Camarillo Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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

If you own a home in Camarillo and you are remodeling, adding a unit, installing solar, or getting ready to sell, you will almost certainly deal with the City of Camarillo Building & Safety Division.

This guide explains how permitting works in Camarillo today, what the city has published about its process, and what unpermitted work can mean when you sell. It is written for homeowners, not contractors, and it sticks to what the city itself says on its website.

Camarillo permits at a glance

Topic	What the city publishes
Who issues permits	Building & Safety Division, Camarillo City Hall, 601 Carmen Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010
Main phone	(805) 388-5395
Counter hours	Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Request an inspection	(805) 388-5383 or the online inspection request page
Inspection windows	9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Plan submission	Digital only since July 1, 2025, through the city’s OpenGov online permitting system
Plan check	Provided by Charles Abbott Associates, Inc., working in Camarillo City Hall
Rooftop solar	Automated permitting through SolarAPP+ for eligible standard installs
Surcharges (from July 1, 2025)	General Plan Maintenance Surcharge 17.89 percent and Technology Surcharge 11.34 percent

When a Camarillo homeowner needs a permit

The city’s Building & Safety Division handles permitting, inspection and plan check services. As a rule of thumb across California, you need a building permit when you add or remove walls, build an addition, convert a garage, change structural elements, or add or alter electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems.

Camarillo publishes a Residential Electrical Requirements handout on its Building & Safety handouts page, which is a good starting point if your project touches the electrical panel, circuits or lighting. If you are not sure whether a small project needs a permit, call the division at (805) 388-5395 before you start. A five-minute call is cheaper than tearing out finished work later.

How to apply for a permit

1. Use the online system

Camarillo has moved from paper to digital applications. Since July 1, 2025 the city no longer accepts paper plans, and all plan submissions go through the online permitting and licensing system powered by OpenGov. Simple permits can be applied for and paid online. Create an account on the city’s portal, choose the permit type, and upload your documents.

2. Prepare complete plans

Plans should show what is being built or changed, where it sits on the lot, and the materials and systems involved. Incomplete submittals are the most common reason a permit stalls, so check the city’s handouts and the checklist on the application before you upload.

3. Plan check

Plan review is performed by Charles Abbott Associates, Inc., a consulting firm that works from Camarillo City Hall for the Building & Safety Division. If reviewers ask for corrections, you update the plans and resubmit through the portal. The city does not publish a single guaranteed turnaround time for every project type on this page, so ask the division for a current estimate for your project.

4. Pay fees and surcharges

Permit fees depend on the work. The city’s website notes two surcharges that apply from July 1, 2025: a General Plan Maintenance Surcharge of 17.89 percent and a Technology Surcharge of 11.34 percent. Ask the division for a fee estimate for your project, because the city says fees vary with square footage, connections, reports and permit types.

5. Schedule inspections

Once the permit is issued, work is inspected in stages. Request an inspection by calling (805) 388-5383 or using the online inspection request page. Inspections are offered in a morning window (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and an afternoon window (1 p.m. to 4 p.m.). Inspections for permits submitted through the city’s Click2Gov system can also be requested through that portal.

6. Final inspection

A permit is only closed after the final inspection passes. Keep the final sign-off. When you sell, it is the proof that the work was done legally.

Rooftop solar in Camarillo

Camarillo offers automated permitting for eligible new residential rooftop solar projects through SolarAPP+. Only projects that meet the city’s Eligibility Checklist may use it. The city states that the approval process is for standard solar installs only for now, and systems that include a main panel upgrade or battery storage are not currently eligible. Those projects go through the regular permit process.

Common projects and what to expect

• Kitchen and bath remodels: Moving plumbing, gas or electrical lines normally requires a permit and inspections.
• Water heater or HVAC replacement: Usually permitted, even when it is a like-for-like swap.
• Garage conversions and additions: Require plans, plan check and several inspections. See our Camarillo zoning and ADU guide for unit rules.
• Patios, decks and fences: Rules depend on size and height. Ask Building & Safety and the Planning Division.
• Re-roofing and window replacement: Often permit-required. Confirm with the division.

Unpermitted work and selling your Camarillo home

Many owners inherit or buy a house with a converted garage, a finished attic, or an addition that was never permitted. Nothing stops you from selling such a house. What changes is who will buy it and on what terms.

A traditional buyer’s lender and appraiser will look at permit history, and the buyer may ask you to legalize the work, drop the price, or walk away. Camarillo’s Code Compliance Division can also open a case if an unpermitted structure is reported. Our Camarillo code enforcement guide explains how that process works.

Before listing, gather these items:

• Permit numbers and final inspection sign-offs for past work
• Plans, receipts and contractor information for major projects
• Any city notices, open permits or correspondence
• Disclosures required of California sellers about known unpermitted work

How to sell a house in Camarillo with open or missing permits

1. Pull the records. Ask Building & Safety what permits exist for your address and whether any are still open.
2. Compare your options. Compare the cost and time of permitting and repairs with selling as-is. Permitting after the fact can mean opening walls and paying for corrections.
3. Get an as-is offer. A cash buyer buys the house in its current condition, so you do not have to legalize work, make repairs or clean up before closing.
4. Close on your schedule. You choose the closing date, and the sale does not depend on a buyer’s loan or appraisal.

Related local pages: we buy houses in Camarillo, we buy houses in Ventura County and all California guides.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Camarillo?

Permits are handled by the Building & Safety Division at 601 Carmen Drive. Since July 1, 2025, applications and plans are submitted digitally through the city’s OpenGov online permitting system. The division’s phone number is (805) 388-5395.

How do I schedule an inspection in Camarillo?

Call (805) 388-5383 or use the city’s online inspection request page. The city lists morning inspections from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and afternoon inspections from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Does Camarillo still accept paper plans?

No. According to the city, beginning July 1, 2025 it no longer accepts paper plans for permit applications, and all plan submissions must be made digitally.

Can I get a fast permit for rooftop solar?

Eligible standard residential rooftop solar projects can use SolarAPP+. Systems with a main panel upgrade or battery storage are not currently eligible and use the regular process.

What surcharges does Camarillo add to permit fees?

The city lists a General Plan Maintenance Surcharge of 17.89 percent and a Technology Surcharge of 11.34 percent beginning July 1, 2025. Ask the division for a project-specific fee estimate.

Can I sell my Camarillo house if the work was never permitted?

Yes. You can sell as-is to a cash buyer without legalizing the work first. A traditional buyer may ask for permits or repairs, which is why many owners with unpermitted additions choose an as-is sale.

More guides

• Camarillo Code Enforcement Guide
• Camarillo Zoning and ADU Guide
• We Buy Houses in Camarillo
• We Buy Houses in Ventura County
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Camarillo, Building & Safety
• City of Camarillo, Building & Safety Handouts
• City of Camarillo, Online Services

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