Culver City Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team.

Culver City’s Building Safety Division takes permit applications through an online permit portal and says plan check rounds currently run about 15 to 20 business days. This guide explains when a Culver City homeowner needs a permit, how the application and review process works, how inspections are requested, and what permit history means if you plan to sell.

Culver City permits at a glance

Department	Building Safety Division, Planning and Development Department, Culver City City Hall (second floor), 9770 Culver Boulevard
Phone	(310) 253-5800
Email	building.safety@culvercity.org
Hours	Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays. The permit counter is staffed Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to apply	Online Permit Portal, or in person at the second-floor counter
Application check	Staff respond on completeness within 2 to 3 business days
Plan check	About 20 business days per round (10 days for qualified expedited reviews); the Building Safety page says 15 to 20 business days from payment and routing
Permit validity	Work must start within 12 months of issuance; permits lapse if work stops for 180 days

When you need a building permit in Culver City

The city’s permit application page says projects such as new residential and commercial construction, home additions and remodels, accessory dwelling units (ADUs), re-roofs, repairs, and mechanical, electrical and plumbing work require a Building Safety permit.

Its code enforcement page adds that most alterations to a dwelling or structure need a permit before construction begins.

If you are replacing a water heater or furnace, adding a circuit, removing a wall, enclosing a patio or converting a garage, call Building Safety first rather than assuming the work is exempt.

Culver City also separates out a few project types with streamlined paths. Qualifying residential solar and energy storage systems can use an instant permit through the Symbium portal, available to contractors holding an A, B, C-10 or C-46 license under state Senate Bill 379. Qualifying electric vehicle charger installs can use a no-fee expedited EVSE permit; others send an electrical permit application and plans to the division’s email address.

Step by step: how a Culver City permit works

1. Gather documents

The city lists several documents that may be needed: Homeowners Association approval (a letter of approval, a letter saying approval is not required, or a homeowner statement that the HOA has been notified), a grant deed after a recent change in ownership, an asbestos declaration, an agent authorization form if someone applies for you, the Owner Certification form (OC-1R) for owner-builders, and window replacement requirements.

It also publishes residential submittal requirements and plan check thresholds, which tell you whether your project needs full plan review or can be handled without it.

2. Apply online or in person

To apply online, create an account in the Culver City Permit Portal, open the Building tab, choose Create an Application, upload plans and documents, and note the permit record number assigned under My Records.

To apply in person, complete the Building/Demo Permit Application and bring the plans and supporting documents to the Building Safety counter. The city asks for four full-size plan sets for a building application and two for electrical, mechanical or plumbing applications.

3. Application review and plan check

Staff first check the submission for completeness. A complete application is routed to other divisions; an incomplete one comes back with a list of missing items. Projects under the plan check threshold skip plan check.

For everything else, the city notes that more than one round is typical, so budget for corrections and resubmittals.

Revisions and addenda are dropped off in the Building Safety bin on the second floor of City Hall, and some minor revisions can be handled by email with a summary of changes and the affected sheets.

4. Pay fees and receive the permit

You pay plan check fees after the city notifies you that the application is complete, then permit fees, development impact fees and sewer fees once plans are approved. Culver City’s current comprehensive fee schedule was approved January 13, 2025, and development-related user fees took effect March 14, 2025. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permit fees are assessed when you submit. Before issuance the city verifies contractor licenses.

5. Construction, inspections and certificate of occupancy

Begin construction within one year of issuance. When work is finished, complete all required inspections, clear any corrections, pay deferred fees and request final approval. The city reviews the project for a Certificate of Occupancy at completion.

How inspections work in Culver City

Inspection requests are made by email to building.safety@culvercity.org. Include the permit number, site address, the type of inspection, the date you want, and an on-site contact name and phone number. The division says inspections may be done in person or virtually by FaceTime or Cisco Webex, and that email replies to service questions generally arrive within 24 to 48 hours.

Permits and plan checks can also expire. An application is considered abandoned 12 months after the application date, with extensions of up to 90 days each.

An issued permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 12 months, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days, with extensions of up to 180 days each. If you inherit a house with a stale permit, ask the division what it would take to revive or close it out.

Seismic and safety programs worth knowing

Culver City runs a mandatory soft-story seismic retrofit program that requires owners of qualifying buildings to complete evaluations and retrofits within set timelines.

For single-family homeowners, the Earthquake Brace and Bolts program, run by the California Earthquake Authority and Cal OES, offers eligible homeowners a grant of up to $3,000, with possible supplemental grants for low-income households, for cripple wall and sill plate anchorage.

A buyer’s inspector may ask whether a house has been braced, so it is worth knowing where yours stands.

Permits and selling a Culver City house

Permit history matters at sale time. Buyers, lenders and appraisers often ask whether additions, garage conversions or remodels were permitted, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work on the transfer disclosure paperwork. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains the disclosure rules, and the seller closing costs guide covers what else to budget for.

If your Culver City home has open permits, expired permits or work done without one, you generally have three paths: finish and close the permit before listing, disclose and discount the price on the open market, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes the property in its current condition. A short checklist helps you choose:

• Search the city’s permit portal for your address and note anything open or expired.
• List improvements made without a permit, such as converted garages, enclosed porches or added bathrooms.
• Collect final inspection records and contractor invoices for permitted work.
• Ask Building Safety what plans, fees and inspections it would take to legalize or close out each item.
• Compare that time and cost with a no-repairs cash sale.

How to sell a house in Culver City

1. Review which work on the property was permitted and which was not.
2. Collect permits, final inspection records and any city notices.
3. Request a no-obligation cash offer for the house as it stands.
4. Choose your closing date.
5. Close with no repairs, permit cleanup or showings required.

Our local pages cover related situations in Culver City, including selling as-is, selling fast and the cash offer process.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a building permit in Culver City?

Create an account in the Culver City Permit Portal and apply online, or bring the application and plans to the Building Safety counter on the second floor of City Hall.

How long does Culver City plan check take?

The city says plan check rounds take roughly 15 to 20 business days, or about 10 days for qualified expedited reviews, and that more than one round is typical.

How do I request a Culver City building inspection?

Email building.safety@culvercity.org with your permit number, address, inspection type, preferred date and a contact name and phone. Inspections can be in person or virtual.

When does a Culver City permit expire?

An issued permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 12 months, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days, unless the city grants an extension.

Is there an easier permit for solar or EV chargers?

Yes. Qualifying solar and storage systems can use the Symbium instant permit through licensed contractors, and qualifying EV chargers can use a no-fee expedited permit.

Can I sell my Culver City house with unpermitted work?

Yes. You can disclose it and sell as-is, including to a cash buyer. Our statewide guide explains the disclosure rules.

More guides

• We Buy Houses in Culver City
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Culver City Code Enforcement Guide
• Culver City Zoning and ADU Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Culver City: Building Safety Division
• City of Culver City: Building Permit Application
• City of Culver City: Enforcement Services

This guide is general information from public sources, not legal advice. Confirm current rules, fees and hours with the city.