Malibu Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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

In Malibu, building safety is handled by the Community Development Department, projects are submitted and tracked through the city’s online development portal, and inspections are requested by phone or through the city’s inspection request page. This guide explains how building permits work for Malibu homeowners using what the city publishes: what needs a permit, what does not, how inspections are scheduled, how coastal and fire-zone rules can affect a project, and what unpermitted work means when you sell.

Malibu permits at a glance

Department	Building Safety, Community Development Department, City of Malibu
Phone	(310) 456-2489
Rebuild and recovery plan check	Building Safety Recovery, (310) 456-2489 ext. 390, mbuilding@malibucity.org
How to apply	Online development portal, where you can submit a project, check its status, manage documents and pay fees
Inspections	Every permitted project requires inspection; request by phone at (310) 456-2489 or on the city’s inspection request page
Inspection hours listed	Monday to Friday; the inspection pages list counter hours in the early morning and request hours of 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Permit copies	Permit Search page; confirm the property is inside city limits on the city’s GIS map before you request records
Location rules	The entire city lies in the Coastal Zone and in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, per the city’s municipal code
Fees and turnaround	Not stated on the pages reviewed; ask Building Safety for the current fee schedule and plan check estimate

What needs a permit in Malibu

The city’s code enforcement FAQ states that construction and development without required building permits or Planning Department approval is prohibited by the Malibu Municipal Code.

In general, work that changes a home’s structure, electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems, adds floor area or builds a new structure calls for a permit and inspections.

If you are not sure, the city’s FAQ tells owners to contact Building Safety or the Planning Department at (310) 456-2489 before starting.

What may not need a building permit

The city says some projects do not require a building permit but may still need Planning Department approval. Its own examples are fences six feet high or lower and storage sheds of 120 square feet or less. That distinction matters in Malibu: an exempt project can still be a violation if it needed Planning approval and never got it. Ask before you build, not after a neighbor calls.

Coastal Zone and fire-zone rules

Malibu’s accessory dwelling unit ordinance states that the entire city lies within the Coastal Zone and that projects may be subject to the city’s Local Coastal Program in addition to the municipal code.

The same ordinance states that the entire city lies in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and it points to the adopted Fire Code and fire apparatus access road requirements enforced by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

For an owner, that means a project that would be simple in another city can involve extra review. Ask whether your project needs a coastal development permit or fire department sign-off before you pay for plans.

Step by step: a Malibu building permit

1. Confirm what applies

Call Building Safety at (310) 456-2489 and describe the project. Ask whether it needs plans, Planning approval, a coastal development permit or a fire department review. Confirm that the address is inside Malibu city limits, since parts of the area around the city are county or state jurisdictions.

2. Prepare plans and documents

Larger projects need construction documents. The city’s Forms and Handouts page lists forms for rebuilds and other work, and the Applications, Forms and Fees page lists fee information. If a licensed contractor pulls the permit, have the license and insurance information ready.

3. Submit through the online portal

The city’s online development portal lets you submit a project, view its status, manage documents and pay fees. The pages reviewed do not state a plan check turnaround, so ask the department for a current estimate rather than relying on a general figure.

4. Pay fees and receive the permit

Fees are paid through the process the department gives you. Keep the permit card, the approved plans and every receipt together, because you will need them for inspections and, later, for a buyer.

5. Schedule and pass inspections

The city says all permitted projects require inspection. Request inspections by phone at (310) 456-2489 or through the inspection request page for listed permits. The city lists request hours of 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, so plan your requests early in the day. Passing the final inspection is what closes the permit.

Rebuilding after a fire or disaster

Malibu has a dedicated Building Safety Recovery contact for rebuild plan check and project approval at (310) 456-2489 ext. 390 and mbuilding@malibucity.org. If you own a lot or a partly rebuilt home, ask that contact which approvals are final and which are still open. A rebuild with open approvals is a different sale than a finished house, and buyers will ask to see the paperwork.

Construction hours and stop work orders

The city lists permitted construction hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, with no construction on Sundays or on listed holidays.

If you are found building without required permits or approvals, a stop work order can be issued, which requires you to cease all work on the property. The city says continuing after a stop work order is issued is a misdemeanor under the municipal code.

If you inherit a stalled project, ask whether a stop work order was ever posted.

Finding your permit history

Permit records are public. Use the city’s Permit Search page to request copies, and confirm first that your parcel is inside city limits. Ask for every permit on the address, including final inspection dates, and compare the record with what is actually built. Garage conversions, enclosed patios, decks and guest units are the usual gaps.

If work was done without a permit

Unpermitted work does not disappear when you sell. Ask Building Safety what it would take to permit the work after the fact, which can include plans, opening concealed work for inspection, fees and, in Malibu, possibly coastal review. Some owners finish that process first. Others disclose the work and sell as-is. A clear record of what exists and what the city approved makes either route smoother.

Permits and selling a Malibu house

A house with permit gaps is not unsellable, but the gap changes who bears the risk. Under California practice, a seller who knows about unpermitted work should disclose it, and the buyer decides whether to accept it. Our guides on selling as-is with unpermitted work and seller closing costs explain how that plays out, and the tenant-occupied sale guide covers homes with renters.

For a Malibu property the practical question is whether legalizing the work is worth the time. Some owners close the permit first. Others sell as-is so the buyer handles it. A short review helps:

• Request your permit history from the city before you list.
• Walk the property and flag anything built after the home was originally permitted.
• Collect any plans, engineering letters or final approvals you already have.
• Get a realistic estimate of correction costs if the city were to inspect.
• Weigh that against a cash offer that does not depend on repairs or sign-offs.

How to sell a house in Malibu

1. Check which structures, additions and conversions on the property have city permits.
2. Collect permits, plans, stop work orders 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 Malibu page and the Los Angeles County hub.

Frequently asked questions

Which department issues building permits in Malibu?

Building Safety, part of the Community Development Department. The city lists the main number as (310) 456-2489.

How do I apply for a building permit in Malibu?

Through the city’s online development portal, where you can submit a project, view its status, manage documents and pay fees.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Malibu?

The city says all permitted projects require inspection. Call (310) 456-2489 or use the city’s inspection request page; request hours are listed as 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Do I need a permit for a shed or fence in Malibu?

The city says fences six feet or lower and sheds of 120 square feet or less do not need a building permit, but they do need Planning Department approval.

Does the Coastal Zone affect my Malibu permit?

The city’s code states that the entire city lies in the Coastal Zone, so a project may be subject to the Local Coastal Program in addition to the municipal code. Ask Planning whether a coastal development permit applies.

Can I sell my Malibu house with an open or unpermitted project?

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 Malibu
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Malibu Code Enforcement Guide
• Malibu Zoning and ADU Guide
• Calabasas Building Permits Guide
• Agoura Hills Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Malibu: Building Safety
• City of Malibu: Inspections
• City of Malibu: Inspection Request
• City of Malibu: Permit Search
• City of Malibu: Code Enforcement FAQ
• Malibu Municipal Code Chapter 17.44, Accessory Dwelling Units (Coastal Zone and fire-zone findings)

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