*NOTICE: Effective Wednesday, October 1, 2025, citywide fees will increase. Projects submitted on or after this date will be subject to the new fee amounts. Contact staff for more information.

Permitting (previously known as Building & Safety) are responsible for issuing permits and advising architects, engineers, designers, and the public. This division also reviews all building plans for compliance with code requirements, and makes periodic inspections during the course of construction.

Building permits are issued based on the current edition of the California Building Codes and local City amendments, encompassing building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, sewer work, state energy requirements, and state accessibility laws. These codes are enforced to protect you and your property investment. The permitting process ensures that your project proceeds according to safe building practices and can offer assurances that contractors are properly licensed to perform the work.

Building Codes

The 2022 California Building Codes, including the Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Fire Code, and the Green Building Standards Code, become mandatory throughout the State of California on January 1, 2023. Lancaster has amended these codes and adopted them as the Lancaster Codes for Buildings and Construction. Click here for the Lancaster Amendments.

Online Submittals

Most permit requests, fee payments, and inspections can be processed online through the Accela Citizen Access (ACA) Portal, including all residential permits, solar, water heaters, mechanical/electrical/plumbing permits, and signs. Combination commercial permits, such as new buildings, additions, and tenant improvements, must still be applied for using the standard Building & Safety Permit Application. Once the application is received, the permit will be made available for access in the ACA Portal, where applicants can monitor their status and upload documents.

For help with how to use our ACA Portal, please review our training guides on the Fee Schedules & Forms page.

Expedited Solar Permitting

Lancaster expanded its "solar friendly" guidelines for permitting small-scale solar photovoltaic systems for one and two-family dwellings to include solar thermal systems as well. Toolkits for Solar Photovoltaic, Solar Pool Heating, and Solar Domestic Water Heating systems are available. Plans for projects complying with these toolkits are eligible for expedited review, you may submit your application and plans online for next business day review and permitting in the ACA Portal. Instant residential solar and battery storage permits are now available, see the Instant Permits page for more information about how to apply. 

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention

On May 7, 2010, Senate Bill (SB) 183 was enacted into law and is known as the Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act (Act). This will require the placement of carbon monoxide devices in all dwelling units; and requires that the presence or absence of these devices must be disclosed when residential real estate is transferred. Click here for more information.