Calabasas Building Permits Guide for Homeowners

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

In Calabasas, every building permit application is submitted electronically through the city’s online portal, and inspection requests must be made there too, because the city no longer accepts them by phone or email. This guide explains how building permits work for Calabasas homeowners using what the city publishes: what needs a permit, what does not, how to apply, how inspections are scheduled, how long a permit stays valid, and how permit history affects a sale.

Confirm current details with the Building and Safety Division before you start work, because codes, fees and procedures change.

Calabasas permits at a glance

Department	Building and Safety Division, Community Development Department, City of Calabasas
Permit Center	(818) 224-2534
Plan Check	(818) 224-1600 or (818) 224-1732
Executive Assistant	(818) 224-1708
Email	BuildingSafetyInfo@CityofCalabasas.com
Counter hours	Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
How to apply	Electronically through the city’s online portal; the division says all Building and Safety permit applications are submitted there
Inspection requests	Online portal only, until 3:00 p.m. on the prior business day; requests after 3:00 p.m. go to the next available business day
Codes adopted	2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire and Green Building Standards Codes, with the County fire code amendments
Permit validity	A permit becomes invalid if work does not start within 365 days or is suspended or abandoned for 180 days

What needs a permit in Calabasas

The division’s FAQ says building permits are generally required for remodeling and repair projects that alter a home’s structure, electrical, plumbing or mechanical systems, or that change the home’s footprint.

The city’s list is long: new construction, window replacement, new or moved outlets, water heater, heating and air conditioning replacement, kitchen and bathroom remodels, patio covers, retaining walls, fireplaces and fire pits, swimming pools and spas, structural changes such as adding or removing walls, new rooms, electrical and plumbing work, additions, roof replacement, generators, electric vehicle charging systems, fire sprinkler systems, solar installation and demolition.

If your project is on that list, plan on a permit and on inspections. If you are unsure, email the division before you buy materials, because work done without a permit tends to become the next owner’s problem.

What does not need a building permit

The city says a construction permit is not needed for painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops in a home, small storage sheds of 120 square feet or less (some exceptions apply), portable heating or cooling appliances, clearing stoppages in pipes, valves or fixtures, and retaining walls under 3 feet tall unless they support a surcharge.

Fences 6 feet high or lower generally do not need a building permit, but the Planning Department may regulate fence height, location and type, so call before you build.

The division also notes other agencies may need to review a project, and it publishes a Work Exempt from Permits handout with more detail.

Step by step: a Calabasas building permit

1. Confirm what applies

Call the Permit Center at (818) 224-2534 or email the division to describe the project and ask whether plans and plan check apply. Ask Planning at (818) 224-1600 about setbacks, zoning and fence rules if the work changes the footprint or the yard.

2. Prepare plans and documents

Larger projects, including ADUs and solar and battery systems, require complete building plans and a formal review before a permit can be issued. If a licensed contractor pulls the permit, the city lists the documents needed: the state contractor’s license, a workers’ compensation insurance certificate and, where applicable, a Contractor Authorized Agent form.

3. Submit through the portal

Applications are submitted electronically. The city says it does not issue express or expedited permits and reviews applications in the order received. It also says inquiries are answered within 24 hours, with replies the next business day if the message arrives after 4:00 p.m. The page does not state a plan check turnaround time, so ask the division for a current estimate.

4. Pay fees and receive the permit

Before a permit is issued you pay all required fees. When the permit is issued you receive a permit card that must be printed and kept on site along with the stamped plans.

5. Schedule and pass inspections

The contractor who pulled the permit requests inspections at each stage, but the city reminds owners that it is still their responsibility to make sure inspections happen and the final is approved.

How Calabasas inspections work

All inspections must be scheduled in the online portal. Requests are accepted until 3:00 p.m. on the prior business day, and the schedule is finalized by 8:00 a.m. each business day. The inspector needs your permit inspection card and the plans stamped Approved on site.

The city’s page lists items to have ready for certain inspections, such as a visible posted address, an approved ladder for roof sheathing inspections, screed boards or string lines for slab or under-floor inspections, a water test for drain-waste-vent pipes, an as-built drawing showing sewer and water service lines, and a capped gas system at 10 psi with a suitable gauge for a gas line air test.

After each inspection the inspector records the date and result on the permit card, and the portal shows the inspection history.

How long a permit lasts

The city says a permit becomes invalid unless work starts within 365 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after it starts. The Building Official may grant one or more written extensions of up to 90 days each on a written request that shows justifiable cause. If you pulled a permit, started and stalled, check the status before you list the house.

Hiring a contractor in Calabasas

The city says most construction work in California must be done by a licensed contractor. Effective January 1, 2025, AB 2622 raised the threshold for requiring a contractor’s license from $500 to $1,000 for small projects where no workers are hired and no building permit is needed.

The city also warns that unlicensed contracting can bring administrative fines of up to $15,000 and criminal penalties. An owner may in certain cases pull a permit as an owner-builder with strict limits; only the property owner qualifies, not a business owner or tenant.

Finding your permit history

Permit records are public. The city says some records can be viewed at the counter, while stamped building plans and other permit records are stored offsite or require a Public Records Request, submitted electronically to the City Clerk.

You can also review inspection history for a permit by logging into the portal or by asking the division for a copy of the permit card. Ask for the permits on your address before you list, then compare them with what is actually built.

Garage conversions, enclosed patios, room additions, water heater and furnace replacements and panel upgrades are common gaps in homes that have changed hands several times.

If work was done without a permit

Unpermitted work does not disappear when you sell. Ask the division what it would take to permit it after the fact, which can include plans, opening up concealed work for inspection and fees. Some owners finish that process first. Others disclose the work and sell as-is. Either way, a clear record of what is built and what the city approved makes the sale smoother.

Permits and selling a Calabasas 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 Calabasas 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 Calabasas

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

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for a building permit in Calabasas?

The Building and Safety Division says all permit applications are submitted electronically through the portal on the city’s website. Call the Permit Center at (818) 224-2534 with questions.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Calabasas?

Only through the online portal. The city no longer accepts inspection requests by phone or email, and requests are accepted until 3:00 p.m. on the prior business day.

What are the Calabasas Building and Safety counter hours?

The city lists Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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

Small storage sheds of 120 square feet or less generally do not need a building permit, with some exceptions, and fences 6 feet or lower generally do not. Planning may still regulate fence height, location and type.

How long is a Calabasas building permit valid?

It becomes invalid if work does not begin within 365 days of issuance or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days. The Building Official may grant written extensions of up to 90 days each.

Can I sell my Calabasas 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 Calabasas
• We Buy Houses in Los Angeles County
• Los Angeles County Property Tax Guide
• Calabasas Code Enforcement Guide
• Calabasas Zoning and ADU Guide
• Hidden Hills Building Permits Guide
• La Cañada Flintridge Building Permits Guide
• All California Guides

Sources

• City of Calabasas: Building and Safety Division
• City of Calabasas: Counter Hours and Contact Information
• City of Calabasas: Inspection Requests
• City of Calabasas: Building and Safety FAQs and Tips
• City of Calabasas: Building Codes

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