Building & Safety

The Building & Safety Division provides plan checking, permit issuance, building inspection, and other building and construction related services. This Division is responsible for the development and enforcement of minimum standards for the safeguarding of life, health, property and public welfare through the regulation of the design, construction, quality of materials, and use of all buildings and structures within the City.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

-Counter Handouts/Guides
-Pre-con consultation
-Building Inspections
-WQMP BMP’s
-Stop/Correct Work Notices
-Certificate of Occupancies
-Remittance and Reporting

Building Code

The City of La Palma has adopted the 2016 California Building Standards Codes, including the 2016 California Fire Code, all as amended locally. The City’s local amendments can be viewed within Ordinances 2016-08 (Building Code) and 2016-09 (Fire Code), which have been codified in the Municipal Code.

The Building & Safety Fee Schedule adopted by the La Palma City Council pursuant to Resolution 2019-20 lists all current Building & Safety fees for the current fiscal year.

Plan Check

The City of La Palma contracts for Building and Safety Services with Charles Abbott and Associates. Almost all improvement plans will require plan check prior to permit issuance. Three sets of plans and a plan check fee are required to initiate the plan check process. Some improvement plans may require Fire and/or Health review and approval. In this case, additional plans will need to be submitted directly to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) and/or the Orange County Health Care Agency (OCHCA) with their respective plan check fees.

Building Handouts

ALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS:
Burial Depths
Construction Waste Management Plan (CWMP)
Design Limitations
Permit Application
School Fees Map

RESIDENTIAL PROJECTS:
Attached Patio Cover
Block Wall
Common Propertyline Wall Agreement
Detached Patio
Electric Vehicle Equipment
Electrical Load Calculations
House Panel Change Out
OCFA Residential Fire Form
Owner-Builders Form
Pool Barrier Form
Pool Demo Form
Residential Electrical Requirements
Residential Plan Submittal Requirements
Site Plan
Smoke/Carbon Detector Form
Window/Door Replacement

COMMERCIAL PROJECTS:
AB 3002 Notice - Disability Access Requirements and Resources
ADA Hardship Exception
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Form
Grease Interceptor Standard Detail
OCFA Commercial Fire Form
Tenant Improvement (TI) Checklist
Tenant Improvement Plan Submittal Requirement