Simi Valley, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Simi Valley Building & Safety handles permits for projects in Simi Valley city limits.

Department

Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley

Address

2929 Tapo Canyon Road, Simi Valley, CA 93063

Phone

(805) 583-6723; Planning (805) 583-6769

Email

enviroservices@simivalley.org

Website

https://www.simivalley.org/departments/environmental-services/building-safety-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether a Planning Division zoning clearance is required before the building permit.
2. Register on the City self-service portal.
3. Submit the permit application and required PDF set, including site plan, architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical plans, and Title 24 forms as applicable.
4. Provide the required declaration, including the Property Owner's Package for owner-builder applicants or the Construction Permit Declaration for contractor projects.
5. Pay required plan-check and permit fees and wait for Building & Safety review.
6. On approval, receive the permit and request inspections online or by phone as work progresses.

Typical processing time: Goal of 20 to 25 working days for initial plan review. Follow-up reviews vary by workload.

Source: Building & Safety Division, Department of Environmental Services, City of Simi Valley

General Requirements

Construction permits are required before new building, remodeling, or additions. Many fence and wall projects can be exempt depending on height and type.

Required Documents

• Plan package in PDF format
• Structural calculations where required
• Additional supporting documents
• Signed declarations
• Plan-check and inspection coordination materials

Permit validity

The City states permits are valid for a specified period, but a general universal expiration period was not clearly published in the reviewed public-facing pages.

Building code

2025 California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Housing, and Referenced Standards codes, 2024 IPMC, CALGreen, CWC, and Wildland-Urban Interface, effective January 1, 2026.

Owner-builder

Owner-builders must identify a valid exemption under Contractors State License Law and comply with personal residency and sale limitations in the declaration.

Contractor requirements

Permit declaration allows either a California licensed contractor or owner-builder. Contractor applicants must provide license class, license number, and a signed declaration.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single flat public minimum listed. Example published values include new dwelling minimums such as $504.78 for a one-bedroom dwelling, $753.10 for two bedrooms, and $1,004.91 for three or more bedrooms.

Plan check fee

Included in the Building & Safety fee tables, with plan-check extension and change fees also listed.

Permit fee formula

Many items are valuation or square-foot based with a base fee plus incremental fees depending on occupancy group. Other services are hourly or flat.

Reinspection fee

Examples in the fee schedule include $190.91 per hour for building inspection labor and $268.41 per hour for plan-check labor.

Payment note

The City routes filing and plan materials through the self-service portal, and the fee schedule includes non-refundable permit issuance and add-on fees.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Most residential fences and walls unless tall or retaining structures are proposed
• Side and rear-yard paving in some contexts
• Protected trees and certain development-related items depending on type and location

Important: Even where a City construction permit is not required, planning approvals such as zoning clearance can still be required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Customer Self Service portal (online)
• (805) 583-6723 option 2 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Requests received by 4:00 PM are performed the next workday. Friday requests after 4:00 PM shift to Tuesday.

Inspection hours

Inspector contact windows at the office: 7:00-8:00 AM and 4:00-4:30 PM, Monday-Friday

Typical inspection sequence: Example sequence is foundation, slab, roof or wall sheathing, framing, insulation, drywall or lathing, water or sewer connection, and final.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2025 California Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Housing, and Referenced Standards codes, 2024 IPMC, CALGreen, CWC, and Wildland-Urban Interface, effective January 1, 2026.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Planning Division FAQs
• Home Improvements and Custom Homes
• Municipal Codes and Ordinances
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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