Upland, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies to projects within City of Upland limits in San Bernardino County. The City handles building permit intake, review, and inspections; fire-code enforcement follows the 2025 California Fire Code as amended by the San Bernardino County Fire District.

Department

City of Upland Building and Safety Division

Address

460 N. Euclid Avenue, Upland, CA 91786

Phone

Building and Safety / Building Department main line (909) 931-4110; inspection voicemail line (909) 931-4129; City main line (909) 931-4100

Email

No dedicated Building and Safety email was identified on the public pages reviewed.

Website

https://www.uplandca.gov/building-permits/1000

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm that the project requires a permit. Upland states that any owner or authorized agent intending to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy, or to install/alter regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must first apply for and obtain the required permit.
2. Create a CSS portal account. The City states new users must register for an account to apply for permits, view updates, make payments, or schedule inspections.
3. Complete the online permit application through CSS. Upland states the Building and Safety Division only accepts building permit requests online.
4. Upload the construction plans and supporting documents. The City states any permit issued through CSS requires uploaded construction plans, and its residential submittal checklist calls for a complete digital set of plans through the CSS portal.
5. Pay applicable fees. The Building Permits page says payment for the construction permit is by credit card only.
6. Respond to plan-review comments if revisions are required and resubmit corrected documents.
7. After approvals, permit issuance, and any required outside clearances, keep the approved permit plans and permit card/job card available on site for inspection.
8. Request inspections at the required stages and obtain final approval before occupancy/use as applicable.

Typical processing time: No public processing-time estimate was identified in the City sources reviewed.

Source: City of Upland Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

Upland's Section 105 handout states a permit is required for construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or occupancy change of a building or structure, and for regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing work. Source: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/SECTION%20105-Permits.pdf

Required Documents

• The City requires uploaded construction plans through CSS. Its residential room-addition checklist requires a complete digital plan set and lists items such as a plot/site plan, foundation plan, floor plan, roof plan, exterior elevations, sections, finish/material specifications, Title 24 energy documentation, HVAC/manufacturer specifications as applicable, and engineering/truss calculations when required. Source: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/Minimum%20Requirements%20for%20Submittal%20of%20Residential.pdf

Permit validity

Upland provides a Permit Extension Request form, but the public pages reviewed do not separately summarize expiration rules. Because Upland has adopted the 2025 California Building Code/Administrative Code by reference, permit application and lapse rules generally follow those adopted codes unless locally amended. Confirm current expiration timing with Building and Safety when the permit is issued. Sources: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/Forms,%20Fees%20%26%20Applications/Permit%20Extension%20Request%20Form.pdf ; https://www.uplandca.gov/codes-in-effect ; https://ecode360.com/UP5026/laws/LF2540298.pdf

Building code

The City's Codes in Effect page states Upland has adopted the 2025 California Building Code as its building construction standards. Ordinance No. 2004 also adopts by reference the 2025 California Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, Green Building, Existing Building, Historical, Wildland-Urban Interface, and related Title 24 codes, with the fire code adopted as amended by the San Bernardino County Fire District. Sources: https://www.uplandca.gov/codes-in-effect ; https://ecode360.com/UP5026/laws/LF2540298.pdf

Owner-builder

The City's permit application includes an Owner-Builder Declaration and an Owner-Builder Acknowledgement and Information Form. It states the permit may be issued in the name of the licensed contractor or the property owner as permit holder of record, and owner-builders must sign the required declarations and verification materials. Source: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/Construction%20Permit%20Application%20(NEW).pdf

Contractor requirements

The City's permit application requires licensed-contractor declaration information, including contractor name, license class, and license number. The Building Permits page also states all California licensed general or specific trade contractors performing work in the City of Upland must have a current Upland business license. Sources: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/Construction%20Permit%20Application%20(NEW).pdf ; https://www.uplandca.gov/building-permits/1000

Fees

Minimum permit fee

The 2026 Building fee schedule shows an $80 building permit issuance fee for many permit categories and other flat-fee permit types; trade-permit supplemental issuance fees can be lower.

Plan check fee

The published building plan check fee is $200 minimum. Additional plan review due to revisions is $200 minimum, and tract-repeat plan review is 25% of the plan check fee.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. The schedule uses valuation-based pricing for at least some full building permits (for example, single-family dwelling attached or detached full permit fee is listed as valuation-based) and flat fees for many specific permit types.

Trade permit fee

The 2026 Building fee schedule shows an $80 building permit issuance fee for many permit categories and other flat-fee permit types; trade-permit supplemental issuance fees can be lower.

Reinspection fee

Building reinspection fee is listed at $220. Penalty for not obtaining a permit is listed at 150% of the permit fee. Reinstatement of an expired permit is listed at $280 each plus original permit fee or as modified.

Payment note

The Building Permits page says construction permit payment is by credit card only. The City's Credit/Debit Card Service Fee FAQ says EnerGov processing fees for Development Services online processing for Building and Safety and Planning permits are 3.75%, effective January 5, 2026.

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/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses, if floor area does not exceed 120 square feet
• Fences not over 6 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high from bottom of footing to top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding specified liquids
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement/story below and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground
• Portable heating, ventilation, and cooling equipment and certain other minor mechanical, electrical, gas, and plumbing repair items listed in the City's Section 105 handout

Important: Upland's Section 105 handout states permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the code or other laws/ordinances. The City's separate exemptions handout appears to use some older thresholds in places, so the current Section 105 permit handout should be treated as the stronger city-specific source unless Building and Safety instructs otherwise. Source: https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/files/DevelopmentServices/Building/SECTION%20105-Permits.pdf ; https://www.uplandca.gov/uploads/ftp/city_departments/development_services/building_and_safety/building_and_safety_forms_fees_applications/pdfs/Building%20-%20CA%20Code%20Permit%20Exemptions.pdf

Inspections

How to Schedule

• https://www.uplandca.gov/schedule-inspection (online)
• https://cityofuplandca-energovweb.tylerhost.net/apps/selfservice (online)
• (909) 931-4129 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be received by 4:00 p.m. for next-business-day inspection.

Inspection hours

Inspections are scheduled Monday-Thursday.

Time windows

Applicants may request a.m. or p.m. inspection windows.

Typical inspection sequence: The City pages reviewed do not publish a single universal inspection sequence. In practice, inspections are requested by stage based on the permitted scope, and final approval is required at completion.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The City's Codes in Effect page states Upland has adopted the 2025 California Building Code as its building construction standards. Ordinance No. 2004 also adopts by reference the 2025 California Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Electrical, Energy, Green Building, Existing Building, Historical, Wildland-Urban Interface, and related Title 24 codes, with the fire code adopted as amended by the San Bernardino County Fire District. Sources: https://www.uplandca.gov/codes-in-effect ; https://ecode360.com/UP5026/laws/LF2540298.pdf
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• https://www.uplandca.gov/building-and-safety-forms-fees-applications
• Building permit overview
• Building forms/fees/applications
• Codes in effect
• Inspection scheduling
• Certificate of occupancy / inspection
• Master fee schedule landing page
• credit/debit card service fee FAQ
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in San Bernardino County