A Plans Examiner, Planners and Engineers will review your plans after the DPC sees that you have provided all the necessary information.
Plans Examiners, Planners and Engineers Review Your Plans
Simple projects that meet our over-the-counter thresholds can be reviewed over the counter in as little as 10 to 20 minutes. If your plan is complex, such that it must be submitted for review, you may expect this process to take approximately two to four weeks. The reason for this is that your plan will be reviewed in prioritized order of receipt. Plans Examiners try to review as many plans as possible over-the-counter. When they are not conducting over-the-counter reviews, they are reviewing more complex plans submitted for review. This process can take some time because of the plans review schedule.
Informing You of the Status of Your Plans
If your plans are approved, the DPC will notify you by phone or postcard. You may then speak with our permit processing staff to determine fees due.
If your plans are not approved, you will be notified by that department and you will be asked to make the necessary revisions and resubmit them for approval. If you had an over-the-counter review, you may request to have your plans reviewed over-the-counter once again. If your plans were submitted for a review they must be submitted for behind-the-counter review once again, it should take less time to review these resubmitted plans. Again, plan complexity and completeness, in addition to work load, determine the amount of time it will take to review your plans.
Note: Typically, contractors will average two plan submissions (one initial submission and one revision). This includes the Plans Examiner’s recommendations for modifications in order to ensure code compliance. To keep the number of plans revisions to a minimum, we highly recommend that you submit complete plans.
Finally, please note that if your plan revision also includes a change to the square footage (resulting in changes to the initially estimated materials, fixtures and labor), permit fees (e.g., building, electrical) will be changed accordingly to reflect your plan changes.
Our Permit Processing Staff Issues You a Permit Once Your Plans are Approved
Our Permit Processing staff will issue you a permit based upon whether you are a contractor or property owner. If you are a contractor you must present a valid contractor license and a current City of Pasadena business license (you may apply for one at our permit processing counter or at Municipal Services which is located at 100 N. Garfield, room 121 if you haven’t obtained one already. Licenses are issued and renewed on an annual basis to Pasadena based contractors. Outside based contractors may purchase or renew either a 3 month, 6 month or annual license. Fees are based on state license classification and the length of time purchased). You must also carry the appropriate workmen’s compensation insurance. Finally, the permit processing staff will check that you are an authorized individual to use the contractor license you have presented. The information you provide will be verified through the California Contractors State License Board.
Property owners applying for permits to do the work themselves can obtain a permit without the same requirements for contractors. Additionally, property owners who obtain permits and then hire unlicensed workers will be required to provide Workers’ Compensation Insurance and are subject to other liabilities. The Permit Center highly recommends that you hire a licensed contractor.
Your permit is printed on card stock, on the back of which is your inspection card. This card must be posted on the job site at all times so that it is available to the inspectors who make inspections at your job site.
Starting Construction
Once you receive your permit, you may work on the project. Depending upon the complexity of your project while building, remodeling, or improving, you will need to call the Building Inspector to inspect your work as you complete various stages of your project.
Inspection Requests
You will need to phone in your inspection requests at 744-4200 twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the day you wish to have an inspector on your job site. Our cut off is 12 noon the day prior to the day you want the inspection. If you call in after 12 noon, your inspection will be scheduled the day after the next day. When you make your request, please have your activity number available, as this will expedite the scheduling process. We also need the type of inspection you are requesting as well as a contact person and telephone number.
Final Inspection/Certificate of Occupancy
A Certificate of Occupancy is required for new single family residences, multi-family residences, new and additions to commercial, institutional or industrial buildings, and tenant improvements once the project has been finalled.
Final inspections are required before the Certificate of Occupancy can be issued. There is a red or green sticker adhered to the approved plans where it is indicated in the final inspection box which departments require a final inspection.
A final inspection can be requested by calling each department requiring an inspection directly. The phone number is located on the red or green stickers adhered to the plans.
Once the departments requiring a final inspection have been contacted, the inspector will conduct a final inspection. The inspection card will be signed by all the inspectors once all requirements have been met. If the project is complete and the inspection card has been signed by all appropriate City agencies a Certificate of Occupancy can be applied for.
No fees are required for the Certificate of Occupancy, however any outstanding inspection or permit fees will be collected before the certificate is issued.
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
If the project has not met certain requirements and does not pass final inspection you have the option of applying for a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO). A TCO may be issued if there are no outstanding life/safety issues as determined by the Building inspector. Once this is determined all departments will conduct an inspection and indicate approval for a TCO on the building inspection card.
A processing fee will be collected at the time the TCO is issued. If the project has not been completed by the expiration date you will be required to pay additional charges for an extension.
In some instances a deposit may be collected to ensure completion of outstanding requirements. The City will use the deposit to complete the work if the permit holder fails to do so. The amount of the deposit will be determined by the City and is due upon issuance of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. A refund of the deposit and less any additional charges will be processed at the time of Certificate of Occupancy issuance.
Please bring an application, the activity number and inspection card for verification. The Certificate of Occupancy will be issued within 24 hours of final approval.