Glendale Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Glendale Community Development Department; sources are listed at the end.

Building permits for homes inside the City of Glendale come from the Development Services division of the Community Development Department. The city offers an Online Property Portal Tool that shows permits issued to a property address, which is the quickest way to find out whether past work on a house was permitted before you sell.

Glendale building permits at a glance

Who issues building permits in Glendale?

Inside Glendale city limits, the Community Development Department’s Development Services handles permits. Homes in nearby cities or unincorporated county areas are permitted by those agencies, and a Glendale mailing address does not always mean the home is inside the city, so confirm the jurisdiction first.

How do I get a building permit in Glendale?

Glendale publishes Permit Application Guidance that explains what to submit for common projects. The city stresses that it is the applicant’s responsibility to verify zoning code compliance, and to determine whether any discretionary entitlement such as a variance is required, before submitting a building permit application. Fences and walls must comply with the Zoning Code (GMC Title 30) and the city’s Comprehensive Design Guidelines.

1. Confirm the jurisdiction and zoning of the lot.
2. Follow the city’s Permit Application Guidance for your project type.
3. Schedule inspections as the work proceeds.
4. Make sure the permit is finaled after the last inspection.

How do I look up the permit history on a Glendale house?

Use the city’s Online Property Portal Tool. Select the property address and the portal shows the property on a map, along with details such as permits issued to the address. For specifics about a permit, call the Community Development customer service line at (818) 548-3200.

Read the history for permits opened and never finalized, work you know was done that has no permit, and permits with a completed final inspection. A permit without a final is an open permit, and it is the one buyers and their lenders ask about.

What happens to permit problems when you sell a Glendale house?

In California, sellers generally have to disclose known problems on the transfer disclosure statement, including work known to have been done without a permit. On a traditional listing the usual choices are to finish the open permit, apply after the fact, cut the price, or let the buyer take on the problem. See our Glendale code enforcement guide if the house has been cited.

Projects that trigger a Glendale permit

Glendale’s permit guidance is detailed about the thresholds that catch homeowners out. According to the city:

• Freestanding fences and walls need a building permit if they are taller than 7 feet, include a retaining wall of 4 feet or more measured from the top of the wall to the bottom of the footing, sit next to slopes, the public right of way or other structures, or carry additional surcharge.
• A detached garage, or any structure not attached to the main structure, needs a separate permit.
• New rooftop equipment is not allowed in the ROS, R1 or R1R zones, and replacement equipment must be shown to comply with Glendale Municipal Code section 30.30.020. A final inspection will not be approved for equipment within required setbacks or visible from public view in conflict with the city’s design guidelines.
• Minor changes to an existing permitted pool, with no change in size, location or surrounding paving, fences or gates, do not need design review.
• Routine tree pruning that stays within the city’s limits does not need a permit, and pruning permits are free.

If your house has a detached garage conversion, a pool, a fence or rooftop equipment, check it against this list before a buyer’s agent does.

How applications are filed

Applications go through the GlendalePermits online portal, and solar photovoltaic projects use PowerClerk.

Depending on the project, the city asks for architectural drawings as separate PDFs (site plan, floor plan, elevations, roof plan and sections), a photo survey of the site and existing buildings, and for condominiums a homeowners association approval and proof of ownership.

Window replacements have their own packet, and renovation and demolition projects carry acknowledgment forms, including one for lead abatement. Mechanical permits need a CF1R approval from Cal Certs.

Who to call

• Building and Safety Division and the Community Development front desk: (818) 548-3200.
• Planning and zoning: (818) 548-2140 or Zoning@GlendaleCA.gov. The city notes this address is not for plan review.
• Public Works Engineering and Land Development: (818) 548-3945.
• Glendale Water and Power electrical engineering: (818) 548-3921.

Counter consultations are booked through the city’s planning appointment page.

A pre-sale permit check, step by step

1. Make a list of everything built or changed since you bought the house, including fences, sheds, pools, garage work and solar.
2. Search the permit portal or ask the Building and Safety Division what is on record for the address.
3. Mark any permit that was opened and never finaled, and any work with no permit at all.
4. Decide whether to close the permit, apply after the fact, or disclose and sell as-is.
5. Gather plans, receipts and inspection cards for whatever is on record.

Disclosure and your options

As with any California sale, delivery of the transfer disclosure statement cannot be waived in an as-is sale under Civil Code section 1102.1, and your duty to disclose material facts remains.

If a disclosure comes after the buyer’s offer, section 1102.3 gives the buyer three days to cancel after in-person delivery or five days after mailing or agreed electronic delivery. See our statewide guide to selling as-is.

For your options, you can finish the permit, apply after the fact, offer a credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk.

How to sell a house in Glendale with unpermitted work or open permits

1. Pull the permit history first in the Online Property Portal.
2. Write down what you know: who did the work, when, and whether you have receipts or plans.
3. Compare your options: fix it, sell with a price credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk in.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer removes the repair and inspection steps that cause delays.

We buy Glendale houses as they are. See how we buy houses in Glendale, our cash home buyer page, and the Los Angeles County property tax guide.

Not sure what your permit history means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Glendale building permits FAQ

Can I sell a house in Glendale with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one because buyers and lenders ask for it to be finalized. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

How do I see permits issued to a Glendale address?

Use the city’s Online Property Portal Tool, which shows permits issued to a property address. For specifics, call (818) 548-3200.

Do I need a separate permit for a detached garage in Glendale?

Yes. The city says a separate permit is required for a detached garage or any structure not attached to the main structure.

How do I sell a house in Glendale with unpermitted additions?

Disclose the work, then choose between permitting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk in the offer.

Does a fence need a permit in Glendale?

Freestanding fences and walls need a building permit if they are over 7 feet tall, include a 4-foot or higher retaining wall measured to the footing, or sit next to slopes, the public right of way or other structures, per the city’s permit guidance.

Does a detached garage need its own permit in Glendale?

Yes. The city says a separate permit is required for a detached garage or any structure not attached to the main structure.

Where do Glendale permit applications go?

Online through the GlendalePermits portal, with solar photovoltaic projects submitted through PowerClerk.

Sources

• City of Glendale: Permit Application Guidance
• City of Glendale: Online Property Portal Tool
• City of Glendale: Building Codes

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements with the City of Glendale Community Development Department.