Imperial County, California Building Permit Guide

Building permits for unincorporated Imperial County are issued by the Division of Building & Safety within the Planning & Development Services Department, 801 Main Street, El Centro, CA 92243, phone 442-265-1736, open Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm. The department’s main office (southern lobby) and annex building are closed to the public; permits are submitted and picked up at the northern entrance off Main Street.

This guide covers unincorporated Imperial County; the City of El Centro has its own office, listed below. Fee figures come from the Building Permit Fee Schedule effective October 1, 2023, the newest one posted.

What requires a building permit in Imperial County?

• Every application needs a deposit; call (442) 265-1736 for the amount for your project.
• Lots on septic: Environmental Health’s Land Use Program reviews building permit applications on lots served by septic systems, reviews septic (OWTS) design plans and inspects septic construction.
• Water supply: where a project uses groundwater for domestic water, each well must meet California Well Standards and be built by a C-57 licensed well driller; projects on surface water need an onsite storage cistern and point-of-entry treatment system.
• County roads: encroachment permits come from the Department of Public Works, with the Encroachment Permit Liability and Responsibility for Damages Form.

California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments

Who handles permitting in Imperial County?

Imperial County permit costs and fees

The Building Permit Fee Schedule effective October 1, 2023 (Title 9, Division 9 of the county code) charges flat fees, for example:

• MP&E permit/inspection base fee: $297.56; MP&E plan check base fee: $353.63.
• Unit fees: water heater $71.80; HVAC unit $132.27; residential electrical service $162.82.

Flat fees may not include zoning review, SMI, CBSC or impact fees, and the Building Official does not negotiate fees. Debit or credit card payments carry a 2.39% service fee.

How to get a building permit in Imperial County

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the Imperial County Division of Building & Safety on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Inspections in Imperial County

Inspection requests must be phoned in before 4:00 PM the business day before: call (442) 265-1736 and press 1 or extension 1744. Give the permit number, project address, date, name on the permit, your phone number and the inspection type; without the permit number, name and address the inspection will not be scheduled. A request received after 4:00pm on a Friday is scheduled for the following Tuesday. A specific time can only be arranged by speaking with the inspector between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. on the inspection day. Requests can also be made in Civic Access.

Building permits in El Centro

The City of El Centro, the county seat, issues its own permits through its Building & Safety Division, 1275 W Main Street, El Centro, phone 760-337-4508, open to the public 8 am to 5 pm. City inspections must be requested by 4 pm for the next business day and staff cannot set times; residential solar permits must be submitted by the homeowner, not the contractor.

Official Imperial County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Imperial County Building & Safety
• Building inspections
• Building fees
• Building Permit Fee Schedule, October 1, 2023 (PDF)
• Civic Access permitting launch
• Environmental Health land use
• Public Works permits
• City of El Centro Building & Safety

Frequently asked questions

Can I still file a paper application in Imperial County?

Yes. Civic Access is encouraged, but physical applications are still accepted at the northern entrance off Main Street.

What if I call in an inspection late on a Friday?

A request received after 4:00pm on a Friday is scheduled for the following Tuesday.

Does the flat fee cover everything?

No. Flat fees may not include zoning review, SMI, CBSC or impact fees.

Simplify Imperial County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm whether the parcel is in the County’s area or inside a city, and which County offices must sign off
• Prepare the application, plans and forms in the format the County portal accepts
• Track plan review, pay fees and book inspections within the County’s cut-off times

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Imperial County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.