Highland, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Highland adopts the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, by reference in § 15.04.010, and designates the building official as the authority charged with administration and enforcement. Section 15.04.030(A) then amends CBC Section 105.2, Work exempt from permit, by amending items 2 and 9 and adding new items 14 and 15. The city's chapter reprints only those four items; the rest of the Section 105.2 list comes from the adopted state code text.

Item 2 exempts wood, chain-link, plastic, vinyl, metal or similar fences not over 6 feet in height, and masonry or concrete fences not over 3 feet in height, measured from the lowest adjacent grade to the top of the wall. A fence that serves as a swimming pool enclosure does not qualify. Item 9 exempts prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 18 inches deep, do not exceed 5,000 gallons and are installed entirely above ground.

Item 14 exempts decks not over 200 square feet (18.58 m2) in area, not more than 30 inches (762mm) above grade at any point, not attached to a dwelling and not serving the exit door required by Section R311.2. Item 15 exempts a flagpole not more than 20 feet in height, measured from the lowest adjacent grade to the top of the pole, on a residential zoned lot.

A permit that is required also has a clock. Amended Section 105.5 makes a residential permit invalid unless work commences within 365 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days between each required inspection. A commercial permit is invalid unless work commences within 180 days. The building official can grant, in writing, only one extension of 180 days, and it must be requested in writing with justifiable cause demonstrated. Section 109.7 covers work started without a permit: a special investigation is made before a permit is issued.