Four Ways to Find Your Building Department
- Google "[your city name] building permits" or "[your county name] building department"
- Check your property tax bill — it shows your taxing jurisdiction (city or county)
- Call your city or county government main line and ask for "building permits" or "building inspections"
- Search your county's GIS parcel map — most are free online and confirm your jurisdiction
City vs. County: Which Issues Your Permit?
This is the most common point of confusion. If your property is within the incorporated limits of a city or town, your permit is issued by that city's building department. If your property is outside any city limits (unincorporated), your permit is issued by the county.
This matters because city and county rules often differ significantly — even for adjacent properties. A home a quarter-mile outside city limits may have different permit thresholds, fee schedules, and engineering requirements than a home inside the city.
To confirm your jurisdiction: look at your property tax bill (shows your taxing entities), search your county assessor's website by parcel number, or call your county assessor's office.
What to Ask When You Call
When you reach the building department, have your property address ready plus a brief project description. Ask:
- "Do I need a permit for a retaining wall that is [X] feet of retained height?" (use footing-bottom measurement)
- "Is there a driveway above the wall — does that change the answer?"
- "Do I need engineer-stamped plans for this wall?"
- "What is the permit fee for this type of project?"
- "What is your current review time for residential retaining wall permits?"
- "Do you offer over-the-counter same-day review for simple walls?"
- "Can I apply online, or is it in-person only?"
Write down the name of the person you spoke with and the date. If they tell you no permit is required, ask them to send a brief email confirming the exemption. This documentation protects you at resale.
Online Permit Portals
Most major cities and many counties now operate online permit portals. Search for any of these in your jurisdiction:
- "[city name] online permits" or "[city name] permit center"
- "[county name] ePermits" or "[county name] permit portal"
- "[city name] development services"
Major portals: Los Angeles LADBS online, Chicago DOB ePermit, NYC DOB NOW, Seattle SDCI permit portal, Denver Community Planning, and most county GIS/permit systems in Texas, Georgia, and Florida metro areas.
If You Cannot Find the Right Office
- Call 311 (available in most cities) and ask to be transferred to building permits or building inspections.
- Search your state's department of commerce or labor website for a directory of local building departments.
- Ask a licensed local contractor — they work with building departments daily and can identify the right office immediately.
- Contact your title company if you recently purchased the property — they can confirm your jurisdiction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — HOA approval and building permits are separate requirements. A building permit from your city or county does not satisfy your HOA's CC&R requirements, and HOA approval does not substitute for a building permit. You need both if both apply to your property. Get HOA approval first (typically 2–4 weeks) so you know the design is accepted before spending money on engineering and permit fees. See our guide: HOA and Retaining Walls.
Get it in writing — either an email confirmation or a written exemption letter. A verbal "no permit needed" protects you less than a written record if questions arise at resale or if a neighbor files a complaint. Most building departments will confirm exemptions by email if you ask. Keep that record permanently with your property documents.
Yes. Permit denials can be appealed to the local Board of Adjustment or Board of Building Appeals — most jurisdictions have a formal appeals process with a 30-day filing window. Appeals are appropriate when you believe the code was misapplied, not simply when you want an exception to a correctly applied rule. For most retaining wall permit issues, the resolution is to modify the design or provide additional documentation rather than appeal.