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City of Los Banos

Building

Building Department

Mission Statement

The Los Banos Building Department provides services to assure that the buildings constructed in the City of Los Banos are built to the standards of the current Building Standards as defined in the building codes and construction standards adopted by the City of Los Banos, thus giving the citizens of Los Banos the best possible buildings.

The Building Department runs under the direction of Fire Chief Paul Tualla, and all building inspection services are contracted out under his direction. The Department is available by phone at (209) 827-7000 ext. 1300 or email at losbanosbldg@csgengr.com Monday thru Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Background

The regulation of building construction is not a new phenomenon. It is, in fact, traced back in history to over 4,000 years ago. Today, the United States is covered by a network of modern building regulations ranging from fire and structural safety to health, security, and conservation of energy.

The State of California, along with local governments, have enacted and adopted numerous building and fire related codes in order to protect your life, health, and property. Likewise, state law requires the City, as the local jurisdiction, to provide comprehensive building code enforcement services, including plan reviews and site inspections.

The Building Department uses building permits to manage building inspections and related applicable fees. These are required to ensure that the project is in compliance with applicable building and fire regulations. These codes and regulations are based upon past construction and are to ensure that safe and proper building practices are adhered to.

Many projects besides new construction projects and major remodeling require building permits. These include the new installations that are listed in the table in this section. In general, building permits are required whenever a building or structure is constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, or demolished. There are some minor projects that are exempt and no permits are required. Call the Building Department at City Hall at (209) 827-7000 ext. 1300 or email at losbanosbldg@csgengr.com before you start any work to see if your project requires a permit. Checking with staff first can save you time, money, and penalty fees.

In addition, your Los Banos Building Official provides many services and all of which benefit the public:

  • Education
  • Technical Support
  • Plan review
  • On-site construction inspections
  • Energy code compliance
  • Earthquake, hurricanes, tornado, flooding, and other natural disaster awareness/preparedness
  • Floor plan management
  • Technical support concerning barrier-free access
  • Approval of alternative methods and materials
  • Public information including records and data
  • Budget management
  • Coordination of the permit process with other departments and government agencies

Building Applications and Forms

Permit Applications

Additional Forms

Storm Water Pollution Prevention

Construction Waste Management

California Government Code Section 4469.5 Notice

Compliance with disability access laws is a serious and significant responsibility that applies to all California building owners and tenants with buildings open to the public. Pursuant to Assembly Bill 3002 that went into effect on January 1, 2019, the notice below provides information regarding disability access requirements and resources to property owners.

Each city, county, or city and county that issues building permits for additions, alterations, and structural repairs to commercial property, or building permits for new construction of commercial property, shall make readily available, and, upon submission to the city, county, or city and county of an application for a building permit, shall provide to the applicant, an informational notice to the applicant to increase compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 12101 et seq.) and the state Unruh Civil Rights Act (Section 51 of the Civil Code) by owners and tenants of commercial property used for public accommodation or business purposes and to facilitate that compliance by increasing awareness of these laws and the resources available to aid with compliance, resulting in more public accommodations and businesses being accessible to all persons, regardless of physical disability.

Solar Submittals

How to apply for an instant residential solar and/or battery storage permit:

  1. Click the ‘Get Started’ button and enter the property address..
  2. Select the ‘Rooftop Solar or Battery Storage’ button.
  3. Answer questions about the proposed solar energy system. Symbium instantly checks for compliance with State and local regulations and provides substantive analysis of why (or why not) the project meets code requirements.
  4. Apply for a permit online. You don’t have to leave Symbium to submit your permit application. Using Symbium, your permit will be issued automatically, without manual review or an in-person visit. Symbium even automatically verifies your contractor’s and business licenses.
  5. Stay informed. You will receive status updates via email as well as on your Symbium dashboard.
  6. Watch a demo of how to use Symbium to apply for an instant solar permit, visit Demo

Charts

These charts are helpful tools to use in applying for a Building Permit.

Contact Us

Visit us in person at City Hall!  We are located at 520 J Street, Los Banos, CA 93635.

Or drop us an email at losbanosbldg@csgengr.com.

We’re also available to you by phone! Give us a call at (209) 827-7000 ext. 1300.

Business Hours are Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.