Process Guides
Forms & Specifications
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Commercial/Industrial Buildings

This Guide is designed to help you through the permitting and construction processes associated with a new commercial building project. Commercial buildings are defined as buildings that are intended for nonresidential use, operations of which will affect commerce, including factories, warehouses, office buildings, retail stores, restaurants, or other buildings where employment may occur. A building permit is required for all new commercial buildings.

We recommend that the first thing you do is schedule a Pre-Application meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to give you the opportunity to meet with representatives from various City departments/divisions to identify and discuss any major issues at an early stage of the project. To schedule call 619-585-5621 or visit the Planning Division counter located in the Public Services Building at 276 Fourth Avenue (northwest corner of 4th and F, downtown Chula Vista.)

To apply for a building permit, you need to stop at our Building Counter. For us to accept your permit application, you must provide us with a complete submittal package. A complete submittal package consists of the following:

1. A completed New Construction Worksheet, Form 4561 (pdf)
2. Four copies of a Plot/Site Plan, drawn to scale, showing the general layout of the building site, location all buildings, distances between buildings and building to property lines, retaining walls and all other structures, and all applicable disables access requirements.
3. Four copies of construction plans and details, including but not limited to; title sheet, foundation plan, floor plan, elevations, exiting plan, roof plan, cross sections, reflected ceiling plan, plans demonstrating compliance with disabled access requirements, framing plans and details, lighting plan, electrical/plumbing/mechanical plans and other applicable plans as listed in the New Construction Worksheet, Form 4561 (pdf)
4. Two copies of each of the following documents are required; Soils Report (two additional copies required for projects utilizing post tension foundation design), Title 24 energy compliance documentation (Certificate of Compliance sheets shall be reproduced on actual plan sheets), structural analysis, engineered trusses layout and details (if roof/floor trusses are used), single line diagram for electrical services over 200 amps, approved Health Department Plans (if applicable.)
5. A completed Hazardous Materials Questionnaire (If you answer "Yes" to any of the items in Part II or III, you must obtain approval from the appropriate County office as listed under Part II or III of the Questionnaire.)

During the permitting process you will be asked to pay two separate fees; Plan Check Fee and Permit Fee. You are required to pay the Plan Check Fee before we can take in your application for plan check. As for the Permit Fee, you must pay it at time of permit issuance. Both fees are determined by the type of construction, type of occupancy and square footage of the building. For additional information on fees, please see Fee Information page.

After our Development Services Technicians (DST's) verify that the application package is complete, and you pay the Plan Check Fees, they will forward a set of plans/documents to each of the four departments/divisions; Building, Planning, Engineering and Fire. Approval from all four departments/divisions is required prior to permit issuance. To contact any of the departments/divisions, please see the contact list shown at the end of this document.

The plan check process is then tracked in our Automated Tracking System and the project is assigned a standard turn-around-time. The standard turn-around-time for an initial review is 28 calendar days. The standard turn-around-time for follow-up reviews (rechecks) is 14 calendar days.

After you obtain all the required approvals and pay the Permit Fee, a DST will issue you a building permit. Now you can start construction. At certain stages of the construction, you must schedule for an inspection. The following list represents the sequence of required inspections for a typical commercial/industrial building:

1. Underground plumbing and electrical.
2. Foundation.
3. Tilt-up panels (if applicable.)
4. Pour strip (if applicable.)
5. Floor framing and deck pan (if applicable.)
6. Roof framing & roof nailing.
7. Exterior wall construction.
8. Interior wall framing and rough electric.
9. T-Bar ceiling and rough trades (electrical, plumbing & mechanical).
10. Drywall nailing.
11. Lath nailing.
12. Electrical service.
13. Final Inspection.

After all required inspections are approved and required approvals from other divisions and/or departments are obtained, our Building Inspector will notify the utility company to release the electric meter and a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued. The issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy authorizes you to occupy and use the facility based on the permitted use shown on the Certificate of Occupancy.