Fontana, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to projects within incorporated City of Fontana limits in San Bernardino County; projects in unincorporated county areas are handled by San Bernardino County, not the City of Fontana.

Department

City of Fontana Department of Building & Safety

Address

8353 Sierra Avenue, Fontana, CA 92335

Phone

(909) 350-7640

Email

Building@fontana.org

Website

https://www.fontana.org/136/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Create a Build Fontana / ACA account and start the correct building plan check or permit application type.
2. Enter applicant and property information, including address or parcel number, then provide the project name and detailed scope.
3. Add the licensed professional or contractor information if applicable; the city's online guide says owner-builders do not complete the licensed-professional step.
4. Upload plan sets and supplemental documents in PDF format; Fontana says required plan-check submittals that do not meet its electronic file requirements will be returned unprocessed.
5. For projects submitted on paper, complete the Application for Building Permit and Plan Check and submit plans at the Building & Safety counter.
6. Plan check review begins after submittal. Fontana states first review typically takes 3 to 4 weeks, expedited solar reviews typically take 3 to 5 business days if requirements are met, and subsequent reviews typically take about 2 weeks after corrected plans are resubmitted.
7. After approvals and required verifications are complete, the city generates the permit invoice; fees must be paid before permit issuance.
8. Once fees are paid, only the signing contractor on record or the property owner may sign for the permit unless a notarized authorization is provided.

Source: City of Fontana Department of Building & Safety

General Requirements

Fontana directs applicants to obtain permission before starting projects and routes construction activity through its Building Permit and Plan Check process. The city publishes permit pathways for building work such as room additions, new construction, tenant improvements, reroofs, patio covers, sheds, windows, photovoltaic systems, and similar regulated work. Source URLs: https://www.fontana.org/142/Building-Permits ; https://www.fontana.org/3589/Build-Fontana

Required Documents

• Application for Building Permit and Plan Check
• plan sets or site plan if needed
• supplemental documents
• licensed professional or contractor information if applicable
• and project-specific authorizations such as fence/wall neighbor authorization, owner-builder verification, or proof of ownership for newly purchased property. Source URLs: https://www.fontana.org/142/Building-Permits
• https://www.fontana.org/146/Plan-Check
• https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/42054/BUILDING-AND-SAFETY-PLAN-CHECK-SUBMITTAL
• https://www.fontanaca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/314
• https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/324

Permit validity

The city's application form states plan check applications are valid for 180 days from the first application. If no permit is issued within 180 days, the application expires by limitation; the city may grant one extension of up to 180 days upon written request, and the fee schedule includes a permit/plan check extension request fee. Source URLs: https://www.fontanaca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/314 ; https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/19039

Building code

Fontana's Codes & Local Amendments page states the city is using the 2025 California Building Standards Code, including the 2025 CBC, CRC, CEC, CMC, CPC, Energy Code, CFC, and California Green Building Standards Code. Source URL: https://www.fontana.org/145/Codes-Local-Amendments

Owner-builder

Fontana warns owners not to pull permits for a contractor unless they intend to assume project liability. If a permit is being obtained in the owner-builder's name by another person, Fontana requires a notarized Owner-Builder Verification form before permit issuance. Source URLs: https://www.fontana.org/142/Building-Permits ; https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/324

Contractor requirements

Fontana's permit application requires contractor state license number, license class, and city business license number. The online submittal guide also requires licensed-professional information unless the permit is being pulled as owner-builder. Source URLs: https://www.fontanaca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/314 ; https://www.fontana.org/DocumentCenter/View/42054/BUILDING-AND-SAFETY-PLAN-CHECK-SUBMITTAL

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The 2026 citywide fee schedule lists a Building Permit Administration issuance fee of $169. Many permit types then add project-specific permit, plan-check, and trade fees.

Plan check fee

Varies by permit type. Examples from the 2026 schedule include window replacement/retrofit plan check at $97, residential single-family photovoltaic building plan check at $130, and many plumbing/mechanical/electrical plan-check line items plus issuance fees.

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule. Many Fontana building fees are flat by permit type or square-foot tier; some are hourly; some are percentage-based add-ons. Examples in the 2026 schedule include plan-check expedite at plan-check fee plus 50 percent and illegal-construction investigation at an amount equal to the permit fee.

Trade permit fee

The 2026 citywide fee schedule lists a Building Permit Administration issuance fee of $169. Many permit types then add project-specific permit, plan-check, and trade fees.

Reinspection fee

The fee schedule includes trade reinspection charges such as mechanical or plumbing reinspection at $105 minimum per hour, code reinspections at $95 for the second and later reinspections, a permit/plan-check extension request fee of $161, and illegal-construction investigation at an amount equal to the permit fee.

Payment note

Fontana says permit invoices are provided before permit issuance and must be paid before the permit is released. The Building & Safety page also states that effective October 1, 2025, a 2.5% online processing fee applies to invoices paid through the ACA portal via PayPal. Source URLs: https://www.fontana.org/142/Building-Permits ; https://www.fontana.org/136/Building-Safety

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the City of Fontana Department of Building & Safety to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online through Build Fontana (online)
• (909) 350-7693 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Fontana says inspections must be scheduled 48 hours in advance and are provided Monday through Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Friday inspections require email coordination.

Typical inspection sequence: The city's public pages emphasize that sequence depends on permit type. In general, the process moves from plan check to permit issuance to scheduled field inspections to final approval, and the scheduler requires the permit number and inspection type. Source URLs: https://www.fontana.org/146/Plan-Check ; https://www.fontana.org/3500/Standard-Inspection-Requirements ; https://www.fontana.org/150/Residential-Pre-Inspections

Additional Resources

• Building code: Fontana's Codes & Local Amendments page states the city is using the 2025 California Building Standards Code, including the 2025 CBC, CRC, CEC, CMC, CPC, Energy Code, CFC, and California Green Building Standards Code. Source URL: https://www.fontana.org/145/Codes-Local-Amendments
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.fontana.org/149/Inspections
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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