Highland, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within incorporated City of Highland limits in San Bernardino County; Highland states Building & Safety reviews commercial, industrial, and residential projects within city limits.

Department

City of Highland Building & Safety Division

Address

27215 Base Line, Highland, CA 92346

Phone

909-864-6861 ext. 232

Email

Not publicly listed on the Building & Safety page , use the department contact page/form on the city website

Website

https://www.highlandca.gov/178/Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning/planning status first. Highland says all new structures must go to Planning for preliminary review before construction plans are submitted to Building & Safety, and Planning will issue a letter or conditions of approval for the building submittal if approved.
2. Prepare the application package. For online submittals, Highland directs applicants to enter project and applicant details, then upload plans, calculations, product specifications, and signed declarations. For projects following the city's plan check flow chart, submit the plan check application and complete submittal package, historically including 3 plan sets.
3. Submit through the permit portal or the city counter, depending on project type and the city's current intake instructions.
4. Staff reviews the application for completeness. Highland says completeness review typically takes 1 to 3 business days, with many applications processed the same business day or next business day for after-hours submittals.
5. Pay fees. Portal guidance says the applicant receives an invoice with a payment link; the plan check flow chart says plan check fees are paid at submittal and remaining permit fees are calculated after approval.
6. Respond to corrections if issued. Highland's flow chart states first plan review is 10 business days and subsequent reviews are 5 business days; corrections are returned for pickup/resubmittal, and plan reviews beyond the third review can trigger additional hourly plan check fees.
7. Permit issuance. After fees and required documents are complete, Highland issues the permit/job card and approved plans.
8. Schedule inspections before concealment of work and keep the job card and approved plans on site.

Typical processing time: Completeness review 1 to 3 business days; first plan review 10 business days; subsequent reviews 5 business days.

Source: City of Highland Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Highland lists permits as required for new buildings; additions; residential work such as decks, garages, fences, fireplaces, pools, and water heaters; renovations; reroofing or roof repairs; electrical and solar systems; plumbing systems; and HVAC systems.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• project information
• plans
• calculations
• product specifications
• signed contractor or owner declarations
• planning approval/conditions when required
• and agent authorization if an agent is acting for the owner or contractor. The application form also requests contractor, architect, engineer, valuation, and workers' compensation information

Permit validity

Under Highland Municipal Code Chapter 15.04.040, every permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 12 months after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 12 months after commencement. The building official may grant written extensions of up to 180 days each for justifiable cause.

Building code

Highland Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the 2022 California Building Code, Volumes I and II, including Chapter 1, Division II, and Appendix H, with city amendments. Highland's plan check page also states the city enforces California building codes as adopted by the California Building Standards Commission with city amendments in Title 15.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders must complete the city's owner package/declarations. Highland states an owner-builder is the responsible party of record, may be treated as an employer if using unlicensed labor valued at $500 or more, and must personally sign/verify the owner-builder paperwork before permit issuance. The city also notes an owner-builder generally cannot build single-family residential structures for sale unless the statutory licensed-contractor conditions are met.

Contractor requirements

The portal says contractor declarations must be signed by the licensed contractor or a person associated with the license shown on CSLB. The application requests state license number, license type, expiration date, workers' compensation carrier/policy, and city business license number. The owner package states contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded in California.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The current fee schedule shows a general permit application without plan review fee of $60 and with plan review fee of $125. Project-specific permit and plan check charges are additional.

Plan check fee

Varies by project. The flow chart says plan check fees are due at submittal. The fee schedule states residential additions/alterations/rehabilitation plan check is valuation-based/hourly; reviews beyond the third review are subject to additional hourly plan check fees.

Permit fee formula

Highland uses both flat fees and valuation-based fees. For tenant improvements and residential additions/alterations/rehabilitation plan check, the schedule says fees are based on the most current adopted ICC Building Valuation Table or the city's fully burdened hourly rate plus out-of-pocket, state, or county charges, whichever captures full cost.

Reinspection fee

The fee schedule lists a second reinspection fee at $90 for each half hour or portion thereof when an inspection fails again or the applicant fails to show for the reinspection appointment. The fee schedule also includes credit card charge recovery and other delinquency items, but no single universal building-permit penalty fee was clearly identified from the published schedule.

Payment note

The portal says applicants receive an invoice with a payment link. The fee schedule lists card processing charges of $1.50 for Visa/MasterCard/Discover payments under $50, 2.49% for Visa/MasterCard/Discover payments over $50, and 3.5% plus $1.50 for American Express.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• 1-story detached accessory structures not over 120 square feet, subject to Planning setback review
• Masonry or concrete fences not over 3 feet high, and wood/vinyl/chain-link fences not over 6 feet high, unless part of a pool barrier; zoning height limits still apply
• Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting surcharge, steep backfill, or flammable liquids
• Water tanks on grade not exceeding 5,000 gallons and with height-to-width ratio not over 2:1
• Platforms, sidewalks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade, not over a basement/story below, and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work, unless sinks, electrical items, or drywall work triggers permit requirements
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets/scenery
• Certain window awnings for Group R-3 and Group U occupancies
• Certain above-ground prefabricated pools less than 18 inches deep and not exceeding 5,000 gallons
• Detached decks not over 120 square feet, not over 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
• Various electrical exemptions including portable appliances, same-type replacements in place, temporary decorative lighting, certain low-voltage work, and utility work
• Various mechanical exemptions including portable heating/ventilating/cooling equipment, certain component replacements, and unit refrigerating systems
• Plumbing exemptions for stopping leaks/clearing stoppages and like-for-like removal and reinstallation of toilets, sinks, disposals, or dishwashers where valves, pipes, and fixtures are not rearranged

Important: Highland says exempt work must still comply with all technical codes and applicable city, county, and state ordinances, and separate plumbing, electrical, or mechanical permits may still be required for otherwise exempt building items.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online through the permit portal (online)
• 909-864-6861 ext. 228 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

The 2026 inspection instructions say requests are accepted until 4:00 p.m., unless the day is already full.

Inspection hours

Building inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and alternate Fridays excluding federal holidays. Fire Prevention inspections are morning only Monday through Thursday.

Time windows

Morning window is 8:00 a.m. to noon; afternoon window is noon to 5:00 p.m.; Friday inspections are morning only.

Typical inspection sequence: Call for inspections at the required stages during construction; inspections must occur before work is covered or concealed; after permit issuance, keep the job card and approved plans on site for each inspection; final approval is required before the project is considered approved.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Highland Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the 2022 California Building Code, Volumes I and II, including Chapter 1, Division II, and Appendix H, with city amendments. Highland's plan check page also states the city enforces California building codes as adopted by the California Building Standards Commission with city amendments in Title 15.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.highlandca.gov/335/Plan-Check-Submittal
• https://www.highlandca.gov/202/ApplicationsForms-Handouts-and-Bulletins
• https://www.codepublishing.com/CA/Highland/
• https://www.highlandca.gov/312/Inspections
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in San Bernardino County