Building permits inside the City of Palmdale are handled by the Building and Safety Division of the Economic and Community Development Department, 38250 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550. Some addresses with a Palmdale mailing address are in unincorporated Los Angeles County and are outside the City’s jurisdiction, so check that the parcel is in the city first.
This guide covers the City of Palmdale’s Building and Safety Division, its FY 2025-26 fees and the Planning, Engineering and LA County Fire approvals that come before a permit.
What requires a building permit in Palmdale?
Racking or shelving five foot nine inches (5'9") or taller needs a separate permit from Building and Safety, and racking over 12' also needs LA County Fire Department approval. Every permit applicant must file a Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan under Palmdale Municipal Code Section 8.06.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →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 Palmdale?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building and Safety Division | Building permits and inspections; 38250 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93550; Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., counters closed 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; closed Fridays | 661-267-5353 |
| Planning Division | Entitlement approval and the ADU Zoning Clearance Review, before the building application | 661-267-5200 |
| Public Works Engineering | Rough grade approval where the project has a grading permit | 661/267-5272; Engineering@cityofpalmdaleca.gov |
| LA County Fire Department | Fire plan review, filed through EPIC-LA under Fire Engineering | Approval needed before the City issues the permit |
Palmdale permit costs and fees
Palmdale’s Master Schedule of Fees FY 2025-26 took effect September 1, 2025.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →- Building permit (Table 1-A): a valuation of $0 to $700 costs $46.50.
- Plan check: 85 percent of the Table 1-A building permit fee, covering the first and second reviews; each check after the third review costs 10% of the original fee.
- Residential photovoltaic not filed through SolarAPP+: a flat $450.00 up to 10 kW, plus $15 per kW above 10 kW.
- Work without a permit: a contractor investigation fee equal to the permit fee, and not less than $388.75. The appeals filing fee is $456.50.
- Public art: since July 1, 2021, private projects with a building permit valuation of $500,000 or more dedicate 0.5% of the valuation to public art, capped at $250,000.
How to get a building permit in Palmdale
Some Palmdale mailing addresses are in unincorporated Los Angeles County.
If the project needs an entitlement, the building application must cite an entitlement number with APPROVED status. For an ADU, apply first for a Zoning Clearance Review in Accela.
Name a single point of contact, who submits documents and receives corrections, fees and inspection results; each uploaded file can be at most 250 MB. Plans are reviewed in DigEplan.
Fire plans go to LA County Fire through EPIC-LA; with a grading permit, Engineering’s rough grade approval comes before the building permit.
A Construction and Demolition Waste Management Plan is required with every permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with Palmdale on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California
Inspections in Palmdale
Palmdale inspections must be scheduled online through your Accela Citizen Portal account. Inspectors keep office hours Monday to Thursday 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM. Keep the disposal receipts for the waste management plan: without approved receipts the deposit is not refunded and the final inspection cannot be scheduled.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Official Palmdale permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Palmdale Building & Safety
- Palmdale Building and Safety Development Guide
- Palmdale Master Schedule of Fees FY 2025-26
- Palmdale inspection contact information
- Palmdale standard ADU plans
Frequently asked questions
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Does the City of Palmdale do fire plan review?
No. Fire review is by the LA County Fire Department; applicants file through EPIC-LA and need its approval before the City issues the building permit.
Does Palmdale have pre-approved ADU plans?
Yes, city-approved standard ADU plans. Apply first for a Zoning Clearance Review in Accela; the Planning Division approves the ADU before Building and Safety reviews it.
Is Palmdale Building and Safety open on Fridays?
No. It is open Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the counters close from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Simplify Palmdale permitting with Alliance Permitting
- Confirm the city’s planning, building, fire and public works reviews the project needs
- Prepare the application and plans for the city’s portal or counter and track each review cycle
- Schedule inspections and gather the clearances needed to close the permit
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →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.
Ready to break ground in Palmdale sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Palmdale permits while your crew stays on the job.
More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Palmdale permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.