Redlands, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

This section covers building permits within the City of Redlands city limits. Redlands routes building permit activity through its One Stop Permit Center and Building & Safety Division.

Department

City of Redlands Development Services Department, Building & Safety Division

Address

One Stop Permit Center, 35 Cajon Street, Suite 15A, Redlands, CA 92373

Phone

(909) 798-7536

Email

No Building & Safety email was clearly published on the current Building & Safety page reviewed.

Website

https://www.cityofredlands.org/building-safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project can use the online public portal or must be submitted in person. Redlands states only certain over-the-counter permit types may use the portal: solar, water heaters, HVAC changeouts, electrical panel upgrades, patio covers, block walls/fencing, and roofing. New structures and other permit types must be submitted in person.
2. Prepare the permit application and supporting plans. The City's building permit application asks for the property/work description, valuation, owner/applicant/contractor information, and minimum plan-check materials. Residential plan-check guidance requires full plan sets and detailed site, foundation, floor, framing, and MEP information.
3. Submit the application through the correct channel. For eligible over-the-counter permits, applicants may create an application in the public portal; Redlands states guest users can create applications, while full functionality is available through account registration. For portal-submitted permit types, payment is still due in person before permit issuance, and when plans are required the City requires three hard-copy plan/document sets to be brought in for issuance.
4. Pay applicable fees. The City states permit applications will not be processed until payment has been made.
5. Respond to plan-check comments if any, then obtain permit issuance.
6. Schedule inspections online during construction and close out the permit after required inspections are approved.

Source: City of Redlands Development Services Department, Building & Safety Division

General Requirements

Redlands says permits are required for new buildings; additions, alterations, and patio covers; accessory buildings over 120 square feet; certain fences and walls; pools/spas; new plumbing; plumbing fixture, water heater, or sewer-line additions/replacements; new electrical work; outlet/circuit/light fixture/panel replacements; photovoltaic systems; and new or replacement HVAC equipment. The City notes this is not an exhaustive list.

Required Documents

• At minimum, Redlands publishes a building permit application and minimum plan-check checklist. Depending on scope, required submittals can include a detailed scope of work, project data, plot/site plan, floor plans, cross-sections, elevations, roof plan, energy forms, foundation plan, structural framing/details, and MEP plans. Residential plan check guidance also requires multiple full-size plan sets. Commercial projects have separate plan-check requirements

Permit validity

Redlands publishes both a Permit Extension form and a Plan Check Extension form, which shows extensions are available, but the public pages and forms reviewed did not clearly state the default permit-expiration period.

Building code

Redlands Title 15 adopts California construction codes with local amendments. The currently published Redlands Municipal Code section 15.04.010 adopts the 2025 California Building Code, and Redlands also publishes local amendments to work-exempt rules in section 15.04.020 and residential permit exemptions in section 15.06.020. The published plumbing-code adoption section available in search results references the 2022 California Plumbing Code.

Owner-builder

A property owner may pull a permit with ID. An owner's representative may pull it with a notarized Authorized Agent form. If the permit is being pulled as owner-builder, Redlands requires the Property Owner Package. Redlands' owner-builder notice warns that the owner-builder is the responsible party of record and highlights labor, tax, workers' compensation, and sale-of-property risks.

Contractor requirements

Redlands states a licensed contractor pulling a permit must provide the State Contractor's License number and certificate of workers' compensation insurance. Redlands' owner-builder notice also says contractors are required by law to be licensed and bonded by the State of California and must place their license number on permits for which they apply.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single general minimum building permit fee was clearly identified in the public Redlands materials reviewed. The current fee schedule does clearly list some baseline flat fees, including a standard hourly rate of $147, residential building reports at $74, and many permit-type-specific flat fees.

Plan check fee

Redlands collects plan-check fees before processing, but a single universal initial plan-check amount was not clearly stated in the public pages reviewed. The current fee schedule does list `BS8 Plan Re-Check` at $147 per hour.

Permit fee formula

The published Resolution No. 8522 schedule shows Redlands uses a mix of flat permit-type fees and hourly charges. The public Building & Safety page also states permit applications are not processed until payment is made.

Reinspection fee

The current fee schedule lists `BS4 Compliance Inspections/Reinspections` at $584 each and `BS7 Re-Inspection` at $146 per hour. Redlands Municipal Code section 15.04.020(H) states reinspection fees may be assessed at the fully burdened hourly inspection rate when corrections are not made, the permit is not posted, approved plans are unavailable, inspector access is not provided, or the work deviates from approved plans.

Payment note

For portal-eligible permits, Redlands says payment must be made in person before permit issuance. Redlands also states applications will not be processed until payment has been made.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Wood, chain-link, plastic, vinyl, metal, or similar fences not over 6 feet high
• Masonry or concrete fences not over 3 feet high, measured from the lowest adjacent grade to the top of wall, if they do not serve as a required swimming-pool enclosure
• Retaining walls not over 3 feet high, measured from the top of footing, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or III-A liquids
• Flagpoles on residential-zoned lots not more than 30 feet high, measured from the lowest adjacent grade to the top of the pole

Important: Redlands' handout says its permit-required list is not exhaustive and applicants should verify with Building & Safety. Redlands' municipal-code exemptions do not authorize work that violates other code requirements, and other California code exemptions may still apply beyond the local items Redlands expressly amended.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Redlands directs applicants to schedule building inspections online through its request form (online)
• (909) 798-7536 (phone)

Inspection hours

The City states inspectors are available for questions by phone from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., and daily inspection schedules are available after 8:00 a.m.

Typical inspection sequence: Redlands' public overview does not publish a single standard sequence. It states inspections are performed on new construction, additions, alterations, and demolitions for structural, fire, energy, and life-safety compliance; the actual sequence depends on the permit scope and approved plans.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Redlands Title 15 adopts California construction codes with local amendments. The currently published Redlands Municipal Code section 15.04.010 adopts the 2025 California Building Code, and Redlands also publishes local amendments to work-exempt rules in section 15.04.020 and residential permit exemptions in section 15.06.020. The published plumbing-code adoption section available in search results references the 2022 California Plumbing Code.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• One Stop Permit Center
• Post-Entitlement Permits guidance
• Redlands Municipal Code Title 15
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in San Bernardino County