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Ventura County Permit Guide

Which office issues the permit for your address, what extra reviews apply on the coast or in fire zones, and what the process looks like from drawings to final inspection.

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Start with the right office

Ventura County has ten incorporated cities plus large unincorporated areas, and each one has its own permit counter, forms and plan check queue. The first question on any project is which office covers your parcel. A mailing address can mislead: Silver Strand and Hollywood Beach have Oxnard addresses but are unincorporated County land, Old Town Saticoy sits just outside the City of Ventura, and Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View are County areas around the City of Ojai.

This guide lists the offices for every community we serve, as checked in October 2026, plus the rules that add steps in some places. Counter hours and procedures change, so confirm with the office before you go. When you hire us, we handle the submittal, the plan check comments and the inspections.

Permit offices by community

Checked October 2026. Confirm hours and procedures with the office before you go.

CommunityOfficeAddressGood to know
Santa PaulaCity of Santa Paula (Planning, then Building & Safety)City of Santa PaulaA Zoning Clearance from Planning comes before the building permit.
Ventura (incl. most of Saticoy)City of Ventura Building & Safety501 Poli St, Room 117, VenturaWalk-in Mon–Thu mornings; appointments in the afternoon; closed Fridays.
OxnardCity of Oxnard Building & Engineering214 S. C St, OxnardMorning counter hours. Beach-area projects may need a Coastal Development Permit.
CamarilloCity of Camarillo Community Development601 Carmen Dr, CamarilloOnline permitting through OpenGov since July 2025.
Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Ventura County side of WestlakeCity of Thousand Oaks2100 E. Thousand Oaks BlvdOak tree ordinance applies to work near protected oaks.
MoorparkCity of Moorpark Building & Safety323 Science Dr, MoorparkWalk-ins weekday mornings; afternoons by appointment.
Ojai (city limits)City of Ojai Building and Safety401 S. Ventura St, OjaiInspections Monday through Thursday.
FillmoreCity of Fillmore250 Central Ave, FillmoreConfirm the current permit process with City Hall.
Port HuenemeCity of Port Hueneme Building & Safety250 N. Ventura Rd, Port HuenemeApplications online through OpenGov since July 2025.
Simi ValleyCity of Simi Valley Building & Safety2929 Tapo Canyon Rd, Simi ValleyPart of the Department of Environmental Services.
Somis, El Rio, Piru, Oak View, Old Town Saticoy, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Silver Strand, Hollywood BeachCounty of Ventura RMA Building & Safety800 S. Victoria Ave, 3rd floor, VenturaUnincorporated areas. County zoning, septic and well rules apply on rural parcels.
CarpinteriaCity of Carpinteria Community Development5775 Carpinteria Ave, CarpinteriaSanta Barbara County. The city issues Coastal Development Permits.
Santa BarbaraCity of Santa Barbara Building & Safety630 Garden St, Santa BarbaraSingle Family Design Board review for many additions and exterior changes.
Westlake Village (LA County side)LA County Public Works Building & Safety (contract city)City Hall, 31200 Oak Crest DrConfirm which side of the county line your address is on.
Santa ClaritaCity of Santa Clarita Permit Center23920 Valencia Blvd, Suite 140One-stop counter for building, planning and engineering.
Woodland HillsLADBS Van Nuys Development Services Center6262 Van Nuys Blvd, 2nd floorCity of Los Angeles rules and fees apply.

Which projects need a permit

As a rule of thumb, work that changes the structure of a house or its plumbing, gas, electrical or mechanical systems needs a permit. That covers additions, moving or removing walls, new windows in new openings, moving a sink or toilet, adding circuits, changing a bathroom fan, and most patio covers and retaining walls above a certain height. Painting, flooring and swapping a cabinet or counter in place usually do not.

Each office applies the California codes with its own local amendments and exemptions, so a project that is exempt in one city can need a permit in the next. When in doubt, we ask the office before work starts.

Extra reviews that add time

Some properties go through more than a building permit. These reviews happen before or alongside plan check, so they belong in the schedule from the start.

  • Coastal Development Permits

    Properties in the Coastal Zone, including beach areas of Oxnard, Ventura, Port Hueneme, Carpinteria and Santa Barbara and the County beaches at Silver Strand and Hollywood Beach, can need a Coastal Development Permit for additions and exterior changes.

  • Fire Hazard Severity Zones

    In mapped fire zones, new construction, additions and many exterior changes must meet California's wildland-urban interface standards (Chapter 7A): ember-resistant vents, ignition-resistant siding and decking, enclosed eaves and tempered glazing.

  • Design and historic review

    Santa Barbara's Single Family Design Board, homeowner association architectural committees in Westlake Village and parts of Thousand Oaks, and historic districts can review exterior changes before a permit is issued.

  • Zoning clearances

    Santa Paula and the County of Ventura issue zoning clearances before building permits for many projects, confirming setbacks, height and use.

  • Septic, wells and grading

    Rural parcels around Somis, Piru and the Ojai Valley can need Environmental Health review for septic capacity and wells, and grading permits for pads and driveways.

  • Protected trees

    Thousand Oaks regulates work that affects protected oak and landmark trees. Other cities have their own tree rules for work within the root zone.

Code requirements that come with a remodel

A permitted remodel also triggers some upgrades. In homes built before 1994, California requires noncompliant plumbing fixtures to be replaced with water-conserving ones before the permit gets final approval. The energy code (Title 24) requires high-efficacy lighting in remodeled spaces and sets ventilation rules for bathrooms. Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are typically brought up to current standards when a permit is pulled. The 2025 California Building Standards Code applies to permits applied for from January 1, 2026.

How the process runs

For a typical remodel: we confirm the jurisdiction, prepare drawings (with engineering if structural work is involved), submit them, answer plan check comments, pay the fees and pick up the permit. During construction, the inspector checks the work at set stages, and the permit closes with a final inspection. Keep the final sign-off with your house records; buyers and insurers may ask for it.

We pull the permit

Permits, drawings, plan check answers and inspections are part of every LE Construction job, under CSLB license #920095.

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Permit FAQs

How do I find out whether my address is in a city or unincorporated county?

Your mailing city is not always the answer. The County of Ventura's online parcel maps show jurisdiction by address, and the city's planning counter can confirm it. We check it for every project before drawings start, because the answer decides which codes, fees and reviews apply.

Can a homeowner pull the permit instead of the contractor?

A homeowner can apply as an owner-builder, but that makes the homeowner responsible for the work, for any workers' employment obligations and, in some cases, for restrictions on selling soon after. When you hire us, the permit is issued under our license and we answer for the work. For most projects that is the simpler and safer path.

What is a Coastal Development Permit and when is it needed?

It is a separate approval under the California Coastal Act for development in the Coastal Zone, issued by the city or county with a certified coastal program. Additions and exterior changes near the beach often need one, while interior remodels often do not. It is reviewed before the building permit, so it can add weeks or more to the schedule.

Do permit fees go up with the size of the project?

Generally, yes. Most offices base building permit fees on the project's valuation, plus plan check, and add separate fees for things like plumbing, electrical and school or impact fees on additions. Each city publishes its own fee schedule. Our estimate lists the expected permit costs for your jurisdiction.

Are there fee waivers for rebuilding after the Mountain Fire?

The County of Ventura approved fee waivers for property owners rebuilding after the 2024 Mountain Fire, estimated at about $20,000 per dwelling and set to run through December 31, 2026, with possible extensions. Fire rebuilds in the unincorporated area also go straight to Building & Safety without a separate zoning clearance. Ask the County for the current status before you plan around it.

Local permit notes by city

Helpful pages

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