Riverside, California Building Permit Guide

Building permits in the City of Riverside are issued by the Building & Safety Division of the Community & Economic Development Department at City Hall, 3900 Main St., 3rd Floor, Riverside, CA 92522. The One Stop Shop on that floor puts planning, building, fire, utilities, business license and public works staff on one floor.

This guide covers Riverside’s Building & Safety Division, its July 1, 2026 fees, plan check times, inspections and the Planning and Public Works permits that go with a building permit.

What requires a building permit in Riverside?

Planning Division clearance is required for most building permit applications before they go to Building & Safety. Some permits are issued the same day over the counter, such as simple water heater change-outs, residential service meter upgrades, reroofs, re-stucco and simple patio covers. Work in streets, alleys and easements needs a Public Works construction permit or street opening permit.

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 Riverside?

Riverside permit costs and fees

Building and Safety fee schedule dated July 1, 2026:

• Permit issuance $41.00; building plan check and building inspection $87.00 per hour; reinspection $98.00.
• Residential tear-off and re-roof up to 1000 SF: $61.50 plan check and $61.50 permit, plus $12.50 for each additional 500 SF.
• Expedited solar energy system up to 38 KW: $100.50.
• A 10% General Plan Maintenance surcharge and a 4% Technology surcharge are added to all plan check and permit fees.
• Expedited after-hours plan review: $160/hour for a Senior Plan Check Engineer and $131/hour for a Senior Plans Examiner.

How to get a building permit in Riverside

For ADUs, Dwell Riverside offers permit-ready plans of 746, 800, 1,020 and 1,200 sq. ft., each in Craftsman, Ranch and Spanish styles.

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with Riverside on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Inspections in Riverside

Inspections can be requested on the Automated Inspection Request Line, (951) 826-5361, with the permit number and the 3-digit inspection code; in most cases requests received before 5:00 pm are scheduled for the following business day. To arrange an approximate time, call between 7:30 am and 8:00 am on the morning of the inspection. Area inspectors keep office hours at City Hall from 7:30 - 8:00 am and 4:00 - 4:30 pm.

RMC 7.35.010 limits construction to Monday – Friday 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and Saturdays 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, with no work on Sundays or federal holidays.

Local design criteria in Riverside

Riverside’s local design criteria classify most of the city as wind exposure category C and use 2 inches per hour for roof drainage design.

Official Riverside permitting resources

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

• Riverside Building & Safety contacts
• Riverside building permits
• Riverside Public Permit Portal
• Riverside inspections
• Riverside building fees (July 1, 2026)
• Riverside Bulletin #137, plan check turnaround
• Riverside Self-Certification Pilot Program
• Dwell Riverside ADU plans
• Riverside Public Works permitting

Frequently asked questions

How do I request a building inspection in Riverside?

Call the Automated Inspection Request Line at (951) 826-5361 with the permit number and 3-digit inspection code; requests received before 5:00 pm are usually scheduled for the next business day.

How long is plan check in Riverside?

Under Bulletin #137, first submissions take 5, 10 or 20 working days for Tier 0, Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects, after a completeness check of 1–3 business days.

Does Riverside have ready-made ADU plans?

Yes. Dwell Riverside offers permit-ready ADU plans of 746, 800, 1,020 and 1,200 sq. ft., each in Craftsman, Ranch and Spanish styles.

Simplify Riverside 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

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 Riverside permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.