Simi Valley Municipal Code Ch. 5 Permits

Except as specified in this Chapter, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this Title and the technical codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from the Building Official.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)

(a) A permit shall not be required for the types of work in each of the separate classes of permit as set forth in this Chapter.

(b) Exemption from the permit requirements of this Title shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in violation of the provisions of the technical codes or any other laws or City ordinances.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)

(a) A building permit shall not be required for the following:

(1) One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11 m 2 ), the building is fourteen (14) feet or less in height, and does not contain electrical, mechanical or plumbing work.

(2) Fences not over seven (7) feet (2,134 mm) high.

(3) Oil derricks.

(4) Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters and partitions not over five (5) feet nine (9) inches (1,753 mm) high.

(5) Retaining walls which are not over four (4) feet (1,219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A Liquids.

(6) Water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed five thousand (5,000) gallons (18,925 liters) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed two (2) to one (1).

(7) Platforms, sidewalks and driveways not more than thirty (30) inches (762 mm) above adjacent grade, and not over any basement or story below, and are not part of an accessible route.

(8) Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.

(9) Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery.

(10) Shade cloth structures constructed for nursery or agricultural purposes, not including service systems.

(11) Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings.

(12) Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of detached one- and two-family dwellings, and Group U Occupancies when projecting not more than fifty-four (54) inches (1,372 mm).

(13) Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a detached one- and two-family dwellings. Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed five thousand (5,000) gallons (18,925 liters), and less than twenty-four (24) inches (610 mm) deep.

(14) Replacement, repair or overlay of less than ten percent (10%) of an existing roof within any twelve (12) month period.

(b) Unless otherwise exempted by this Title, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)

A plumbing permit shall not be required for the following:

(a) The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drainpipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided in this Title.

(b) The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures, including the removal and reinstallation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)

A mechanical permit shall not be required for the following:

(a) A portable heating appliance.

(b) Portable ventilating equipment.

(c) A portable cooling unit.

(d) A portable evaporative cooler.

(e) A closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the Mechanical Code.

(f) Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the technical codes.

(g) Refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the technical codes.

(h) A unit refrigerating system as defined in the Mechanical Code.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)

An electrical permit shall not be required for the following:

(a) Portable motors or other portable appliances energized by means of a cord or cable having an attachment plug end to be connected to an approved receptacle when that cord or cable is permitted by the Electrical Code.

(b) Repair or replacement of fixed motors, transformers or fixed approved appliances of the same type and rating in the same location.

(c) Temporary decorative lighting.

(d) Repair or replacement of current-carrying parts of any switch, conductor or control device.

(e) Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles, but not the outlets therefore.

(f) Replacement of any overcurrent device of the required capacity in the same location, except service equipment.

(g) Repair or replacement of electrodes or transformers of the same size and capacity for signs or gas tube systems.

(h) Taping joints.

(i) Removal of electrical wiring.

(j) Temporary wiring for experimental purposes in suitable experimental laboratories.

(k) The wiring for temporary theater, motion picture or television stage sets.

(l) Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than twenty-five (25) volts and not capable of supplying more than fifty (50) watts of energy, except in hazardous (classified) locations.

(m) Low-energy power, control and signal circuits of Class II and Class III as defined in the Electrical Code.

(n) A permit shall not be required for the installation, alteration or repair of electrical wiring, apparatus or equipment or the generation, transmission, distribution or metering of electrical energy or in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence by a public or private utility in the exercise of its function as a serving utility.

(§ 2 (Exh. A), Ord. No. 1346, eff. January 5, 2023)