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Building & Safety SERVICES
All plan submittals and permit applications can be applied through the City’s Online Portal. To apply online you must first register on the Customer Self Service Online Portal. Follow these instructions and set-up your user information.
If your project requires plan review, be sure to submit full set of plans as one PDF file and separate files for all other applicable construction documents.
Please allow 1-3 business days for staff to review your application for completeness. Staff will send an email with further instructions for payment or to request additional information.
All other processing, including the collection of business license fees, permit fees, school fee certificates and permit issuance will only be conducted in-person at the front counter.
Walk-ins are welcome during counter hours: Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Development Fees
On June 2, 2025, the City Council approved an update to the Master Fee Schedule that will take effect on August 2, 2025. The fee increase will affect building permit fees for new construction, tenant improvements and additions. The Master Fee Schedule has been made available to view here: Master Fee Schedule (PDF)
About the Division
The Building and Safety Division is responsible for the review of construction plans and when approved, the inspection of permitted work. The Division further provides essential information to its customers through records research and providing of informational handouts. We retain a history of permit records for properties within the City. The information is available in accordance with the State's Public Records Act.
Although the functions of the Building and Safety Division are essentially a regulatory effort, they are an important tool for the orderly development and maintenance of properties within the City. Under State Law, structures must be built pursuant to locally adopted building codes. This is accomplished through the implementation of the California Building and Fire Codes as well as construction, quality of materials, use and occupancy, location and maintenance of all buildings and structures within the City of La Habra.
Building and Safety also is responsible for the abatement of illegal structures and that structures are maintained in a safe condition. This program helps to ensure that the structures within the City are safe and therefore preserve the City's quality of life, and contributing to the City's economic development.
The Division also manages the City's permit system which coordinates and streamlines the construction permit process. Applications for construction projects are submitted to the Building and Safety Division where the review process is coordinated among several departments. This provides the customer with a comprehensive single point of contact throughout the entire review and permit process.