Santa Clarita, California Building Permit Guide

The City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division issues building permits from the Permit Center counter in City Hall, Suite 140, 23920 Valencia Boulevard. The office phone is (661) 255-4935, and permit questions go to buildingpermits@santaclarita.gov. The Census Bureau’s Vintage 2025 estimate puts the city’s population at 228,430.

This guide covers the City of Santa Clarita. Fire review is done by the County of L.A. Fire Prevention Bureau, and sewer and septic sign-offs come from L.A. County agencies; all are listed below. Valuation-based fee tables are not reproduced because their columns could not be read reliably.

Clearances before a Santa Clarita permit is issued

Building & Safety will not issue a permit until every applicable agency has cleared it, and contacting those agencies is the applicant’s job. The City’s residential Agency Referral List shows who stamps what:

• City Planning stamp on final plans: pools, spas and pool equipment; patio covers, enclosures and decks; retaining walls and fence/garden walls; exterior alterations.
• City Engineering Services stamp: work in a FEMA flood plain, retaining walls, earthwork over 50 cubic yards, work in the public right of way, and site improvements affecting drainage or grading.
• County Fire stamp: new homes and ADUs, fire sprinklers and other listed work.
• Septic: connecting to an existing septic tank, or adding units or an ADU to an existing septic system, needs the L.A. County Onsite Wastewater Treatment Program.
• Sewer: new sewer connections and new ADU or multi-family dwellings need a certificate of payment from the Sanitation Districts of L.A. County, returned to Building & Safety.

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

Instant, Symbium and over-the-counter permits

Instant online permits (residential only) have covered main panel upgrades, water heater changeouts, repipes, water service, rooftop PV and energy storage systems. As of 5/1/2026, PVA permits are being replaced with MEP permits obtained through Symbium, and every PVA permit must be finaled by 5/1/2027 or a new MEP permit is required.

Over the counter: projects needing no more than 30 minutes of plan review, such as patio covers, small sheds and accessory structures, small residential remodels, pools and spas, commercial signs, fence walls and small retaining walls, can be reviewed during morning counter hours only.

Contractors are licensed statewide by the Contractors State License Board (Classes A, B, B-2 and C) for work of $1,000 or more or any permitted work; a city may also require a business licence or tax registration. Contractor licensing in California

Who handles permitting in Santa Clarita?

How to get a building permit in Santa Clarita

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

Santa Clarita code amendments and design criteria

The 2025 California codes with City of Santa Clarita amendments apply to projects submitted on or after January 1, 2026; projects submitted earlier follow the 2022 codes. Local design criteria: wind speed 85 mph for Risk Category I, 95 mph for II, 100 mph for III and 105 mph for IV; rainfall 3 inches per hour; Climate Zone 9.

Santa Clarita permit costs and fees

From the Building & Safety fee brochure effective August 24, 2026:

• Permit issuance: $38.
• Plan check application processing: $47 per application, collected on each new submittal.
• Record maintenance: 10% of all related permit fees.
• Hourly plan check: $250.
• Residential rooftop photovoltaic system: $450.
• Main panel upgrade or change-out up to 400 amps: $44 plus staff charges.

Inspections in Santa Clarita

Request inspections on the 24-hour hotline, (661) 286-4097, before 2:30 p.m. one working day before the inspection. Inspectors can be reached by phone or at the counter 7:30 to 8:00 AM and 3:30 to 4:00 PM Monday to Thursday, and 3:00 to 3:30 PM on Friday.

Official Santa Clarita permitting resources

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

• Santa Clarita Building & Safety
• Instant permits and Symbium MEP permits
• Plan review information
• Building codes and design criteria
• 2026-2027 fee brochure (PDF)
• Residential agency referral list (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

What happened to Santa Clarita’s instant PVA permits?

As of 5/1/2026 they are being replaced by MEP permits through Symbium. Any PVA permit must be finaled by 5/1/2027 or a new MEP permit is required.

Who does fire plan review in Santa Clarita?

The County of L.A. Fire Prevention Bureau; plans are submitted through EPICLA.LACOUNTY.GOV.

Is solar plan review expedited in Santa Clarita?

Yes. Solar energy systems and EV charging systems are expedited at no additional cost.

Simplify Santa Clarita permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Sort out which City counters, districts and outside agencies have to sign off before the building permit is issued
• Prepare the plans and forms in the file format the City’s portal or counter accepts
• Pay plan check and permit fees, answer corrections and book inspections before each cut-off

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