Loma Linda, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated territory of the City of Loma Linda. Projects in unincorporated San Bernardino County are handled by San Bernardino County, not the city.

Department

City of Loma Linda Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division / Department of Building and Safety

Address

25541 Barton Road, Loma Linda, CA 92354

Phone

(909) 799-2836

Email

dcook@lomalinda-ca.gov for general building inquiries , CommDev@lomalinda-ca.gov for department-wide inquiries

Website

https://www.lomalinda-ca.gov/our_city/departments/community_development

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning and development standards first, especially for site placement, temporary structures, fences, pools, and similar work. The city directs applicants to consult Planning before erecting structures.
2. Submit the project application through the city Permit Portal. Older city forms are still posted, but the Community Development page says applicants should use the new online permit portal for a streamlined process.
3. Upload the permit application and project documents. Typical submittals include a site/plot plan, project description, valuation, and technical drawings; larger projects also require full plan sets and, where applicable, structural and Title 24 calculations.
4. Pay required plan check and permit fees. The city's plan-check handout states plan-check fees are due when plans are submitted.
5. Respond to correction comments from Building, Planning, and Fire as applicable. Straightforward projects may be reviewed immediately or within 1 to 2 days; more complex projects are estimated at 15 to 30 working days.
6. After permit issuance, call or email for inspections at each required stage and obtain final inspection approval before completion/occupancy.

Typical processing time: Simple projects such as patio covers and fences may be checked immediately or within 1 to 2 days; complex projects are estimated at 15 to 30 working days.

Source: City of Loma Linda Community Development Department, Building and Safety Division / Department of Building and Safety

General Requirements

The city says permits are required for most buildings and structures, including fences, walls over 18 inches tall, most antennas, and pools over 18 inches deep. Separate permits may also be required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Required Documents

• At minimum, a preliminary site/plot plan showing property dimensions, streets, and existing/proposed structures. Depending on scope, the city may require full plan sets, structural calculations, Title 24 energy calculations, valuation, and discipline-specific details. The permit application also asks for owner, contractor or owner-builder, and design professional information

Permit validity

Work must begin within 180 days after permit issuance. After work starts, the permit expires if work stops for more than 180 days unless extended by the Building Division.

Building code

The codified text of Loma Linda Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 currently displays the 2022 California code set and local amendments, including the 2022 CBC/CRC/CPC/CMC/CEC/CALGreen package. However, the city's New Laws/Public Hearings pages show Ordinance 789 was adopted on December 9, 2025 to amend Chapter 15.08 for the 2025 California code cycle. Verify with the Building Division which code edition is being enforced for the filing date of a specific application.

Owner-builder

A permit may be issued to a licensed contractor or the property owner. The owner-builder declaration on the city application tracks California B&P 7031.5/7044 and states owner-built work is exempt only on the listed legal bases; if the improvement is sold within one year, the owner-builder bears the burden of proving it was not built for sale.

Contractor requirements

State law requires the applicant to be either a licensed contractor or the property owner claiming a lawful owner-builder exemption. The city form warns that violating B&P 7031.5 can subject an applicant to a civil penalty of up to $500.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The older Building and Safety FAQ says fees range from $39.50 and up, but the November 2025 fee schedule does not publish a single universal minimum building permit fee.

Plan check fee

Required. The city states plan-check fees may be required, tenant-improvement plan-check fees must be paid at plan submission, and building plan-check fees are assessed separately from the published planning-fee table.

Permit fee formula

Building permit fees are valuation-based according to the FAQ. The November 2025 fee schedule also states Building Division plan-check and permit fees are assessed separately based on total construction valuation and/or standard UBC square-footage valuation tables. Some specific permits are flat-rate in the published fee schedule, such as HVAC changeout ($85), water heater ($85), re-roof ($170), and certain pool/solar permit items.

Reinspection fee

No public building reinspection fee was located in the city sources reviewed. For unpermitted work, Loma Linda Municipal Code Section 15.04.080 authorizes doubled fees, or if the permit was not secured because of willful neglect, a penalty equal to 10% of project value or $200, whichever is less.

Payment note

The city requires plan-check fees at submittal for plan-check review. Published sources reviewed do not clearly state whether portal card payments, ACH, or in-person-only payment methods apply for all permit types.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective November 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Portable accessory buildings such as tool sheds, storage sheds, and playhouses under 120 square feet generally do not require a building permit if designed as portable buildings
• Fences not over 6 feet high are listed as exempt in the city's local amendments to both the California Building Code and California Residential Code
• Grading in an isolated, self-contained area is exempt from a grading permit if it does not exceed 50 cubic yards and is less than 12 inches in fill depth or 2 feet in cut depth, provided it creates no public danger and does not adversely affect other properties

Important: The city emphasizes that even work not requiring a building permit remains subject to development standards and code requirements, and applicants should consult Planning before installing structures.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (909) 799-2836 (phone)
• (909) 799-2837 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Community Development states same-day inspections may not always be available.

Inspection hours

The FAQ says inspections are performed Monday through Friday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Public counter hours for Building and Safety are 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Typical inspection sequence: Inspections are required before the next phase conceals completed work. City examples include footing inspections before concrete, rough inspections before insulation/finish, plywood nailing before roofing underlayment and roofing, underground piping before burial, and final inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The codified text of Loma Linda Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 currently displays the 2022 California code set and local amendments, including the 2022 CBC/CRC/CPC/CMC/CEC/CALGreen package. However, the city's New Laws/Public Hearings pages show Ordinance 789 was adopted on December 9, 2025 to amend Chapter 15.08 for the 2025 California code cycle. Verify with the Building Division which code edition is being enforced for the filing date of a specific application.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.lomalinda-ca.gov/our_city/departments/community_development/building_division
• Municipal code
• Building code chapter
• General provisions/penalty fee rule
• Building permit application
• Building permits and applications page
• Building and Safety FAQ
• Location and hours
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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