Riverside building permit guide

Overview

Riverside City Building & Safety uses its Public Permit Portal for applications, plans, fees, issuance and inspection results. Check City jurisdiction rather than using Riverside County procedures.

Portal

Public Permit Portal — applications through inspections

Schedule

FY 2026/27 · July 1, 2026

Trades

Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.

Electrical circuits and EV charging

Riverside Building & Safety

Applicable Code

City-adopted California electrical requirements and local bulletins.

License Requirement

Appropriate CSLB electrical classification or verified owner-builder route.

License Fee

CSLB licensing schedule

CEUs

Credential renewal requirements

Permit Fee

FY 26/27 components: $41 issuance; residential EV charger $66; dedicated circuit $10. Other charges and applicable surcharges remain.

Plan Review Time

Use the City EV eligibility checklist and required load calculations.

Common Pitfalls

A charger fee does not cover every associated service alteration.
Do not omit the issuance component or applicable surcharges.

Permit-to-closeout workflow

Check property

Confirm Riverside City jurisdiction and intended use

Select scope

Building, trade, site and fire applications as needed

Prepare documents

Use City forms, site plan and discipline calculations

Submit portal

Upload plans and respond to reviewer comments

Issue and inspect

Pay invoices and arrange required stage inspections

Complete finals

Resolve corrections and occupancy requirements

Permit fees and worked estimates

FY 2026/27 schedule is offered as effective July 1, 2026. Its 14% general-plan/technology surcharge applies where appropriate; components below exclude that assessment and other charges.

One water heater up to 100,000 BTU with one gas vent: $41 plumbing issuance + $37 heater + $18 vent = $96 in listed base components. July 1, 2026 schedule. Excludes applicable 14% surcharge, additional piping, plan review, other permits and state/agency charges; final invoice controls.

Trade	Permit fee	License fee
Electrical circuits and EV charging	FY 26/27 components: $41 issuance; residential EV charger $66; dedicated circuit $10. Other charges and applicable surcharges remain.	CSLB licensing schedule
Water heaters, fixtures and piping	FY 26/27: $41 issuance; heater up to 100,000 BTU $37; gas vent $18; water closet $41.	CSLB classification schedule
HVAC and ventilation	FY 26/27: $41 issuance; furnace $49; residential exhaust hood $24; commercial hood $483.	CSLB specialty schedule
Life safety and fire-system coordination	Current fire fee not verified; excluded from the worked example. Obtain the applicable fire review assessment; the building trade component example excludes fire fees.	System-specific credential schedule
Building and owner-builder coordination	FY 26/27 lists $41 issuance and $341 building plan-check components; valuation and other charges affect totals.	CSLB building classification schedule

Submission checklist

Describe the property, use and full scope.

Use City application forms and site-plan requirements.

Supply discipline calculations, contractor information or owner package.

Identify entitlement and fire review; use the at-risk form for concurrent entitlement/building review.

Homeowner and codes

Owners acting as builders use the City Property Owner’s Package. Use the City forms and bulletins for exemptions, equipment and the applicable adopted code; an owner signature does not waive professional-document or inspection requirements.

Inspections and closeout

Schedule and receive results through the Public Permit Portal. Keep the work accessible at the required stages, resolve corrections and obtain relevant final and occupancy approvals.

Official resources

Public Permit Portal instructions ↗FY 26/27 adopted fee schedule ↗Forms, owner package and City bulletins ↗Fee schedule effective-date landing ↗California contractor classifications ↗

Riverside Contractor Licensing & Permit Guide (2026)