Each entitlement is approved with a condition to submit construction plans for review within one year from the date of approval or the entitlement. Construction plans are to be submitted with the material outlined in the Plan Check Submittal Requirements, unless or in addition to outlined conditions as part of the entitlement.
Each application for plan check review is allotted three (3) rounds of plan check review. Each round may require review by, but not limited to, the following departments. Upon the review by all required departments, the applicant will be notified to address corrections - this completes one (1) round of plan check review.
- Planning
- Public Works
- Structural Engineer
- Fire Marshal
- Building Official
To submit construction plans for review, complete a Plan Check Application and submit documents as instructed in the Plan Check Submittal Requirements. These documents are accessible at the link below:
Any development that includes the construction of any building, structure, or other site improvement that requires significant pruning or removal of a protected tree is subject to the issuance of a Tree Removal/Pruning permit. The species that are protected in Sierra Madre include:
California Scrub Oak - Quercus berberidifolia
Coast Live Oak - Quercus agrifolia
Coastal Scrub Oak - Quercus dumosa
Engelmann Oak - Quercus engelmannii
Southern California Black Walnut - Juglans californica
Western Sycamore - Platanus racemosa
All parkway and park trees are also protected.
The Tree Removal and Pruning Permit application is accessible at the link below:
Sierra Madre Municipal Code (SMMC) provisions are accessible at the link below:
For developments that require the demolition of existing structures, as indicated by condition of approval for the entitlement or by review of the structural engineer, a demolition permit will be issued upon the completion of the procedures for demolition of a building.
The Building Permit form is used for demolition with scope of work clearly indicating the full or partial demolition of each building. The Building Permit form is accessible at the link below:
Discretionary Demolition Permit
The Discretionary Demolition Permit procedure is not considered a "postentitlement phase permit". The intent of a Discretionary Demolition Permit is to insure the preservation of any potential historic resources within Sierra Madre. For development that will require the demolition of any structure, the Planning Department will evaluate whether the procedure for Discretionary Demolition Permit apply. In general, demolition refers to any alteration of the exterior of structures and applies to structures built more than 75 years prior to the date of any application to the city. It should be noted that some structures built less than 75 years prior to the date of an application may be determined to be potential historic resources (Mid-Century Modern architecture for example).
The Historic Preservation division of the Planning and Community Preservation Department provides additional information about Discretionary Demolition Permits.
Sierra Madre Municipal Code (SMMC) provisions are accessible at the link below:
For developments that require work within the public right-of-way, an excavation/encroachment permit will be required. Examples of work that may require an excavation/encroachment permit include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Trenching for work on utility lines within the right-of-way
- Utility relocation
- Driveway expansion or curb construction
- Placement of storage container in street
- Diversion of traffic to accommodate construction
The Excavation/Encroachment Permit application is accessible at the link below:
Sierra Madre Municipal Code (SMMC) provisions are accessible at the link below:
For developments that are subject to a Low Impact Development (LID) plan, either by conditions of approval for entitlement or as applicable per Sierra Madre Municipal Code, a Grading, Drainage and LID Permit will be required. All development projects that add more than five hundred square feet of impervious surface area are subject to a low impact development plan.
To submit a low impact development plan for review, submit documents as instructed in the Plan Check Submittal Requirements in tandem with construction plans submitted with Plan Check Application. Plan Check Submittal Requirements are accessible at the link below:
The Grading, Drainage and LID Permit application is accessible at the link below:
Sierra Madre Municipal Code (SMMC) provisions are accessible at the link below:
A Building Permit is required for all projects involving the alteration of a structure, in whole or in part, including, but not limited to, removal and replacement of wall or ceiling coverings, relocation of non-bearing partition walls, and property line walls/fences. All developments may be issued a Building Permit upon the approval by the Building Official of construction plans reviewed by Plan Check Application.
It should be noted that the City of Sierra Madre does not provide an "all-in-one" type of Permit. Each development, as required, will need separate permits for each trade.
The City of Sierra Madre Building and Safety Department provides the application and form for Building Permit at the link below:
The purpose of the city of Sierra Madre art in public places program is to promote the general welfare by encouraging pride in the community, increasing property values, enhancing the quality of life, uniting the community around shared cultural experiences, and creating a cultural legacy for future generations. The program will achieve this purpose through the collection and exhibition of high quality, stylistically diverse art pieces, the chronicling of local history through the collection of artifacts, documents, and memorabilia, and the creation of programs and activities offering artistic opportunities. The program will implement the cultural and recreational elements of the city of Sierra Madre's general plan. Such a plan calls for provisions for the arts and other cultural resources in new commercial development within the city. The art in public places program will further that program goal by establishing a requirement that the design of certain projects incorporate a public art component.
For the purpose of the Art in Public Place Program, the following apply:
"Development project" means any development (including parking structures, mixed use, or commercial or industrial buildings), including remodeling, which requires a building permit or permits as described on the site plan submitted for approval to the city.
- All new development projects, including parking structures, residential developments of four units or more, and commercial and industrial development projects with a building valuation or valuations exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars in the aggregate, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter.
- Including, but not limited to, exterior and interior modifications and additions, all development projects consisting of the remodeling of existing nonresidential buildings, including parking structures, mixed use, or commercial or industrial buildings, shall be subject to the provisions of this chapter when such remodeling has a project valuation or valuations exceeding two hundred fifty thousand dollars in the aggregate, excluding earthquake rehabilitation required by this code for seismic safety. Individual tenant improvements in a commercial or industrial building shall be included.
- This two hundred fifty thousand dollar valuation threshold amount referred to in this section shall be adjusted for inflation in May of every even-numbered year based on the change in the Consumer Price Index For All Urban Consumers in the Los Angeles Riverside Anaheim standard metropolitan statistical area or any successor to that index. The city manager shall calculate the adjusted amount and give notice of the increased amount in the manner required by law for notice of ordinances of the city.
- As determined by the city council, the development, remodeling or reconstruction of buildings may be exempt from the fee for the art in public places program if:
- The building is intended primarily to house one or more social service providers or government agencies; or
- The project consists of the reconstruction of structures which have been damaged by fire, flood, wind, earthquake or other calamity.
"Art work" means durable creations that may be original or limited editions of art and that may include, but not be limited to, sculptures, murals, monuments, frescoes, fountains, paintings, stained glass, or ceramics and may include architecture pursuant to Section 17.90.150 of this chapter. Media may include, but not be limited to, steel, bronze, wood, stone and concrete. For purposes of the art in public places program, "art work" does not include the following:
- Directional elements, such as signage or graphics;
- Objects that are mass produced in a standard design; or
- Landscape gardening, unless substantially comprising durable elements defined as "art work" under this section.
"Durable" means lasting, enduring and highly resistant to deterioration due to weather or the passage of time.
"Project valuation" means the total value of the improvements approved for a development project, as indicated on the building permit application or applications submitted to the city in order to obtain a building permit or permits for the development project.
"Public place" means any exterior area on public or private property within the city of Sierra Madre which is easily accessible or clearly visible to the general public from adjacent public property such as a street or other public thoroughfare or sidewalk.
Prior to issuance of a final building permit or certificate of occupancy, the applicant or developer for projects identified in Section 17.90.040 of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code shall be required to either:
- Pay one percent of total project valuation of the development project for nonresidential projects, excluding land acquisition and off-site improvement costs, not to exceed four hundred fifty thousand dollars, for an art fee;
- Donate art work, as defined in Section 17.90.020(A), which shall have been approved by the city council pursuant to Sections 17.90.100 et seq., and which shall have a minimum value of one percent of the value of the proposed project development, not to exceed four hundred fifty thousand dollars, in lieu of the fee;
- Place art work, as defined in Section 17.90.020(A), which shall have been approved by the city council pursuant to Sections 17.90.100 et seq., and which shall have a minimum value of one percent of the value of the proposed project development, on the property on which the development project is located, not to exceed four hundred fifty thousand dollars, in lieu of the fee;
- Pay one-half of one percent of total project valuation of the development project for residential single-family projects of four or more units, including remodels and additions, not to exceed four hundred fifty thousand dollars, for an art fee; or
- Comply with a combination of the above subject to the approval of the city council.
All developments may be issued a Mechanical Permit upon the approval by the Building Official of construction plans reviewed by Plan Check Application.
It should be noted that the City of Sierra Madre does not provide an "all-in-one" type of Permit. Each development, as required, will need separate permits for each trade.
The City of Sierra Madre Building and Safety Department provides the application and form for Mechanical Permit at the link below:
All developments may be issued an Electrical Permit upon the approval by the Building Official of construction plans reviewed by Plan Check Application.
It should be noted that the City of Sierra Madre does not provide an "all-in-one" type of Permit. Each development, as required, will need separate permits for each trade.
The City of Sierra Madre Building and Safety Department provides the application and form for Electrical Permit at the link below:
All developments may be issued a Plumbing Permit upon the approval by the Building Official of construction plans reviewed by Plan Check Application.
It should be noted that the City of Sierra Madre does not provide an "all-in-one" type of Permit. Each development, as required, will need separate permits for each trade.
The City of Sierra Madre Building and Safety Department provides the application and form for Plumbing Permit at the link below:
All developments may be issued a Sewer Permit upon the furnished proof of clearance by the Los Angeles County Sanitation District, when required, and approval by the Building Official of construction plans reviewed by Plan Check Application.
It should be noted that the City of Sierra Madre does not provide an "all-in-one" type of Permit. Each development, as required, will need separate permits for each trade.
The City of Sierra Madre Building and Safety Department provides the application and form for Sewer Permit at the link below:
Developments with residential occupancies subject to state mandated installation of a solar photovoltaic energy system may be issued additional permits upon the review and approval of plans for the construction/installation of a solar energy system.
The installation of a solar energy system will require the issuance of a building permit and electrical permit, which is issued separately from the construction of main structures directly related to the development. Plans for the installation of solar energy systems may be submitted deferred from the plans for construction of main structures directly related to the development.
Additional information related to permitting residential solar energy systems, including a checklist for submittals and permit forms, may be found at the link below:
All developments will be subject to payment of fees for all applications and permits. The fees for Plan Check Review and Building Permit are based on the project valuation. A project's valuation shall reflect the calculation prescribed by the International Code Council's latest edition of Building Valuation Data. Fees for all other permits are fixed and may be dependent on the size of the project.
Please refer to the latest fee schedule available at the link below:
Sierra Madre Municipal Code (SMMC) provisions are accessible at the link below:
It should be noted that proof of payment of developer fees, imposed by Education Code Section 17620, to either Arcadia Unified School District or Pasadena Unified School district, whichever is applicable, will be required prior to completion of construction.
