Article 2a. Building Permits of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 13. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 2. >> Article 2a.

No person shall construct a building subject to this chapter unless he has obtained a written permit for that purpose from the appropriate enforcement agency.

Any person desiring a permit shall file an application therefor with the appropriate enforcement agency, which application shall contain:
  (a) The name and address of the applicant.
  (b) A detailed written statement of the work to be done.

The applicant shall file with his application:
  (a) A complete set of the plans of the work proposed.
  (b) A set of specifications describing the materials to be used in the work.
  (c) The fee prescribed for filing an application for a building permit.

The governing body of any county or city, including a charter city, may adopt an ordinance prescribing fees for filing applications pursuant to this chapter, but the fees shall not exceed the amount reasonably required by the local enforcement agency to issue permits pursuant to this chapter, and shall not be levied for general revenue purposes. The fees shall be imposed pursuant to Section 66016 of the Government Code. Where the Department of Housing and Community Development is the enforcement agency, the Commission of Housing and Community Development may establish a schedule of fees to pay the cost of administration and enforcement of this chapter. All rules and regulations promulgated by the commission under the authority of this part shall be promulgated pursuant to Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

Where work for which a permit is required by this chapter is started or proceeded with prior to the obtaining of such permit, the fees prescribed in Section 19132.3 shall be doubled. The payment of such double fee does not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this chapter in the execution of the work.

The enforcement agency shall determine the cost of the work to be done for which the applicant desires a permit, and shall be guided by approved estimating practices. The enforcement agency shall keep a permanent account of all fees received under this chapter, the names of the persons upon whose account the same were paid, the date and the amount thereof, and the location of the building or premises to which they relate. All fees received shall be paid into the treasury of the city or county.

The United States, the State of California, school or other districts, counties and cities shall not be required to pay a fee for filing an application for a building permit pursuant to this chapter.

The enforcement agency shall examine the application, plans, and specifications filed with it by an applicant, and if it appears that the work to be done will not result in a violation of this chapter, shall approve them and issue a permit to the applicant.

The enforcement agency may approve changes in any application, plans, or specifications previously approved by it.

The enforcement agency may revoke any permit if the permittee refuses, fails, or neglects to comply with any provision of this chapter, or if it finds that any false statement or misrepresentation was made in the application, plans, or specifications filed by the permittee.

The work authorized by a permit shall be performed only in accordance with the application, plans, and specifications filed by the permittee.

The issuance of a permit does not constitute approval of any violation of any provision of this chapter.

In any case where a building subject to this chapter is also subject to any permit provisions of the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to the provision of the State Housing Law, it shall not be necessary to make duplicate filings of plans and specifications hereunder, to include in the application a detailed statement of the work to be done, nor shall it be necessary to pay a fee for filing an application for a building permit under this chapter if a fee is prescribed by local ordinance for a permit under the State Housing Law. In such cases, the application hereunder may contain a general statement of the work to be done, with a specific reference to the application, plans, and specifications filed under the State Housing Law.