Chino Hills Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Chino Hills Building Permits, Inspections & City Services

If you are planning a remodel, new construction, patio cover, pool, roof replacement, electrical upgrade, water heater replacement, commercial tenant improvement, or another construction project in Chino Hills, the main local office is the City of Chino Hills Building & Safety Division.

The division handles building permit applications, digital plan review, permit issuance, and field inspections for permitted construction. Most of the process is now online, so in many cases you can apply, upload plans, follow your application, pay fees, and request an inspection without making repeated trips to City Hall.

Chino Hills Building & Safety Contact Information

Hours and procedures can change around holidays or temporary City Hall closures. If you are making a special trip, check the official department page first.

What Does the Chino Hills Building Department Handle?

Building & Safety deals mainly with construction safety and building-code compliance. Its core services include:

• Residential and commercial building permits.
• Building plan review.
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work associated with construction permits.
• Grading and related building approvals.
• Construction inspections.
• Permit-status assistance.
• Questions about adopted building codes.
• Access to permit applications and technical handouts.
• Building permit and completed-project records.

Planning, engineering, fire, business licensing, environmental health, or another agency can still be involved depending on the project. A building permit does not automatically replace those approvals.

Do You Need a Building Permit in Chino Hills?

In general, the City requires a permit when a person constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, demolishes, or changes the occupancy of a building or structure. Regulated electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical work may also require permits.

The City’s published examples of residential work that normally requires a permit include:

• Water heater replacement.
• Re-roofing.
• Interior remodeling.
• Window replacement.
• Patio covers.
• Second-story decks.
• Balconies.

Commercial permit examples include construction or removal of walls, changes in occupancy, certain tall shelving or display systems, and alterations to electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems.

For the City’s project-specific guidance, use its When Is a Permit Required? page.

Work That May Be Exempt From a Building Permit

The City publishes a separate list of work exempt from building permits. One example is a qualifying one-story detached accessory structure used as a tool or storage shed when it does not exceed the City’s stated size and height limits.

However, permit exemptions contain conditions and exceptions. Before starting work, read the City’s current Work Exempt From Permits guidance instead of relying on a contractor, neighbor, or old permit rule.

How to Apply for a Chino Hills Building Permit

1. Define the exact project scope.
   Write down what you are building or changing, the job address, approximate dimensions, and whether the work affects structure, electrical, plumbing, mechanical equipment, grading, or occupancy.
2. Check whether Planning approval is needed.
   Projects involving additions, new buildings, exterior changes, signs, new businesses, setbacks, land use, or design review may need Planning Division approval before or during the building-permit process. The City’s Planning Division page explains current services.
3. Open the City’s Virtual Development Services portal.
   Go to Chino Hills VDS. Create or sign in to your customer account. Building applications are submitted electronically; the City no longer relies on traditional paper submittals for these applications.
4. Select the correct permit or application type.
   Use the project description that best matches the work. If you are unsure, review the City’s permit applications and handouts or call Building & Safety before submitting.
5. Upload the required plans and documents.
   Depending on the work, this may include a site plan, floor plan, elevations, construction details, structural calculations, energy documentation, product information, or other technical material.
6. Respond to plan-review comments.
   If corrections are issued, update the drawings or documents and resubmit through the portal. Answer each correction clearly so the reviewer can identify what changed.
7. Pay the required fees.
   When the application reaches the payment stage, follow the instructions in the portal. Some projects may have building, plan-review, technology, development, school, impact, or other charges.
8. Download or retain the issued permit and approved plans.
   Do not begin regulated construction simply because an application was submitted. Wait until the required permit has actually been issued.

Documents to Prepare Before Applying

Requirements depend on the job, but preparing the following information early can reduce avoidable review delays:

• Full property address.
• Property owner and applicant information.
• Contractor information when applicable.
• Clear description of proposed work.
• Site or plot plan when site conditions matter.
• Floor plans and dimensions.
• Existing-versus-proposed drawings for remodels or additions.
• Structural plans and calculations when required.
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical information.
• California energy compliance documents when applicable.
• Manufacturer specifications for equipment or listed systems.
• Applicable Planning approval or entitlement information.

The City also states that a Smoke Detector and Carbon Monoxide form is required for residential projects with a valuation of $1,000 or more, and a Construction and Demolition Recycling Waste Management Plan is required for qualifying residential and commercial projects involving 500 square feet or more.

How Long Does Plan Review Take?

The City’s Building & Safety FAQ says a plan check generally takes about 15 business days for each submittal. Large, unusual, or complicated projects may take longer.

This is not a guaranteed permit-issuance date. Total processing time can increase when plans are incomplete, corrections are substantial, another division must approve the project, outside-agency review is required, or revised drawings are submitted.

Make the review easier

• Upload complete plan sets instead of scattered pages.
• Use consistent project addresses and owner names on all documents.
• Answer every correction item.
• Clearly identify revisions.
• Do not submit multiple conflicting versions unless requested.
• Check your VDS account for new comments or invoices.

Chino Hills Building Permit Fees in 2026

There is no single building-permit price. Cost depends on the permit type, construction scope, project valuation, plan review, and additional charges.

The City’s 2026 fee schedule lists examples such as:

These figures are examples from the City’s published schedule, not a quote for your project. General Plan, technology, plan-review, development, impact, or other charges can apply.

Before paying, check the current City of Chino Hills Master Schedule of Fees.

The City also publishes a 3.75% convenience fee for credit/debit-card transactions and a $1.95 processing fee for e-check payments through VDS. Payment policies can change, so confirm the amount shown at checkout before submitting payment.

How to Schedule a Building Inspection

After your permit is issued and construction reaches a required inspection stage, request the inspection through the same Virtual Development Services portal.

1. Sign in to your VDS account.
2. Open the issued permit record.
3. Find the inspection section.
4. Select the correct inspection type.
5. Choose an available date or request the next eligible business day.
6. Add access or contact notes if requested.
7. Submit the request and verify that it appears on the permit record.

For example, the City states that a request submitted after the cutoff on Friday would normally move to Tuesday.

Before the inspector arrives

• Have the permit available.
• Keep approved plans accessible at the site.
• Make sure the work being inspected is visible and not covered.
• Provide safe access to the inspection area.
• Have required ladders, panels, equipment, or access points ready.
• Make sure an authorized person can provide entry when necessary.

If access is not provided, the City warns that a reinspection fee may be charged. To cancel a scheduled inspection, call Building & Safety at 909-364-2780.

Common Building Inspection Stages

The actual inspection sequence is determined by your permit and approved plans. Depending on the job, inspections can include:

• Footing or foundation work before concrete is placed.
• Underground plumbing, electrical, or utilities before covering.
• Framing.
• Rough electrical.
• Rough plumbing.
• Rough mechanical.
• Insulation or energy-related inspections.
• Drywall, lath, or other required assemblies before concealment.
• Equipment installation.
• Final inspection.

Do not cover work that must be inspected first. Doing so can lead to delays and may require finished work to be opened again.

How to Check a Permit or Inspection Status

For a permit you applied for through VDS:

1. Open Virtual Development Services.
2. Sign in using the account connected to the application.
3. Open your permit or project record.
4. Review its current status.
5. Check for plan-review comments, unpaid fees, issued documents, inspection requests, or inspection results.

If you cannot locate a record, have the property address, permit number if known, applicant name, and approximate project date ready before contacting staff.

How to Find Old Chino Hills Building Permits

Permit history is useful when buying a home, planning a remodel, checking whether an addition was permitted, researching a previous project, or preparing plans for future construction.

The City states that building permits from 2010 to the present can be searched through its public-record resources. Older records may require a formal public-record request.

1. Open the City’s Public Records & Information page.
2. Look for the Building Permits records option.
3. Search using the available address or record information.
4. If the permit is not online, use the City’s Public Records Request Portal.
5. Describe the property, approximate permit date, type of work, and specific documents needed.

For construction plans, the City says plans completed before 2024 were historically retained for a limited period. Beginning in 2024, construction plans are maintained electronically and may be requested through the City’s records process.

Chino Hills incorporated in December 1991. For very old construction records that City staff cannot locate, San Bernardino County may hold pre-incorporation permit information.

Building Codes Used in Chino Hills in 2026

Chino Hills adopted the 2025 editions of the California Building Standards Codes for the 2026 code cycle, together with local amendments.

Current City references include:

• 2025 California Building Code.
• 2025 California Residential Code.
• 2025 California Electrical Code.
• 2025 California Mechanical Code.
• 2025 California Plumbing Code.
• 2025 California Energy Code.
• 2025 California Green Building Standards Code, commonly called CALGreen.

The City adopted local amendments through its building-code ordinance, so statewide code books should not be read in isolation.

For a broader explanation of the statewide 2026 code change, see our California Building Code 2026 guide.

Building Permit vs. Planning Approval

This is one of the most common sources of confusion.

Building & Safety reviews construction for building-code compliance. Planning deals with land use, zoning, setbacks, design review, conditional-use issues, development standards, and related planning requirements.

A project can satisfy building-code requirements but still need Planning approval before a permit is issued.

Planning Division: 909-364-2750.

When Engineering or Public Works Is Involved

Work affecting a public street, sidewalk, curb, gutter, public right-of-way, transportation route, grading activity, or certain infrastructure may involve the City’s Engineering Division in addition to Building & Safety.

The City’s VDS system is also used for engineering permits such as encroachment, rough grading, and transportation permits.

Engineering Division: 909-364-2770.

Commercial Projects and New Businesses

Commercial projects can involve several approvals beyond the building permit. Depending on the business and construction scope, you may need:

• Land-use or zoning clearance.
• Tenant-improvement plan approval.
• Sign approval.
• Building, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permits.
• Fire review.
• Environmental Health approval for certain food or regulated businesses.
• Business licensing.
• Final inspections.
• Certificate of Occupancy when applicable.

A useful order is to verify land use first, then prepare tenant-improvement plans, obtain required building and outside-agency approvals, complete permitted construction, pass final inspections, and confirm occupancy requirements before opening.

Hiring a Contractor

A permit does not guarantee that a contractor is properly licensed or qualified. Before signing a contract or paying a large deposit, verify the contractor through the California Contractors State License Board license check.

Confirm the license belongs to the person or company giving you the proposal, check its status, and make sure the classification is appropriate for the work.

Common Reasons Permit Applications Slow Down

• Missing drawings or documents.
• Incorrect project address or parcel information.
• Plans that do not clearly show existing and proposed conditions.
• Missing structural or energy information.
• Planning approval not completed.
• Unanswered plan-review corrections.
• Revised plans that do not identify changes.
• Outstanding fees.
• Outside-agency approval still pending.
• Applicant not checking portal messages.

A little preparation can save a frustrating back-and-forth later. If you are unsure what to submit, asking Building & Safety before uploading an incomplete application is usually more efficient than guessing.

Make Sure You Are Using the Correct Jurisdiction

The City of Chino Hills Building & Safety Division handles properties within its jurisdiction. Do not choose a permit office only because a mailing address appears to be near Chino Hills.

If your property is outside the city, use the authority responsible for that parcel. Our U.S. building department directory can help you locate another jurisdiction.

California cities can have different portals, inspection deadlines, local amendments, and fees. For example, the process described in our Azusa Building Department guide is different from Chino Hills, so never transfer another city’s permit instructions to a Chino Hills project.

Quick Chino Hills Permit Checklist

• Confirm the property is under City of Chino Hills jurisdiction.
• Determine whether the work requires a permit.
• Check Planning requirements.
• Prepare complete plans and supporting documents.
• Create or sign in to the VDS portal.
• Submit the correct application.
• Monitor plan-review comments.
• Pay required fees only after verifying the correct record.
• Wait for permit issuance before beginning regulated work.
• Request required inspections before covering work.
• Complete final inspection and required closeout steps.

Chino Hills Building Department FAQs

Independent guide: USBuilding.org is not the City of Chino Hills. Permit requirements, fees, inspection procedures, and office hours can change. For a project-specific decision, the City of Chino Hills remains the final permitting authority.