Building & Safety Counter Santa Monica City Hall 1685 Main Street, Room 111 Santa Monica CA,

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1 HOMEOWNER S GUIDE TO BUILDING PERMITS WELCOME HOMEOWNER! Many peple cming t the Planning and Cmmunity Develpment Department fr building permits are hmewners like yu. Whether yur residential prject is a minr imprvement r a brand new hme, building permits prvide imprtant dcumentatin that the City authrized yur cnstructin and then inspected yur hme fr cmpliance with applicable safety standards and lcal laws. Yu will ften need t shw this infrmatin t ptential buyers and lenders if yu sell r refinance yur hme. City staff develped this handut t help answer questins that frequently arise as hmewners prceed thrugh the permit prcess fr single-family hme imprvement prjects. We hpe it ffers yu intrductry infrmatin as yu plan yur next hme imprvement prject. Fr additinal infrmatin, City staff is available t assist yu at the public cunter f the Building & Safety Divisin n a first-cme, first-served basis, r yu may call the apprpriate staff fr an appintment. Building & Safety Cunter Santa Mnica City Hall 1685 Main Street, Rm 111 Santa Mnica CA, Hurs Mnday thrugh Thursday 7:30 am t 5:30 pm Alternate Fridays.. 8:00 am t 5:00 pm

2 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR MAJOR HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS Which hme imprvement prjects require permits? Building permits are typically required fr any hme imprvement, repair, alteratin, cnstructin r demlitin prject, including pl r spa installatins, sandblasting, mst excavatin and the erectin f temprary structures such as temprary pwer ples. Permits are als required fr re-rfing prjects and imprvements t plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems. When sme prtin f the prpsed wrk includes cnstructin r alteratin f the sidewalk, alley r public street, a cnstructin permit is als required frm the City s Envirnmental and Public Wrks Department. Sme cmmn imprvements are exempt frm building permit requirements. These include: One-stry detached tl and strage sheds, playhuses and similar uses if they d nt cntain utilities, and are less than furteen feet in height and ne hundred twenty square feet in flr area Exterir freestanding walls and fences nt ver six feet high, when measured frm the bttm f the fting t the tp f the wall Retaining walls measuring less than fur feet frm the tp f the wall t the bttm f the fundatin, with level backfill and nt supprting an adjacent building, pl r driveway Finish wrk including carpeting, wall papering and painting Additin f windw awnings Replacement f tilets Fixing stppages and leaks in pipes, valves r fixtures withut replacing materials Cncrete r asphalt patis r driveways cnstructed n natural grade Decks less than 30 inches in height when cnstructed n level grade Althugh sme cmmn imprvements are exempt frm building permit requirements, the wrk must cmply with applicable City municipal laws including building cdes, zning regulatins and parking design standards. Fr a cmplete list f exceptins and building permit requirements, see Santa Mnica Municipal Cde Sectin at What kind f permit is required fr my hme imprvement prject? T help make getting minr permits simple, the City created an express permit type called the Single Trade Permit (STP) fr simple imprvements invlving nly ne type f trade such as: Dr r windw replacement Electrical (i.e. wiring, lighting and service panels) Fences and blck walls ver six feet high, measured frm the tp f the wall t bttm f the fting Mechanical (i.e. furnace r air cnditiner replacement, replacing ductwrk r fans) Stucc/Plastering Plumbing (i.e. ht water heater change uts, sink replacements, and re-piping) Re-rfing with n structural alteratin Sandblasting Seismic Retrfit (i.e. fundatin blting and bracing f cripple walls with the City s Standard Plan) Installatin f pati cvers which d nt result in the additin f a rf deck Fr mre cmplex prjects that d nt qualify fr Single Trade Permits, the City uses the Cmbinatin Permit that accmmdates multiple trades. The Cmbinatin Permit allws yu t pull ne permit fr the entire prject aviding the requirement f pulling separate permits fr building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing trades. Applicatin frms fr bth permit types are available at the Building & Safety public cunter r yu may dwnlad them at

3 D I need cnstructin drawings (plans) t btain a permit? Often, Single Trade Permits d nt require plans. Plans are usually required fr: Dr and windw replacements Fences and blck walls Rfing with heavier rfing materials Installatin f pati cvers Fundatin blting and bracing f cripple walls* * The City Of Santa Mnica has a standard plan yu can use fr this purpse. If yur hme was built prir t 1950 with raised flr cnstructin, it likely needs additinal blting and bracing f its crawlspace walls t prevent cllapse during an earthquake. Ding this wrk can lwer yur hmewner s insurance premiums. Cmbinatin Permits usually require plans. Depending n yur prject type, required drawings may include a site plan, fundatin, flr, framing, and rf plans, building elevatins and sectins, cnstructin details and structural calculatins. When new flr area is added, an energy efficiency reprt is als required. Am I required t hire an architect r engineer? When plans are required, it is usually best t have an experienced design prfessinal, such as a licensed architect r engineer assist yu. Plans fr nnstructural alteratins, such as dr and windw replacements, can be drawn by anyne. Fr prjects invlving structural mdificatins, plans and calculatins are typically required and must be prepared, signed and stamped by an architect r engineer licensed in the state f Califrnia. When d I need t prvide a sils reprt? Santa Mnica is lcated in an area that has substantial earthquake activity. In rder t decrease the ptential fr damage t yur hme, a sils reprt (ge-technical reprt) with prpsed mitigatin measures is required fr many prject types: New hmes r additins greater than 750 square feet r exceeding 50% f the existing flr area Remdels r additins less than 750 square feet and in a Gelgic Hazard Zne r hillside area Swimming pls and spas greater than 24 inches deep and in slpe r fundatin setback areas Fr yur infrmatin we have prvided a detailed guide t Ge-technical Reprts n ur website lcated at When is my prject required t have fire sprinklers? Did yu knw that n lss f human life has ever ccurred frm a fire in any building fully prtected with fire sprinklers? T prtect yur family, pssessins and hme and assist the Fire Department with reducing damage and ptential lss f life due t fire, autmatic fire sprinkler systems are required fr the fllwing: New hmes and accessry buildings except fr detached ne-stry garages Residences that result frm renvatin f garages r ther buildings Existing residences when an additin f mre than 50% f the existing flr area is added Existing residences when mre 50% f the flr area is remdeled in a 3-year perid One-stry hmes r accessry buildings when mre than 50% f the rf structure is expsed Hmes r accessry buildings when mre than 50% f the interir and exterir walls are expsed Hmes where a stry is added resulting in an increase f flr area mre than 33.3% f the existing permitted flr area Fr yur use we have additinal residential fire system suppressin system requirements available at ur website:

4 Hw lng des it take t btain a permit? Plans fr minr prjects are reviewed ver-the-cunter the same day yu submit yur applicatin. Smetimes yu may have t return fr yur permit if plan crrectins are required. Examples f ver-the-cunter prjects are: One stry additins adding less than 50% f the hme s square ftage and n mre than 500 square feet. Re-rfing with changes t rflines that remve r expses less than 50% f the rf structure. Mdificatins t interirs that are nn-structural and d nt increase the building s square ftage. Cnstructin f accessry buildings less than 500 square feet, 14 feet tall and with n plumbing. Cnstructin f swimming pls and spas with standard plans. Repairs t chimneys. Prjects that cannt be thrughly reviewed at the cunter require submissin fr frmal plan check. This allws qualified staff frm all required City Departments t review the plans and prvide yur architect r engineer with written crrectin cmments. Depending n the thrughness f submittals and prject cmplexity and scpe, mst applicatins receive final apprval and are ready fr permit issuance in apprximately 4 t 6 mnths. Frmal plan check applicatins expire in 180 days. One extensin f anther 180 days may be granted if n pertinent laws r standards have changed, the delay is due t circumstances beynd yur cntrl, yu submit a written request prir t expiratin and yu pay the apprpriate fee. T cmplete plan review in a timely manner, we suggest that yur design prfessinal submit crrected plans n later than 30 days after receiving written cmments frm staff and make any final submissin f plans and dcuments at least 30 days prir t expiratin. Plan Check applicatin and extensin frms are available at the Building and Safety public cunter r yu may dwnlad the applicatin at Hw much will the building permit cst? Permit fees depend n prject scpe and cmplexity. Basic permit fees reflect the estimated reasnable cst t prvide any necessary plan review and inspectin services and maintain City recrds. Mre cmplex prjects include additinal permit fees that reflect the cmmunity s need fr lng-term capital imprvement prjects like water and sewer facilities, public schls and parks. T encurage hmewners t btain inspectins that help ensure their safety, the City charges a reduced fee fr Single Trade Permits. This fee represents apprximately ne-half f the true cst t prvide inspectin service and recrd maintenance fr these permits. The permit entitles yu t a maximum f three (3) site visits by inspectin staff. Fees fr Cmbinatin Permits vary accrding t the size, type and cmplexity f the prject. Partial fees are cllected at the time yu submit plans fr review. The balance f permit fees is due prir t permit issuance. Staff is available t assist yu with fee calculatin at the Building and Safety Divisin public cunter. Please prvide them with any prject plans t allw fr calculatin f permit fees. City fees are generally available at D I need t hire a cntractr? Hmewners can act as their wn cntractr (wner-builder) n their residence but we recmmend that yu hire a licensed and prperly insured cntractr unless yu are experienced in cnstructin wrk and intend t d the wrk yurself. Yu can verify the status f a cntractr s license and find excellent infrmatin n hw t select the cntractr frm the Cntractr s State License Bard at Infrmative handuts n cntractr selectin are als available at the Building and Safety public cunter.

5 Wh can get a building permit? Either the prperty wner r a prperly licensed cntractr may btain a permit. Cntractrs must prvide prf f identificatin, current Califrnia State Cntractrs License, current City Business License, prf f valid and current Wrker s Cmpensatin Insurance and a Letter f Authrizatin if the applicant is nt the license hlder. Cntractrs must als cmplete and submit a Licensed Cntractr Declaratin Frm. Owner/Builders must prvide prf f wnership if recent transfer r if the wner is a cmpany, crpratin r trust. A ntarized Letter f Authrizatin frm the wner is required if the applicant is an authrized agent. Hmewners must prvide prf f identificatin and cmplete, sign and submit an Owner/Builder Declaratin Frm. The frm must be ntarized if the wner s signature des nt ccur in the presence f City permit staff. The Owner/Builder Declaratin Frm is available n ur website ( What time f the day is cnstructin wrk allwed? Upn issuance f the permit, yu will be prvided with a cnstructin jb sign indicating the allwable days and hurs f cnstructin as shwn belw. Yu must pst this sign at all jb entrances during cnstructin. Mnday thrugh Friday am - 6 pm Saturday am - 5 pm Sundays and Hlidays*..... N Wrk Permitted (*New Years Day, Memrial Day, Independence Day, Labr Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day) Nise exceeding 90dBA** am t 3 pm (**Such as jack hammering, pile driving, r pavement breaking) Hw lng d I have t cmplete the wrk? Single Trade and Cmbinatin Permits have time limits based n prject valuatin as shwn belw with a cuple f limitatins: yu must begin cnstructin and receive an inspectin within 180 days f permit issuance and if yu d nt receive an inspectin within 180 days, the permit will autmatically expire. Expired permits can be renewed with payment f additinal fees. Valuatin Maximum Time Allwed Up t and including $300, mnths $300,001 t $1,000, mnths $1,000,001 t $20,000, mnths Over $20,000, mnths Fr additinal infrmatin see: What if I want t make changes t my prject after the permit is issued? City staff must apprve changes t permit and plans prir t scheduling related inspectins. If the scpe f the prpsed change is utside the scpe f wrk shwn n yur permit, yu will need t have yur building permit revised and reissued. If plans were riginally required with yur permit, the changes will need t be shwn n a new set f plans and submitted fr review. After apprval, yu will be given new apprved plans t shw the City inspectin staff at the cnstructin site that yur changes are authrized.

6 Hw d I schedule inspectins? Befre cvering any wrk, yu need t call and btain inspectin apprval. In an effrt t simplify scheduling f inspectins, the Building and Safety Divisin has an autmated inspectin request line, the Interactive Vice Respnse System, available twenty-fur hurs a day, seven days a week. T schedule, cancel, r get inspectin results, dial and yu will be guided thrugh the autmated system. Please be prepared t enter yur permit number and the cde f the inspectin type. Fr further infrmatin n the Autmated Inspectin Line please see the handut Autmated Inspectin Request Line. T prvide excellent custmer service n inspectins, we need yu t prvide ur cnstructin inspectrs the fllwing items upn his/her arrival: Yellw inspectin card given t yu with yur permit Required plans, stamped Apprved fr Cnstructin including changes Wrk t be inspected is cmplete and uncvered Authrized representative t allw access t the private prtins f the prperty Safe and accessible cnstructin site that pses n hazards t inspectrs and cnstructin wrkers Shuld yu need assistance scheduling inspectins please call Building and Safety at What happens if I d nt request and receive final inspectin apprval? A permit that des nt receive final apprvals expires. Yu are legally bligated t either renew the permit and cmplete the wrk r return things t their frmer state. Failure t d s may result in criminal and civil liabilities. Expired permits becme a part f yur prperty s histrical recrd. Sale f residential prperty in Santa Mnica requires sellers t prvide a Residential Building Recrd frm the City t buyers. This dcument infrms the ptential buyer f the apprved use and permits fr the prperty and any expired permits. What ther apprvals are required? Califrnia Castal Cmmissin apprves cnstructin f new buildings and additins that change the building envelpe r ftprint when these prjects are lcated in the Castal Zne. Califrnia Castal Cmmissin infrmatin is available at r by calling CAL-OSHA apprves cnstructin safety plans fr trenches r excavatins five (5) feet r deeper and cnstructing r demlishing a building r scafflding mre than thirty-six feet in height. Architectural Review Bard apprves plans, elevatins, and landscaping in residential districts ther than R-1 fr cnstructin f new buildings and exterir alteratin f existing buildings. Landmarks Cmmissin reviews demlitin applicatins fr hmes 40 r mre years ld and any applicatins fr exterir alteratins t designated City Landmarks and cntributing structures lcated in designated histric districts. Cmmissin review requires a minimum sixty-day waiting perid. City Planning prvides final inspectin f prjects requiring discretinary review such as variances r Architectural Review Bard apprval. Fire Preventin inspects and apprves residential fire sprinkler systems. City Business License verifies that all prject cntractrs have btained the required City business licenses and apprves the Cntractr s City Business License Release frm submitted by the permit hlder. Envirnmental and Public Wrks Management (EPWM) apprves the cnstructin f urban run ff mitigatin measures, utilities, waste reductin and recycling requirements and necessary imprvements r maintenance f City s streets, sidewalks and alleys. Transprtatin Management apprves plans fr driveways and parking spaces. If yu have any further questins, please cntact us. City staff is cmmitted t prviding yur excellent custmer service while insuring that yur prject meets cmmunity standards. Wrking tgether, we can make Santa Mnica a better cmmunity.

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