop counter at City Hall. The portal is the City's primary online intake for permit applications, plan uploads, fee payment, status tracking, permit issuance, and inspection requests.
4. Undergo plan review if required. The City routes plans to the departments with regulatory interest, issues corrections, and requires resubmittals until approvals are complete.
5. Pay plan check and permit fees. Riverside notes plan check fees are generally collected at initial submittal when applicable, and remaining permit fees are paid before permit issuance.
6. Receive permit issuance and keep approved plans and the inspection card on site.
7. Request inspections as work progresses and obtain final approval or certificate of completion.

Typical processing time: Some simple permits may be issued the same day over the counter; most new projects require about 20 business days for initial plan review, resubmittals are typically reviewed within 10 business days, smaller projects may be reviewed in about 10 business days, and qualifying small rooftop solar PV projects of 10 kW or less are reviewed within 3 business days.

Source: City of Riverside Community & Economic Development Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Riverside states permits are required for most construction projects. Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace a regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, must first apply for and obtain the required permit.

Required Documents

• Depending on scope
• Riverside requires a permit application and may require a site plan, floor plan, elevations, building sections, foundation and framing details, structural details, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas plans
• Title 24 energy compliance forms, green building compliance materials, structural calculations, soil report, geotechnical report, accessibility details, and any required agency clearances. For complete online submittals, the City specifically requires all plan sheets and supporting documents needed for review.

Permit validity

Building permits become invalid if work does not commence within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement. Riverside also states permits for residential structures become invalid unless work begins within 12 months after issuance. Written extensions of up to 180 days each may be granted by the Building Official for justifiable cause. Plan check expires 1 year after fees are paid and plans are formally submitted and accepted; a 180-day written extension may be requested.

Building code

As of March 21, 2026, Riverside states that applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Permit applications submitted before January 1, 2026 may continue under the prior code cycle only while the plan check remains active.

Owner-builder

Riverside requires owner-builders to complete the Property Owner's Package and acknowledges that the owner-builder is the responsible party of record. If the owner does not appear personally to pull the permit, the City requires notarized documentation, and an authorized agent cannot execute the owner-builder acknowledgment in place of the owner.

Contractor requirements

Riverside states permits may be issued to the property owner, a duly authorized agent, or an appropriately licensed contractor. Contractors must provide proof of California licensure verifiable through CSLB, maintain workers' compensation coverage when required, present the workers' compensation certificate at permit issuance, and obtain a current City of Riverside business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single universal minimum is stated for all permit types. The current schedule includes a $39.00 permit issuance fee, and individual permit categories use their own minimums; for example, a water heater permit up to 100,000 BTU is listed at $35.00 before applicable surcharges.

Plan check fee

The fee schedule lists an hourly Building Plan Check Fee of $82.00 and also lists category-specific plan check fees for many permit types, often matching permit-fee formulas or using set minimums and maximums. Repeat building plan check is listed at $293.00.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Riverside uses per-square-foot fees for many new construction and alteration categories, equipment-based flat fees for many trade permits, hourly administrative fees for certain services, plus valuation-based state surcharges such as SMIP and California Building Standards fees. The City also applies a 10% General Plan Maintenance Fee and 4% Technology Fee to applicable permit and plan check fees.

Reinspection fee

Building reinspection fee is $93.00. The residential inspection procedures handout states reinspection fees must be paid before inspections can resume. I did not locate a general Building & Safety penalty multiplier for work without permits on the current fee sheet reviewed here.

Payment note

The Public Permit Portal supports online fee payment. The City's published FY 2024-25 fee schedule states a general convenience fee of 2.41% per credit or debit card transaction and no charge for ACH electronic check payments; applicants should confirm whether that finance schedule still applies to Building & Safety transactions at the time of payment.

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, if not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high, although Planning approval may still be required for fences in the front yard setback
• Oil derricks
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain 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
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Window awnings for Group R-3 and U occupancies that do not project more than 54 inches and do not require additional support
• Nonfixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches in height

Important: Permit exemptions do not waive compliance with code, zoning, accessibility, utility, fire, grading, or other legal requirements. Riverside expressly notes that Planning clearance is required for most permit applications, and exempt fence work may still need Planning review in some locations.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Public Permit Portal (online)
• inspections page (online)
• (951) 826-5361 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

The inspections page says inspections are performed during regular business hours between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. daily. In most cases, requests received before 5:00 p.m. are scheduled for the following business day. The residential inspection procedures handout says requests received no later than 4:00 p.m. will be performed the following workday. Inspectors can typically be reached at City Hall between 7:30-8:00 a.m. and 4:00-4:30 p.m. to discuss corrections or approximate times.

Typical inspection sequence: Riverside says required inspections depend on the project, but typical inspections include foundation, framing, slab, insulation, grout lift, drywall, roof sheathing, underground plumbing and electrical, and rough and final plumbing, mechanical, and electrical inspections, followed by final approval. The City's "When to Call for Inspections" guide provides the typical residential sequence.

Additional Resources

• Building code: As of March 21, 2026, Riverside states that applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24). Permit applications submitted before January 1, 2026 may continue under the prior code cycle only while the plan check remains active.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety/contact
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety/building-safety-services/plan-check
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety/building-safety-services/permits
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety/building-safety-services/inspections
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/building-safety/online-services/search-permits
• https://mapriverside.riversideca.gov
• https://riversideca.gov/cedd/sites/riversideca.gov.cedd/files/pdf/building/forms/PROPERTY-OWNERS-PACKAGE.pdf
• https://www.riversideca.gov/cedd/sites/riversideca.gov.cedd/files/pdf/building/forms/Inspections_page_forms/INSPECTION%20PROCEDURES%20FOR%20RESIDENTIAL%20STRUCTURES.pdf
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Riverside County