Pico Rivera Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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

Pico Rivera’s Building Division works out of City Hall at 6615 Passons Boulevard and now runs permit applications, plan check status, payments and inspection requests through the Pico Rivera Virtual City Hall portal. This guide walks Pico Rivera homeowners through what the Building Division does, which jobs the city treats as over-the-counter, how the online portal works, when permits expire and how permit history affects a sale.

Fees and forms change, so confirm current details with the division before you start work.

Pico Rivera permits at a glance

Department	Building Division, City of Pico Rivera
Address	6615 Passons Boulevard, Pico Rivera, CA 90660
Phone	(562) 801-4360 on the division page; (562) 801-4367 listed in the city’s permitting FAQ
Email	buildingdivision@pico-rivera.org
Counter hours	7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday
Applications	Pico Rivera Virtual City Hall online portal; an online account gives access to your permits dashboard
Inspection requests	Through the portal, at least 24 hours in advance; the specific date and time requested is not guaranteed
Permit expiration	Building permits expire 1 year from issuance if work has not started or is not progressing; construction plans expire 6 months after approval if no permit is issued

What the Building Division does

According to the city, the Building Division promotes safety by enforcing the ordinances and laws that regulate construction and occupancy of commercial, industrial and residential buildings. For homeowners that means plan check, permit issuance and field inspections for work such as additions, remodels, electrical, plumbing and mechanical changes.

To speed up review, the division describes a concurrent plan check review program, and it says the fees for your project are provided when you submit your application, because they depend on the scope and valuation of the work.

The city also publishes a detailed fee schedule as part of its annual budget documents, but the fee amounts that apply to your job are the ones the division quotes you at submittal.

Over-the-counter and express permits

The city’s residential construction page says some building permits can be obtained at the Building Division counter without construction plans.

The examples it lists are water heater change-outs and electrical upgrades, and the building page lists residential express permits for a same-location water heater change-out, a same-location tankless water heater change-out, gas line repair, a wall heater change-out and an electrical panel upgrade.

If your job is a simple like-for-like replacement, ask the division whether it qualifies before you hire anyone to draw plans.

The city also runs an online residential solar permit pilot built around SolarAPP+, the automated review platform. The city lists a $25 administrative fee per project for SolarAPP+. After that approval, you submit the residential solar permit application through the Pico Rivera online permit page, pay online, and schedule the inspection through the portal.

Step by step: a Pico Rivera permit

1. Create a Virtual City Hall account

The city’s permitting FAQ says an online account is needed to submit a permit application. The account gives you a dashboard that links to your zoning, plan check and permit applications, plus notices about approvals, fees due and upcoming expirations.

2. Decide whether you need a permit

The city’s FAQ says permits are generally needed for structural changes, electrical or plumbing work, HVAC installation or modification, home additions and major remodels, and demolition, including interior demolition. It also says a permit is required for all fencing so height and setback rules are met.

Painting, flooring and similar cosmetic work generally does not need one, and same-size, same-location window replacement might not, but the city says to check.

3. Submit the application and plans

Applications for construction, remodeling or structural, electrical or plumbing changes typically go through plan check or zoning review. The city says plan check and zoning review is where staff confirm the plans meet building codes, safety standards and zoning laws. If staff return your application, you get an email, open the request detail in the portal, read the comments and use the Submit Information button to upload the missing items.

4. Pay fees

You can pay online, in person at 6615 Passons Boulevard, or by phone at (562) 801-4319, Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. In person the city accepts cash, Visa, Mastercard, check or e-check/ACH. The city lists a 3.25% convenience fee for card transactions, and a convenience fee of $0.25 for e-check/ACH payments under $200 and $3.50 for payments of $200 or more.

5. Build and request inspections

Request each inspection through the portal by finding your permit and selecting the inspection request. Give at least 24 hours of notice. The city says it will notify you once the inspection is scheduled.

Permit expiration and extensions

The city’s FAQ says a building permit expires one year from issuance if construction has not started or work is not progressing, and approved construction plans expire six months after approval if no permit has been issued.

An extension can be requested by calling the Building Division, but extension fees may apply and an extension is not guaranteed, particularly if the application itself has already expired.

Work in the public right-of-way, such as a driveway approach or sidewalk, is handled through Public Works rather than the Building Division.

Fencing, patios and block walls

The online permit page links to city standard drawings for a patio cover and a standard masonry block wall. Homeowners who build either to the city’s standard details can often avoid custom engineering, which helps keep a small project simple.

Because the city requires a permit for all fencing, a backyard wall or fence replaced years ago without one can show up as an open question when a buyer or lender orders a permit search.

Permits and selling a Pico Rivera house

Buyers and lenders ask about permit history, and California sellers generally disclose known unpermitted work on the Transfer Disclosure Statement. Our statewide guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work explains what disclosure involves, and the seller closing costs guide shows what else to budget. If tenants live in the home, read the tenant-occupied home sale guide.

When a Pico Rivera home has an open permit, an expired one, or work done without a permit, you generally have three options: finish and finalize the permit before listing, disclose the work and negotiate on the open market, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who takes the house in its current condition. Use this checklist:

• Ask the city’s building division for the permit record on your address.
• List every addition, garage conversion, enclosed patio or outbuilding, and note which have permits.
• Gather final inspection records, plans and contractor invoices.
• Ask what plans, fees and inspections it would take to permit each unpermitted item.
• Compare that cost and time with a no-repairs cash sale. New construction can also be reassessed for property tax, which our Prop 13 guide explains.

Questions to ask the Pico Rivera building division before you start

• Does my project need Planning or Engineering approval in addition to a building permit?
• Is there an exemption that applies, and what conditions come with it?
• What plan-check deposit and fees apply, and how long will review take right now?
• What inspections will be required, and in what order?
• Can an existing unpermitted structure be legalized, and what would that involve?

Common permit mistakes homeowners make

The most common problems are starting work before the permit is issued, letting a permit expire, skipping a required inspection, and assuming a contractor pulled a permit when none exists. Each one can surface years later when a buyer’s agent, appraiser or lender asks for records.

A lapsed or never-finalized permit is easier to resolve while you still own the home and can answer questions from the city. If you are not planning to stay, decide early whether finishing the permit or selling the house as it stands makes more sense.

If you hired a contractor, ask for a copy of the permit and the final inspection record and keep them with your closing documents. A finaled permit is the clearest evidence that the work was inspected. Our capital gains guide also explains how improvement costs may matter when you sell.

How to sell a house in Pico Rivera

1. Ask the Building Division for the permit record on your address.
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.

See also our Pico Rivera page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Pico Rivera Building Division?

At 6615 Passons Boulevard, Pico Rivera, CA 90660. The counter is open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Do I need an online account to apply for a permit?

Yes. The city’s permitting FAQ says you need a Virtual City Hall account to submit a permit application, and the account dashboard shows your applications and notices.

How do I request an inspection in Pico Rivera?

Log in to the Virtual City Hall portal, find your permit and request the inspection. The city asks for at least 24 hours of notice and does not guarantee the exact date and time you request.

How long is a Pico Rivera building permit good for?

The city says a building permit expires one year from issuance if construction has not started or work is not progressing. Approved plans expire six months after approval if no permit has been issued.

Which jobs can be permitted at the counter without plans?

The city lists water heater change-outs, electrical upgrades, gas line repair and wall heater change-outs among the residential express permit types, plus an online residential solar permit pilot.

Can I sell my Pico Rivera 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 Pico Rivera
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Pico Rivera Code Enforcement Guide
• Pico Rivera Zoning and ADU Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Pico Rivera: Building & Safety
• City of Pico Rivera: Permitting FAQ
• City of Pico Rivera: Residential Construction
• City of Pico Rivera: Online Permit

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