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Building Permit in Huntington Beach, California

Huntington Beach issues building permits through its Permit Center at 2000 Main Street, which "is responsible for processing and issuing several types of construction permits (including building, combination, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, swimming pool & spa, and solar permits) as well as certificates of occupancy". The city publishes its issuance requirements by project type, and several of them turn on obtaining a SEPARATE permit first.

Reviewed 2026-09-19 · Source

When you need this permit

  • "Obtain plan check approval" is the first step the city lists for residential swimming pool, residential combination and commercial projects alike.
  • FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION ON A BUILT LOT, THE DEMOLITION COMES FIRST AND SEPARATELY: "A demolition permit for the existing building is required on a separate permit prior to the new construction permit issuance."
  • FOR POOLS, THE ENCLOSURE IS NOT PART OF THE POOL PERMIT: "Walls and fencing are required to be on separate permits."
  • A separate planning application is required for address assignment on residential combination and commercial projects.
  • FOR COMMERCIAL WORK: "Complete and upload a Certificate of Occupancy Application with tenant's information prior to permit issuance", and food establishments require Orange County Health Department approval.
  • Solar PV system plans are submitted separately where required.

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Fee schedule

Building permit fee
The city offers a Building Permit Fee Calculator to "estimate the construction fees based on the project valuation" but prints no rate table on the page read. Show full citationThe city offers a Building Permit Fee Calculator to "estimate the construction fees based on the project valuation" but prints no rate table on the page read. It cautions that "The fees calculated above are an approximation of the actual fees based on the current fee ordinance, and may be subject to change without notice."
NOT PUBLISHED on the pages read for this record.
Excluded from the building permit fee
THE CALCULATOR'S OUTPUT IS NOT THE BILL: "The total fee calculated is for Building permit only and does not include Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical permit fees or any other department's fees."… Show full citationTHE CALCULATOR'S OUTPUT IS NOT THE BILL: "The total fee calculated is for Building permit only and does not include Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical permit fees or any other department's fees." Developmental impact fees are also listed as a separate item for residential combination and commercial projects.
Charged separately.
Card payment service feeThe Permit Center page states: "Effective 7/1/2024, all credit and debit card transactions will be subject to a service fee of 3.00%". It applies to credit and debit alike, so paying by card is not fee-neutral against a check.
3.00% of the transaction.

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Building Permit permit actually take in Huntington Beach?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    NOT PUBLISHED: inspection scheduling and the stage sequence

    No inspection booking route, phone line, portal, notice period or ordered stage list was published on the pages read for this record. The city runs an Accela Citizen Access portal for building records, but its inspection behaviour was not read, so nothing is asserted about it here.

Tips

  • THE FEE CALCULATOR IS A FLOOR, NOT A TOTAL: "The total fee calculated is for Building permit only and does not include Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical permit fees or any other department's fees."
  • SEVERAL THINGS NEED THEIR OWN PERMIT BEFORE OR ALONGSIDE THE MAIN ONE - demolition before new construction, walls and fencing apart from a pool, solar PV plans submitted separately, and a separate planning application just to be assigned an address.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, and it has to come first: "A demolition permit for the existing building is required on a separate permit prior to the new construction permit issuance."

Only part of it. The city warns that "The total fee calculated is for Building permit only and does not include Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical permit fees or any other department's fees", and that the result is "an approximation ... may be subject to change without notice."

Huntington Beach does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Huntington Beach Permit Center, Community Development Department at 714-536-5271 for current turnaround.

Depending on your project, Huntington Beach may also ask for: ; ; . See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Huntington Beach requires 1 inspection(s) for a building permit, in order: NOT PUBLISHED: inspection scheduling and the stage sequence. Schedule each through City of Huntington Beach Permit Center, Community Development Department (714-536-5271).

Apply through City of Huntington Beach Permit Center, Community Development Department at 2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648. Phone: 714-536-5271, email: PermitCenter@surfcity-hb.org. Office hours: NOT PUBLISHED on the pages read for this record. Neither the Permit Center page nor the permit issuance process page states counter hours, days open, or whether an appointment is required.. Official information: https://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/departments/community_development/building_inspection/permit_center/index.php.

No. The city states that "Walls and fencing are required to be on separate permits."

NOT PUBLISHED on the pages read for this record. The Permit Center page gives an address and phone number but no hours, and the permit issuance process page gives none either. Call 714-536-5271 before travelling.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-19.

Fee schedules

Codes & ordinances

Department & other records

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Huntington Beach building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

Huntington Beach's permit history isn't searchable here yet

This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Huntington Beach yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Huntington Beach lands. Privacy.

Building Permit in other cities

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