Fountain Valley, CA Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)

Chapter 18.34 of the Fountain Valley Municipal Code requires a separate parking paving permit from the building official before anyone constructs, reconstructs, alters, enlarges or paves a parking area in the City of Fountain Valley, including resurfacing or re-striping. Permits go only to holders of the appropriate contractor's license. No separate paving permit is needed for paving within or under a building with a valid building permit, or for paving serving residential occupancies where the paved area is 1,000 square feet or less (§ 18.34.030).

Section 18.34.070 then sets the inspection sequence. The subgrade inspection happens once the compaction report reaches the building official and the site is cleared and ready for fill or aggregate base; the building official can waive it when no fill operation is planned or the fill is minor. The base inspection follows once the base or subgrade is at proper grade and alignment for paving and all required curbs and gutters are in place. The final inspection comes when the parking area is complete and every requirement of the chapter is met. At each step the building official either approves that portion or tells the permit holder or agent how it fails to comply.

Other Fountain Valley inspection rules work differently. Grading permittees must notify the building official before clearing, brushing or grubbing and again when work is ready for inspection, and final approval waits on drainage facilities, erosion control and required reports (§§ 18.06.120, 18.06.140). A small residential rooftop solar system gets a single inspection, scheduled within one business day (§ 18.27.060).