City Departments

Building & Safety

The Building and Safety Department is responsible for reviewing construction/structural plans and building under construction. The department does this to verify code compliance with minimum building and safety standards required by Local Codes and Uniform Building Codes.

COUNTER HOURS

Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 am
Friday from 8:00 am to 9:30 am

Required Building and Safety Permits

Building and Safety is managed by a county employee, not a city employee.

A building, electrical, or plumbing permit is required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, connect, convert, demolish, or equip, any building, structure, or portion.

Examples are:

Garages
Room Additions
Swimming Pools
Workshops, Sheds
Patio Covers, Awnings
Fences, Block Walls
Storage Buildings
Retaining Walls (over 3')
Re-roofing

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas piping permits are required for all installation of electrical wiring, garbage disposal, dryers, water heaters, sinks, swimming pool piping, air conditioners, lawn sprinklers, water softener, solar, and fans.

This is necessary to ensure that all buildings meet minimum standard that protects its occupants and neighbors not only in everyday living, but also in case of an emergency or natural disasters.

Permits shall be issued to duly licensed contractors, however, a home owner or his/her relatives can obtain a permit to do the construction, alteration of a one or two family dwelling, provided that work will be performed by the homeowner.

Contractor's Business License

All contractors hired by the owner of the building and sub-contractors hired by the general contractor need to obtain a City of Artesia Business License prior to the issuance of any building permit. Each vehicle used by the general or sub contractors requires a valid business license sticker for easy identification (renewable annually).

Required Building Plans

Obtain City Planning Department approval and building permits before starting any construction work. Applications for an approval and permit will require two (2) sets of plans, showing the following:

Plot Plan/Site Plan that shows:
Recommended Scale: (1/8" = 1') or (1' = 10')

Location and size of proposed buildings.
Location of other buildings and structures on the lot.
Side and rear setback distance.
Distances between buildings.
Roof eaves.
Landscaped areas vs. paved concrete (walkways/driveways).

Elevation Plan that shows:
Recommended Scale: (1/4" = 1')

Total height of the structure and floor/ceiling height..
Materials and color.
Architectural design of the structure.

Floor Plan that shows:
Recommended Scale: (1/4" = 1')

Location, size and intended use of the proposed rooms.
Location and size of windows and doors.

Structural Plan (if construction is over 400 square feet) that shows:
Recommended Scale: (1/4" = 1') :

Foundations, structural elevation and details pertinent to the forming of the building. (Typical framing detail sheets and other data are available at the Building and Safety Department, Artesia City Hall, 18747 Clarkdale Avenue.

Electrical and Plumbing Plans that show:
Recommended Scale: (1/4" = 1')

Switches, outlets fixtures.
Electrical and plumbing work may be performed by homeowner if residential building, otherwise by a licensed contractor.

School Board Fees

If construction is 500 square feet or more, school fees will be required to be paid prior to the issuance of the Building Permit.

Note:
Homeowners should verify that the proper permits have been obtained where work will be performed by others.

Frequently Asked Questions about Building and Safety