Building & Safety FAQ's

• WHAT IS A BUILDING PERMIT? 
  • More than just a piece of paper and a chance to pay the City fees, a building permit gives you legal permission to start construction of a building project in accordance with approved drawings and specifications. This gives you assurance that what you build will be built to accepted and proven safety standards.
• WHEN DO YOU NEED A PERMIT?
  • Generally permits are required for the construction of all new buildings or structures, and modification to an existing structure which may in any way affect the safe occupancy of that structure.  The best way to find out if you need a permit is to call the City's Building & Safety Division and simply ask.  Discuss what you have in mind with the Division's personnel before you begin construction to determine whether you need a permit.  Even if a permit is not required for your project, the Building & Safety personnel will answer your construction questions and may provide valuable advice
    
    Generally Building Permits are required for:
    
    • New buildings and structures.
    • Additions to existing buildings and structures (bedrooms, bathrooms, family rooms, garages, etc.).
    • For construction of residential alterations or additions such as patios, decks, fences, fireplaces, pools, water heaters, etc.
    • For renovations such as garage conversions, basement furnishings, attic work, kitchen remodeling or expansions, re-roofing, etc.
    • For the installation of new electrical outlets and fixtures.
    • For the installation of new plumbing outlets, fixtures and piping.
    • Any site grading or demolition of existing structures on site.
    • For the replacement of windows and/or doors where their size or character, or frame changes. 
    • For changes, modifications or upgrades to heating, ventilation or air-conditions systems.
• WHAT GOOD DOES A PERMIT DO?
  • Your home or business is a monetary investment and a shelter from the world.  If your construction project does not comply with the codes adopted by the City of Fontana, the safety or value of your home or investment could be reduced.  Property insurers may not cover work done without a proper permit or passage of required inspections.  If you decide to sell a home or building that has been modified without benefit of a permit, you may be required to tear down the addition, leave it unoccupied or do very costly repairs.
    A property owner who can show that code requirements were strictly and consistently adhered to, as demonstrated by the City's official records, has a strong ally if something happens to trigger a potentially devastating lawsuit.
    By conforming to adopted safety codes, you are assisting the Building Official in protecting the public by reducing the potential hazards of unsafe construction and insuring public health, safety and the general welfare of your community.  By following code guidelines, your completed project will meet at least minimum standards of safety and will be less likely to cause injury to you, your family, your friends or future owners.
• DO I NEED A LICENSED CONTRACTOR?
  • Why do I need a "Licensed" contractor?  Bottom line, if your contractor is not licensed, you have limited and restricted legal recourse for problems that you may experience with the construction, and you as the property owner assume all responsibility and liability for the work performed and the workers doing the construction.  The City of Fontana cannot stress strongly enough that if you use a contractor then that individual should have a State Contractor's License.  A license also gives reasonable assurance that the individual performing the work has the basic knowledge and skills to competently perform the work required.
• THE PERMIT PROCESS
  • The following are generic steps in an average construction project.  These steps are meant to be an illustration of the process to assist you in thinking through a remodeling, addition or new construction project. Individual projects may require additional or fewer steps dependent entirely upon the nature of the project.
    1. Initial concept (your decision as to what work you would like)
    2. Pre-inspection (review in the field by a City Inspector, with advice as to whether review by the Planning or Engineering Divisions may be required)
    3. Planning review required for additions, new structures, or exterior modifications.
    4. Engineering review required for any improvements within the public right-of-way
    5. Engineering review for sanitary sewer connections or changes
    6. Contractor selection
    7. Contract signed with a contractor (a private contract for the work anticipated)
    8. Creation of required plans, calculations and studies (i.e., soils, hydrologic, etc.)
    9. Grading plans submitted for Permit (required if excavating more than 2 feet in depth, filling more than 1 foot in height or moving more than 50 cubic yards of dirt)
    10. Grading permit (required if excavating more than 2 feet in depth, filling more than 1 foot in height or moving more than 50 cubic yards of dirt)
    11. Grading performed and certification obtained (if grading performed)
    12. Submission of five (5) full sets of plans to City for Plan Check (Plan Check Fees required)
    13. Correction or changes to plans as required by City review and applicable codes
    14. When plans are ready for issuance of permits, obtain proof from the school district that all required school fees have been paid
    15. Obtain Building Permit (s) (permit fees, sewer fees, transportation fees, municipal impact fees required at time of issuance of permit)
    16. Foundation/slab inspection
    17. Progress inspections* (number dependent upon the nature of your project)
    18. Final inspection
    19. City issues Certificate of Occupancy (except for residential projects)
  • The number and timing of inspections depends upon the nature of the work being performed.  For a small job such as a new water heater or a window frame change-out, an inspection is needed only when the work is completed.  For larger jobs, such as a re-roofing, kitchen remodeling, patio or room addition, pre-inspection (optional but recommended), progress inspections and a final inspection are required. 

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    • Talk to the Building & Safety personnel
      • The City of Fontana and the City's Building Official want your project to be a success and he or his staff will help you avoid potential problems that could cost you time and money.  In your conversations with Building & Safety personnel, you will be asked some basic questions, such as what you are planning to do, where, when, will you be using a contractor or doing the work yourself, etc.  You will also be advised of any requirements, and, if necessary, referred to other City Divisions or Departments for their comments, review and approval.  The Building & Safety personnel will provide you with the resources and information needed for compliance with the applicable building codes.  You will then receive an application for a Building Permit.
    • Pre-inspection
      • Do I need a pre-inspection?  A pre-inspection is a useful tool when you are considering an addition to an existing structure (such as your home) or the construction of a new structure on a parcel.  The inspection will allow you to discuss what you have in mind with an inspector and will also give you the change to see if the addition or new structure will fit on the property while meeting all  set-back and separation requirements.  It will give you the opportunity to think through all of the steps that will be involved in the process, from pre-inspection, hiring a contractor, architect or engineer, creation of plans, plan check, permits, construction, inspection (s), and a final approval.  It will also give you the opportunity to consider the cost of the construction and various fees, both to the City, the sewer agency, and school district.
    • Contractors, architects, engineers, plans, calculations, and studies
      • In a small project, like changing a water heater or a window, you can often do the work yourself, if you so choose.  For a larger project a contractor may be your best  choice.  It is the nature of the work, as well as your comfort, time and experience, which will determine if you or a licensed professional will perform the worked desired.  Again, dependant upon the nature of the project, you may also need to have a State licensed architect or a civil engineer draw plans, create or review necessary calculations or perform required studies (for example a soils test or hydrologic study)
    • Submit Application
      • City review of the plans for any construction you intend to perform is know as a "Plan Check".  To submit plans for a Plan Check, six complete sets of the building plans, plus specifications for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, etc. equipment must be submitted with the blueprint drawings, as well as any structural calculations needed to verify that the proposed construction meets the minimum requirements of safety.  A fee for the work involved in reviewing your plans is required at the time the plans are submitted.  At this stage your plans will document the "Who, What, When, Where and How" of the job you intend to construct.
      • Review Process - Plan Check
        • The Building Official or staff will review your plans and determine if your project is in compliance with the City's adopted building, fire, safety and related code requirements.  If your plans meet these requirements, a permit can be issued when appropriate fees are paid to the City and various other agencies (such as the Inland Empire Utilities Agency) for sewer service and the appropriate school district).  If the plans do not meet the minimum standards, the Building Official or designated staff will notify you that corrections or changes are needed and may suggest solutions to help correct the problem (s).  The first review of plans in the Plan Check process generally takes between four and six weeks.  If corrections are needed, rechecking takes generally two weeks.  The time between checks, where the owner is changing or correcting identified problems, is entirely dependent upon the individual owner/contractor and is not controlled by the City.
      • A Building Permit is issued  Return to top of page
        • When an official Building Permit has been issued, you now have legal permission to start construction.  A fee, based upon the size (and therefore estimated value) of the work to be performed is collected to cover the cost of the inspection process.  Throughout the construction and inspection process an experienced Building Official or a member of his staff is available to you should you have any questions concerning your project.  You should consider the City of Fontana as an ally who will help you make your project a success.  Although issued at the same time and for the same project, normally separate permits are required for electrical, plumbing, and heating or air-conditioning work.  This is generally an internal (to the City) bookkeeping requirement and does not directly affect your project, but you must be sure that you receive the proper permits for all of the work your project entails.
      • Job-site Visits (Inspections)
        • Periodic inspections of the construction throughout the construction process are required and paid for by the permit fees collected at the time a Building Permit is issued.  If you or your contractor call for an inspection and the work to be inspected is not yet complete when the inspector arrives, another inspection will be required.  A fee for this additional inspection may be charged prior to the re-inspection.  It is incumbent upon you and your contractor to be sure that the work to be inspected is accessible and ready for inspection when the inspector arrives.  The on-site inspections are required to make certain the work conforms to the permit, local codes and the approved plans (please note that a copy of the approved plans must always be available on site for the City Inspector to review during any field inspection).
        • Again, you will have access to the expertise of the Building Official and staff to help you with questions or concerns regarding the project and to ward off potentially costly mistakes. The Building Division staff will let you know approximately how many inspections may be needed for your project. The City of Fontana has an electronic voice mail system to request inspections. By calling (909) 350-7693 you will be able to schedule construction inspections. An inspection request must be made a minimum of one day prior to the anticipated inspection. Please note that a lapse of 180 Days between inspections will void your Building Permit and a new permit will be required to again commence the construction work. 
        • For new buildings or additions to existing buildings, inspection of the site for grading, prior to the pouring of footings, footing inspections, framing, mechanical, electrical, roofing, and drywall, and final inspections will all be necessary.  As you can see, the exact number and type of inspections that you will need is completely dependent upon the nature of the work to be performed.  These are exactly the type of questions which you should ask of your contractor and/or Fontana's Building Official and staff before work on a project begins.
      • Final Approval
        • When you or your contractor have completed all of the construction work identified within the Building Permit, you should request a "Final Inspection."  If it is determined by that inspection that all work has been completed to the Building Official's satisfaction, the City will provide documentation, a "Certificate of Occupancy", that the construction is complete and is code compliant.  A Final Inspection is required to close out your construction project and confirm that all work has been completed in conformance to the approved plans.  You will then have the personal satisfaction of a job done right.  Enjoy your new surroundings with the peace of mind and the knowledge that they meet Fontana's safety standards and the community's standard of quality.
  • WHY DO I HAVE TO GET A PERMIT?
    • Aside from it being the law of this State, a permit is your means to see that the contractor you have hired has prepared plans, or if you are doing the work yourself,  that you have prepared plans, that meet all minimum safety code requirements and that the construction, if built to the plans, will be a safe, long lasting, structure.
    • Yes it is true that a permit will cost you money, but can you put a value on your family and friends safety?  Without a Building Permit you have no assurances, and no legal protection, that work performed is up to at least minimal safety standards.  Additionally, the money for permits covers only the cost of reviewing the plans submitted (for the Plan Check to see that the construction will meet the minimum requirements of the code for safety), and to cover the cost of having a City Inspector visit the site to see that the work being performed is consistent with the approved  plans.
    • Your Plan Check or Building Permit fees do not pay for any other programs within the City. Return to top of page