Frequently Asked Questions for Building Permit Information
Q: Why are Building Permits needed?
A: Building Permits are simply administrative tools used for documenting that a construction project has been reviewed and inspected to ensure that all applicable requirements are substantially in compliance with the law. The Building Permit gives the “green light” for a contractor or builder to commence construction.
The Building Permit tracks and documents the required fees, agency clearances, inspections, and permitting requirements for the project.
Once construction is complete, the permit record is kept as part of the building’s permit history, permanently, for the life of the structure, in Building and Safety’s permit record archives.
Building Permits are required by law. So they also serve as a legal document used by lending institutions, insurance companies, and others to confirm that the building and related improvements are legal.
Investors, realtors, and property owners also rely on these records to ensure the property in question is not only legal but also safe to occupy.
Q: How long does it take to receive a Building Permit to build a home or similar project in Ventura County?
A: The time it takes to receive a building permit varies widely. Many determining factors can have an effect on the total time it takes to receive a permit, such as:
- Where is the project located? Is it in a flood zone, fire zone, or geologically hazardous area?
- What is the size and complexity of the building?
- How experienced are the designer, project manager, and other members of the design team?
- Are public utilities readily available at/near the site to serve the building? Or is a private well and septic system needed, and electric service brought in from an off-site location?
- Is any grading required to create the building pad? Or is the building pad already graded?
- Is the building pad on level ground or on a hillside?
- What is the current level of permit activity at the Building and Safety office?
The answers to these and other questions can affect the actual amount of time needed to receive a permit. Most homes and projects need several months to receive a permit. Larger and more complex projects can take longer.
Building and Safety will usually complete the first review of the plans in about three to four weeks from the date a complete application is accepted, which includes a complete set of plans, related design documents, and payment of plan review fees. Follow-up reviews are done in one or two weeks in most cases. You should plan your project schedule on the basis that you will need two or three B&S reviews and enough time for your designer to answer questions, make plan revisions, correct errors, etc. Also, include an adequate amount of time for the review and approval of the project by other agencies.
Q: Where can I obtain a Building Permit for a project in Ventura County?
A: If your project is located in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County, you can obtain your permit at one of the two B&S permit offices. The main B&S office is in Ventura. We also have a Building and Safety office on the east side of the County, in Newbury Park.
If your project is located within the City limits of an incorporated city in Ventura County, such as Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Oxnard, Ojai, Santa Paula, Fillmore, etc, then the permit will be issued by that City. You can contact that City directly for their address, contact information, as well as permitting guidelines and instructions.
Q: How do I know if a permit is required for my small project?
A: Most construction projects are required to have a valid permit before construction begins. Some small projects, repairs, and minor improvements are exempt from permits. To learn if your project is exempt, see the work that is exempt from Building Permits.
Q: What are the Building Permit fees for a new house or similar project in Ventura County?
A: For projects in the unincorporated areas of Ventura County you can use the Fee Estimator Tool to get a fee estimate for your proposed project. This tool does not give you an estimate of permit fees or development fees collected by other Departments or Agencies. It will list only fees collected by Building and Safety.
Q: What is the expiration period for a Building Permit Application
A: Building Permit applications expire 12 months following the date of the application if the permit has not been issued by that date. These expired applications can usually be extended for a period of an additional six months, but extensions granted may be conditioned on having the design revised when a new Building Code is adopted and became effective after the application was due to expire.
Q: What is the expiration period for an issued Building Permit?
A: Every permit issued by the Building Official under the provisions of this Code shall expire by limitation and become null and void if the work authorized by such permit is not commenced within 12 months after the permit issuance date, or if the work authorized by such permit is suspended or abandoned for a period of 180 days or more, at any time after the work is commenced.
Before such work may be recommenced after expiration, a new or renewed permit shall first be obtained to do so. The fee, therefore, shall be based upon the valuation for the work remaining to be inspected and approved for the project, but such fee shall not exceed 50% of the full permit fee based on the latest adopted Fee Schedule. Revisions to the original plans and specifications for such unfinished work shall be required to be made where applicable provisions have changed as a result of a Code update. Such revisions shall be submitted for review and approval by the Building Official and pertinent fees paid in accordance with the County adopted Fee Schedule.
The Building Official may, without requiring payment of an additional permit fee, extend the time for action by the permittee one or more times, for good cause, upon written request by the permittee showing that circumstances beyond the control of the permittee have prevented action from being taken. Permit extensions may be approved by the Building Official, in writing, for periods not exceeding 180 days from the permit extension date.
Demolition permits issued for the correction of violations shall expire after 30 days.
