How a permit moves from first submittal to final inspection
Building Safety, Codes & Services · 2024 I-Codes + 2023 NEC (eff. Jan 9, 2026)
Glendale permits are reviewed by Building Safety, Codes & Services (Development Services) and submitted through the City's Electronic Plan Review by project type. Here's how a residential or commercial permit moves from first submittal to final inspection — SOKO manages the whole process for you.
The Standard Permit Process
Submittal Electronic Plan Review
The homeowner, architect, or a licensed contractor may apply. Submit through the City's Electronic Plan Review section by project type.
Include the completed permit application, construction drawings, and any calculations/specs in PDF
Combine everything into one PDF where possible (separate PDF only if calcs/specs won't fit)
Residential and commercial application forms are on the City's Permit Applications page
Plan Review & Corrections
Drawings are checked against the Zoning Ordinance and adopted Building Codes. The review clock starts the next business day after the submittal is found complete.
Reviewers may issue correction comments requesting revisions or added information
Address the comments and resubmit; expect one or more review cycles
Target turnaround times are published in the City's "Review Times" schedule
Permit Issuance
Once drawings are approved and fees are paid, the permit is issued and you receive one set of approved plans to keep on the job site.
Fees are generally based on construction area (square footage) and project type/valuation
Keep the job-site permit copy and approved plan set available for every inspection
Inspections
As the job progresses, call for inspections on the automated line (below). Provide the inspector access plus the job-site permit and approved plans.
Green tag = work passed; proceed to the next phase
Red tag = correct the item and call for re-inspection
No portion of the work may be concealed until it has passed
Final Inspection & Certificate of Occupancy
A passing final inspection closes out the permit. Commercial and change-of-use projects also complete a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) inspection before the space can be occupied.
Residential final / C of O is inspection code 699
Commercial closeout runs the trade finals plus Building Safety and Fire C of O inspections
Scheduling Inspections
Automated Inspection Line (24-hr)
623-915-3263
Press 1 for English (2 Spanish), then 1 to schedule
Enter the numeric portion of your permit number, then #
Enter the three-digit inspection code, then confirm the day
Press 0 anytime for an operator
Call before 4:00 a.m. to land on the next business day's schedule. Plan ahead so the work is ready.
Common Inspection Codes
Residential: 615 Footing/UFER · 631 Framing · 632 Rough Electric · 636 Insulation · 637 Drywall · 650 Mechanical · 699 Final / C of O
Commercial: 130 Framing · 176 Exiting · 190 Accessibility · 199 Final Structural · 298 Final Plumbing · 299 Final Mechanical · 399 Final Electrical · 499 Final Fire
Permit validity: a building permit is valid six months from issuance, and stays active as long as work continues and inspections pass. After six months of inactivity it expires; after a year, new plans and full fees are required.
Faster-Track Notes
Minor work
Minor residential work may not require full plan review, which can shorten the path to issuance.
No formal expedite
Glendale does not publish a formal expedited / priority plan-review program — confirm current options with Development Services before relying on an accelerated timeline. SOKO's job is to submit clean, correction-free plans the first time — the biggest lever on how fast any Glendale permit clears.
Adopted codes: 2024 IBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IECC, IFGC, IFC, IEBC, IPMC & ISPSC; 2023 NEC; ICC A117.1-2017 and 2010 ADA for accessibility (per the City's 2024 Code Adoption Ordinance, effective January 9, 2026).
This overview is prepared by SOKO Designs as a convenience for our clients and reflects the City of Glendale's published process at the time of writing. The process, fees, forms, code editions, and contacts are set by the City and are subject to change — always confirm current requirements with the City of Glendale before submitting. SOKO Designs is a drafting and permitting firm and is not a department of the City.
We handle the permitting so you can build.
Have a project in Glendale or anywhere in the Valley? Let's get it submitted and cleared.
