Camarillo, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City of Camarillo Building & Safety handles permits for work within Camarillo city limits. Unincorporated Ventura County projects are handled by Ventura County RMA Building & Safety.

Department

Building & Safety Division, City of Camarillo

Address

601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010

Phone

Main City Hall / department line: (805) 388-5300; Building & Safety permit / inspection line: (805) 388-5395

Website

https://www.cityofcamarillo.org/departments/building___safety/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the work needs a building permit, a planning zone clearance, or both using City handouts and Community Development guidance.
2. For current permits, start the application in the City's OpenGov portal. Permits issued before July 1, 2025 stay on the older Click2Gov inspection workflow.
3. Upload plans and supporting documents required for the project scope.
4. City staff review the submittal, calculate permit, plan check, and related surcharges, and issue corrections or additional requirements if needed.
5. Pay required fees and any applicable planning, fire, flood, or other agency-related charges.
6. Obtain permit issuance before starting work.
7. Schedule inspections through OpenGov for newer permits or Click2Gov for older permits, then obtain final approval or certificate of occupancy where applicable.

Typical processing time: No fixed public turnaround time was found on the current Building & Safety pages.

Source: Building & Safety Division, City of Camarillo

General Requirements

Camarillo requires permits for common residential work including repiping, plumbing fixture replacement, siding or stucco replacement, water-heater replacement, window change-outs, furnace or air-conditioner replacement, solar panels, tub or shower conversions, above-ground spa electrical work, electrical meter upgrades, and reroofing or roof-covering replacement. Some work also requires a separate zone-clearance approval.

Required Documents

• Complete permit application
• Plans submitted through the City portal
• Project-specific supporting documents
• Planning or zone-clearance materials where applicable
• Deferred submittal, alternate material, fire, or flood review documents when triggered by project scope

Building code

City materials state that Building & Safety enforces the most current California Building, Green Building Standards, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical Codes with local modifications.

Owner-builder

The City publishes an Owner-Builder Authorization of Agent form and an 'Owners/Builders Take Note' handout, but the public pages reviewed did not restate the full current owner-builder eligibility and acknowledgment rules.

Contractor requirements

The City's permit system and handout set are structured around standard California licensed-contractor and owner-builder pathways. Specific current public-page license declaration language should be confirmed at application.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single universal minimum identified. Example stand-alone permit amounts effective July 1, 2025 include water-heater change-out at $231 and water, sewer, or gas line repair at $267.

Plan check fee

Plan review charges are built into the City's fee framework. Excess plan review for the third and subsequent reviews is billed hourly at $146.

Permit fee formula

Camarillo uses a mixed schedule. Many common residential stand-alone permits are flat-fee based, while other permits and development approvals use table-based or valuation-related fee structures.

Reinspection fee

$146 each for missed inspection or excess reinspection

Penalty (no permit)

Investigation permit: $255. Penalty for work performed without a permit or beyond permit scope: 2x the permit fees.

Payment note

The current online permitting rollout supports online application, payment, status tracking, and inspection scheduling. Fire and flood fees are passed through based on county fee schedules where applicable.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• New or replacement cabinetry
• Countertops, tiling, carpeting, painting, and backyard play equipment
• Fences 6 feet high or less, subject to Community Development review
• Window air conditioners that plug into the wall
• Tool and storage sheds under 120 square feet, subject to Community Development review
• Retaining walls 3 feet high or less with level backfill
• Sidewalks and concrete patios not more than 30 inches high

Important: Several minor items can still require zone-clearance approval even where a building permit is not otherwise required. The City handout tells applicants to check with Community Development on fences, sheds, and similar threshold items.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• OpenGov portal for permits issued on or after July 1, 2025 (online)
• Click2Gov portal for permits issued before July 1, 2025 (online)
• (805) 388-5395 same-day cancellation (phone)

Typical inspection sequence: Project-specific inspections occur after permit issuance and at required stages of work, followed by final approval or certificate of occupancy where applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: City materials state that Building & Safety enforces the most current California Building, Green Building Standards, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Electrical Codes with local modifications.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building & Safety Handouts
• Permit Required and Exempt Work Handout
• Building Permit Inspections
• Community Development Fee Schedule
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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