Building Inspection Department

The 2025 CA Building Codes - The 2025 California Building Standards Code becomes effective January 1, 2026. All permit and plan-review applications submitted on or after this date must comply with the 2025 codes; applications submitted through December 31, 2025 will continue to be reviewed under the 2022 codes. For more information, visit the California Building Standards Commission or contact the Planning & Building Department at (707) 445-7245 or planningbuilding@co.humboldt.ca.us.

Reduced In-Person Counter Service Hours  - As of July 1, 2024, the Humboldt County Planning and Building Department will reduce the in-person counter service hours. The new hours of operation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday, with the department closed on Fridays.

AOB Owner/Agent Application Required  - As of August 1st, 2023, the Building Division requires the owner of the parcel to apply for Alternative Owner-Builder (AOB) building permits. Additionally, the owner of the parcel will need to act as the general contractor throughout development. As the general contractor you may subcontract, but you must be the primary point of contact. See the AOB tab on our First Time Applying for a Building Permit page for more information.

Digital Permit Application Required  - As of July 5^th, 2023, the Building Division requires new permit applications to be submitted digitally. Building related permit application submissions will be accepted via email at buildinginspections@co.humboldt.ca.us. Once applications are received, permit status can be accessed via the county’s existing online permit management system known as the Accela Citizen Access Customer Portal. Community members who are unable to submit a digital application should email buildinginspections@co.humboldt.ca.us or call (707) 445-7245 for assistance.

WUI Requirements for AOB - As of April 4^th, 2023, the Building Division is requiring new construction of Alternative-Owner Builder (AOB) dwellings built in high and very high fire severity zones to comply with the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) requirements described in CRC R337 and CBC 7A. This requirement comes from the Humboldt County General Plan Chapter 14 S-P27. Refer to the WUI Listed Products Handbook for products that will meet these standards.

Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) - As of January 1^st, 2023, the Building Division is enforcing the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), a statewide water conservation law for new and renovated landscapes. See the MWELO – General Handout and our Resource Library for more information.

The 2022 CA Building Codes - As of January 1^st, 2023, the Building Division is enforcing the newest iteration of the California Title 24 building codes, titled the 2022 CA Building Codes. See our Building Codes subpage for a list of codes and standards currently enforced.

The Humboldt County Building Division plays a critical role in protecting the public health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that buildings are designed and constructed in a manner that meets minimum safety and quality standards, and that they are maintained in a safe and habitable condition over time. This is accomplished through the issuance of permits and the performance of required plan reviews and inspections.

As part of the Planning and Building Department, Building Inspection is responsible for:

• Resolving building/housing code violations
• Processing building permit applications
• Reviewing construction plans for compliance with current code
• Collecting fees
• Conducting field inspections

The Humboldt County Building Division consists of office assistants, permit technicians, building inspectors, and plans examiners. 

• Office Assistants answer phones, take payments, and perform other clerical duties.
• Permit Technicians process permit applications, calculate fees, and make recommendations regarding County procedures and plan requirements.
• Building Inspectors perform health and safety inspection work in the interpretation and enforcement of structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and related codes and regulations.
• Plans Examiners review residential and commercial construction documents to ensure plans and all necessary calculations comply with current building regulations and codes.

• With a credit card over the phone (we accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). There is a 2.35% processing fee added to all card payments
• Check (or cashier’s check or money order) If mailing, address to: 3015 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501. Be sure to include an application number or Assessor's Parcel Number (APN) so we can credit the payment to the correct project. Payments will be processed 1-2 days after they are received
• Cash payments can be taken at the front counter at the Eureka office.

If you would like to make a public records request follow this Public Records Request link.

The Board of Supervisors approved a Safe Home Program which allows existing residential structures that were built without permits to be permitted with a waiver of penalty fees (standard permit fees will apply). For residences permitted through the Alternative Owner-Builder (AOB) Ordinance refer to the Safe Home Program – AOB packet. For typical development (not AOB) refer to the Safe Home Program packet. This program is set to expire on December 31, 2027 so don’t wait!

The Accela Customer Portal is an online resource for customers to apply for building and planning permits. Certain projects may also allow permit issuance directly through Accela. Additionally you can upload required documents, check permit status, download documents, schedule inspections, submit a plot plan for preliminary review, and view the daily inspection routes. See the Accela Support Services for more info.

The Humboldt County Web Geographic Information System (GIS) is our online resource for maps and other data layers from our Geographic Information System. This system can be used to research whether a parcel is in a flood zone, state responsibility area, or qualifies for alternate owner builder. See the Web GIS Guide and Important GIS Layers for more information.

The Humboldt County Code provides access to the codification of the general ordinances of Humboldt County. The Division 3 Building Regulations and Division 11 Fire Safe Regulations are often referenced for building permit applications.

To report a possible code violation, complete the Complaint of Possible Code Violation form and email it to codeenforcement@co.humboldt.ca.us.