Development Services | City of Glendale, CA

PLANNING PRE-APPLICATION SUBMITTAL NOW AVAILABLE The Pre-Application Submittal is no longer on hold and is now available for submittal at www.GlendaleCA.gov/Permits. Please note a new fee for the application is in effect and can be used as a credit toward a design review application for up to one year after completion. If you have questions, please reach out to a planner at Zoning@GlendaleCA.gov, or (818) 548-2140. You can also schedule a counter appointment at GlendaleCA.gov/PlanningAppt to meet with a planner and discuss your questions or have an initial consultation about a project.

Property Research

In addition to the resources accessible through the buttons and zoning map at the top of this page, please consider the following resources as part of your property research process. Understanding the specific circumstances of your property is an important first step to a successful application process.

Glendale Records
Building Permit Records
Planning Case Records
Recent Property Record Summary
Monthly Building Permit Reports
Current Project with Planning Applications

Specialty Maps
Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Seismic, Geologic, Flood, Fire, Hazardous Materials
Blueline Streams, Protected Ridgelines, Liquefaction/Landslide, Faults, Dam Inundation
Hillside Slopes
Homeowner Associations
Annexations
Special Setbacks May 14, 2008

Los Angeles County Records
Los Angeles County Assessor Parcel Maps (for lot size if no survey is available)
Los Angeles County Assessor Parcel Information
Los Angeles County Assessor Records
Los Angeles County Public Works Land Records (subdivision maps, etc.)
Los Angeles County Building Records

Google Resources
Google Earth
Google Street View

Inspection Support

How to Schedule an Inspection

From the Glendale Permits home page, click "Request Inspection"
Log in to your Glendale Permits account.
Select the permit you would like to schedule an inspection for.
Locate the Available Actions box and select your desired inspection.

If you're unable to schedule an inspection, you may need assistance linking a permit to your account.

To link a Building and Safety permit, call (818) 548-4836.
To link a Fire Prevention permit, call (818) 548-3207.
To link a Public Works Engineering permit, call (818) 548-3945.

Inspections Office Contact Information and Hours
633 E. Broadway, Room 100, Glendale, CA 91206
Counter hours are Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
To speak with Inspections staff, call (818) 548-4837, Monday - Friday, 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Plan Check Requirements

Create a Glendale Permits Account

Create a Glendale Permits account. If you need assistance creating an account, please watch the tutorial video below.

If you're a permit runner, you may use Glendale Permits to apply on behalf of your client. You should use your company's information when applying. However, do not register your client for an account using your company email. Your client will need to use their name and email to register for a Glendale Permits account, which they must have in order to be added to the permit/license as the true applicant during the application submittal process. Once your client has a Glendale Permits account, add your client as an "Owner" or a "Contractor" during the "Add Contact" step of the application. Once you've submitted your application, your company account will be listed as the applicant -- the contact who will handle the application process.

Contact Information

Permit Services Center
633 E. Broadway, Rm. 101, Glendale, CA 91206
The Permit Services Center counter is available for general inquiries:
Monday & Wednesday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Tuesday & Thursday: 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM & 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM*
Friday: Closed

*Fire construction inspection staff are not available Tuesday & Thursday afternoon.

General: (818) 548-2140
Building Permits and Plan Check: (818) 548-3200
Planning Applications: (818) 548-2115
Licensing: (818) 937-8300
Special Event Permits: (818) 548-4844 Option 1

Applying for a Contractor's Business License

To apply for a Contractor's Business License, visit Glendale Permits, the City of Glendale's permits portal. You'll need to create a Glendale Permits account before applying.

If you're submitting a new application for a Contractor's Business License, please note that licenses issued this year will be valid only for the remainder of the current calendar year. To obtain a full-year license, please apply on or after January 1 of the following year.

All Class A, B, and C licensed contractors must have a current and valid contractor’s license with the Contractor's State License Board. As part of the application process, you will need to provide the following supporting documentation:

Contractor State License Pocket Card
Worker's Compensation file (if applicable)

Please be aware that if you have multiple licenses as a contractor, you only need to apply for the highest license you hold. For example, if you hold a Class A and Class B license, you need only apply for Class A, which covers all sublicenses. Failure to apply for the highest tier license held will restrict usage of the higher license and trigger additional fees.

Please note that the license will be issued to the individual whose name is displayed as the license holder. If the name in the license holder field does not match the name of the person logged in to Glendale Permit, please request that the contractor apply for the license. If you are a permit runner, please request that the contractor apply for the license.

If any information entered is inaccurate and does not align with the records of the Contractors State License Board, the City contractor license will be voided. All licenses expire at the end of the calendar year and will require renewal.

Requesting a Planning and Zoning Appointment

City of Glendale planners are happy to meet with you in person. An in-person consultation requires an appointment. Before requesting an appointment, consider the following questions. You may be able to receive assistance sooner over the phone.

Do you have a general planning/zoning inquiry unrelated to plan review? Email Zoning@GlendaleCA.gov or call (818) 548-2140. Our typical response time for this type of inquiry is one to three business days.
Do you need to find out the zone or development standards of a property? Review the City's interactive zoning map to find out the zone. Zoning standards are available in Title 30 of the Glendale Municipal Code. Standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are available on the ADU page.
Do you need to submit a completed planning application packet? Please contact the case planner who gave you the application submittal packet.
Are you working with a planner who is reviewing your project? Please continue working with that planner for your project, including plan check resubmittals.
Do you need to find out whether you need a permit and its associated fees? Contact the Permit Services Center at (818) 548-3200.
Do you need to find out the status of your permit? Log in to Glendale Permits to check the status of your permit.
Do you need to report a code violation? Contact the City's code compliance team at (818) 548-3700.

If none of the above questions apply to you, please proceed with requesting an appointment with a planner. You will receive an appointment confirmation email.

In-person appointments with a planner are held in the Municipal Services Building at the Glendale Civic Center located at 633 E. Broadway, #101, Glendale, CA 91206. Your appointment is scheduled to last 20 minutes. Free parking is available in the Civic Center Parking Structure at 650 E. Wilson Avenue.

If you need to discuss more than one project/address, please schedule a separate appointment time for the additional project(s)/address(es). Please do not schedule more than one appointment per project.

If you no longer need the appointment, please cancel the appointment before the schedule time.

Certain types of projects require approval from Glendale Water & Power. You are responsible to obtain Glendale Water & Power clearance for your project.

Asbestos Removal Notification Requirements

Most building permits require the person pulling the permit to complete a City of Glendale Renovation/Demolition Acknowledgement Form. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) offers guidance on complying with the requirements of Rule 1403 Asbestos Removal and Demolition Notifications.

Effective November 1, 2016, asbestos contractors must submit all Rule 1403 Asbestos Removal and Demolition Notifications and fee payments (via E-Check or accepted credit or debit card) to SCAQMD online. Applications submitted to SCAQMD via fax or email will not be accepted.

Prior to submitting online Rule 1403 Notifications to SCAQMD, asbestos contractors must first complete an online registration process. To comply with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) standards, the identity of the person registering must be confirmed and his/her signature on the registration packet witnessed and stamped by a Notary Public. The asbestos contractor is responsible for payment of any service fee charged for notarization of documents.

Learn how to register for the SCAQMD Rule 1403 Notification System.

How to Apply for a Home Occupation Business Permit

To run a business from your home in Glendale, you'll need to obtain a Home Occupation Business Permit. Any business that is run from or conducted in a residence must have a Home Occupation Business Permit. Medical transcribing, accounting, telephone sales, computer programming, contractor’s offices and consulting are a few examples of permitted types of in-home occupations.

You'll need to meet eight basic requirements to receive your Home Occupation Business Permit from the City of Glendale.

The business must have a valid home occupation permit issued by the Permit Center.
Deliveries or shipments of product or merchandise to or from the residence are prohibited.
No customers can visit the property. All customer contact must be done through the mail or done electronically. No flyers or signs which encourage customers to visit the property are permitted.
No storage of product, supplies (other than office supplies) or equipment on the property.
The business use must be secondary to the residential use of the property. That is, you must live in the house, and not just use it for a business.
No signs advertising the business may be placed on the property, including the mailbox.
The residence may only be used by the occupants. No employees of the business are permitted to work on the property.
No activities are permitted which are out of character with a residential neighborhood.

Home Occupation Business Permits are only valid for the address where you currently reside. If you move, you'll need to get a new permit for your new address.

You may run a business from your apartment, subject to the requirements above. Before running a business from your apartment, you should check your rental agreement or lease. Similarly, you may run a business from your condo, subject to the requirements above. Before running a business from your condo, you should check the CC&R's for your development and any rules that might be adopted by your association.

To apply, visit Glendale Permits, the City of Glendale's permit portal. You'll need to create a Glendale Permits account before applying. For any questions about the application requirements or process, please email HomeOcc@glendaleca.gov or call (818) 548-2140.

Enforcement Suspended for All-Electric Building Requirements

Effective June 4, 2024, the Glendale City Council suspended enforcement of Section 4.1(b), subsection 4.106.5 and Section 5.106.5 of Glendale’s local amendments to the California Energy Code, which require that newly constructed buildings be “All-Electric” and prohibits the use of gas combustion equipment or plumbing for gas combustion equipment in newly constructed buildings. All other provisions of Ordinance No. 5999 and the California Energy Code remain in effect.