Three different governments issue permits in our service area. Valencia, Saugus, Newhall and Canyon Country are in the City of Santa Clarita. Stevenson Ranch, Castaic, Val Verde, Agua Dulce and Acton are unincorporated Los Angeles County. San Fernando is its own city, and Sylmar is in the City of Los Angeles. The answers below are for the City of Santa Clarita unless we say otherwise.
Do I need a permit for a driveway or patio in Santa Clarita?
For a plain patio or a driveway that stays on your own lot, you generally do not need a building permit. The California Building Code lists sidewalks and driveways on private property among work exempt from a permit. You do need a permit from the City as soon as the work touches the street side. The Engineering Services Division states that encroachment permits are required for all work within the public right-of-way, and that includes the driveway approach, curb, gutter and sidewalk. Slabs that carry a building or patio cover need a building permit from Building & Safety.
Do I need a permit to widen my driveway?
If you widen only the part on your lot, usually no building permit is needed, but zoning still applies. If you widen the opening at the curb, yes, that is right-of-way work and needs an encroachment permit. The City's residential standards in section 17.57.020 say a driveway must be at least 10 feet wide and require half of the required front yard to stay landscaped where a second driveway is added. Ask the Planning Division before paving a front yard.
Who owns the driveway apron: me or the city?
The apron, which the City calls the driveway approach, sits in the public right-of-way, so the City controls how it is built. The cost of keeping it up is generally the fronting owner's. Santa Clarita builds residential approaches to a published standard plan, and the work needs an encroachment permit.
Who is responsible for the sidewalk in front of my house?
The property owner is. California Streets and Highways Code section 5610 puts the duty to maintain the sidewalk on the owner of the fronting lot. Santa Clarita Municipal Code section 13.80.010 says the same for sidewalks and curbs that are out of repair. Cities sometimes fix damage caused by their own street trees, so ask the City before paying.
The city sent a notice to fix the sidewalk. What do I do?
Read the date on it first. If the city sent a repair notice, it will name the location and a deadline, and the Municipal Code allows the City to do the work and bill the owner if nothing happens. Call the number on the notice, ask whether a street tree is involved, and get a quote. The contractor pulls the encroachment permit before starting.
Do I have to use the city's contractor or can I hire my own?
In the normal case you can choose your own contractor. The contractor has to obtain the City encroachment permit, meet its insurance requirements and build to City standards. Santa Clarita's permit terms require concrete to be saw-cut and replaced score line to score line or by full panel, so a small patch is not allowed.
How close to the property line can I pour concrete?
Flat concrete at ground level can usually run up to the property line, because a slab is not a structure with a setback. What you may not do is send your water next door or bury the base of a shared wall. Leave a strip for drainage where you can. Walls, steps and raised slabs follow different rules, and HOAs often set their own.
Do I need a survey before pouring?
Not for a patio in the middle of the yard. A survey is worth it when the pour runs along a boundary nobody can point to, when a wall will sit near the line, or when a neighbor disputes where the line is. A block wall is not proof of the line. Only a licensed land surveyor can set it.
Do I need HOA approval?
In much of Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Saugus and Canyon Country, yes. HOA rules are private and separate from City permits. Most associations want a drawing, the finish and color, and sometimes neighbor signatures before hardscape changes. Approval can take a few weeks, so file before you book a pour date.
How much of my lot can I cover with concrete? Is there an impervious surface limit?
The answer depends on the zone. Santa Clarita's residential standards deal with front yard landscaping and rear yard coverage by roofed structures. We did not find one flat impervious percentage for every home, so we will not quote one. The Planning Division can tell you the rule for your parcel, and your HOA may be stricter.
When does a retaining wall need an engineer or a permit?
The California Building Code exempts retaining walls that are not over 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless they support a surcharge. A surcharge means a slope, driveway, building or other load above the wall. Since a great many walls here hold up a slope, most need a permit and an engineer's design. Check with Building & Safety or the County for your lot.
How do I find underground utility lines before digging?
Contact DigAlert, the 811 centre for Southern California, by calling 811 or using digalert.org. It is free. California Government Code section 4216.2 requires notice at least two working days before digging, not counting the day you call, and no more than 14 calendar days ahead. A ticket is good for 28 days. Utility lines you own, such as sprinklers, pool plumbing and septic, are not marked.
I need a wheelchair ramp and a wider walkway. Are there rules?
For a private house there is no single required design, but the usual guide is a ramp no steeper than 1 inch of rise per 12 inches of run, with level landings. A ramp that is raised off the ground, has handrails or attaches to the house may need a permit. Businesses and rentals must follow state accessibility standards. We price ramps after a visit.
My house is old or in a historic area. Can I replace the old concrete?
Usually yes. Santa Clarita has few historic controls on private flatwork, but the older blocks of Newhall and some individual properties have design review. If the walk has a contractor's date stamp or old scored pattern you like, we can match the scoring on new concrete. Ask Planning whether your address has any historic status.
Are the rules different outside the City of Santa Clarita?
Yes. In unincorporated areas such as Stevenson Ranch and Castaic, Los Angeles County Public Works issues the permits. In Sylmar it is the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety and the Bureau of Engineering. San Fernando has its own counters. State rules such as section 5610 and the 811 law apply everywhere.
Rules change. We confirm the current requirement with the right office for your address before we start. Call (661) 718-4706.