Building Safety

UPDATED: May 18, 2020

In coordination with the City and County of Los Angeles, the City Manager of the City of Culver City issued a supplemental Public Order(PDF, 2MB)  today calling on residents of the City of Culver City to stay in their residences and limit all activities outside of their homes beyond what is absolutely necessary for essential tasks.  On those occasions when residents are out of their home for necessary tasks, they should stay at least six feet away from others. The purpose of the order is to slow the spread of COVID-19.  Once the order takes effect it will be in place until April 19, 2020 and is subject to extension. The City is currently evaluating how it can continue to provide in-person services at City Hall while also encouraging social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Safety Guideline for Construction Sites

Pursuant to the authority of Building Code Section 104.1, and consistent with the intent and purpose of the Building Code, I hereby issue these COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for Construction Sites.  These Guidelines shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in the Building Code.

The following Guidelines are based on Interim CDC’s Guidance for Businesses and Employers to Plan and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, and other publications.

Construction industry employers shall develop a comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control plan, which includes control measures such as social distancing, symptom checking, hygiene, decontamination procedures, and training. An exposure control plan and the following practices must be followed to prevent any onsite worker from contracting COVID-19, as many people with COVID-19 are asymptomatic and can potentially spread disease. Failure to comply with this guidance shall be deemed as creating unsafe conditions and may result in withheld inspections or shutting down the construction site until corrected.

Culver City Building Safety staff will verify compliance with these guidelines during regular scheduled inspections for projects under construction as well as during investigations associated with complaints that may be submitted to the City of Culver City Coronavirus Hotline: call (310) 253-6890 or email coronavirus@culvercity.org.

• Practice social distancing by maintaining a minimum 6-foot distance from others.
• Preclude gatherings of any size, and anytime two or more people must meet, ensure minimum 6-foot separation.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate for the activity being performed.
• The owner/contractor shall designate a site specific COVID-19 Supervisor to enforce this guidance. A designated COVID-19 Supervisor shall be present on the construction site at all times during construction activities. The COVID19 Supervisor can be an on-site worker who is designated to carry this role.
• Identify “choke points” and “high-risk areas” where workers are forced to stand together, such as hallways, hoists and elevators, break areas, and buses, and control them so social distancing is maintained.
• Minimize interactions when picking up or delivering equipment or materials, ensure minimum 6-foot separation.
• Stagger the trades as necessary to reduce density and maintain minimum 6-foot separation social distancing.
• Discourage workers from using other workers’ phones, desks, offices, work tools and equipment. If necessary, clean and disinfect them before and after use.
• Post, in areas visible to all worker, required hygienic practices including not touching face with unwashed hands or with gloves; washing hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds; use of hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, cleaning AND disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces such as workstations, keyboards, telephones, handrails, machines, shared tools, elevator control buttons, and doorknobs; covering the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing as well as other hygienic recommendations by the CDC.
•  Place wash stations or hand sanitizers in multiple locations to encourage hand hygiene.
• Require anyone on the project to stay home if they are sick, except to get medical care.
• Have employees inform their supervisor if they have a sick family member at home with COVID-19.
• Maintain a daily attendance log of all workers and visitors.

  Lukas Quach, MBA, RCE, SE, QSP/D, CASp, CBO  - Culver City Building Official

Attention Permittees

Please read the attached Public Health Requirements and adhere to the instructions outlined.

 “All essential businesses must adhere to the following public health protocols: …. Adhere to communicable disease control recommendations provided by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, including guidance for cleaning and disinfecting the site. Essential businesses must follow the industry-specific guidance issued by the Health Officer on the Public Health website related to COVID-19.”

Please link to Culver City Public Health Requirements for Businesses(PDF, 584KB)

Inspection services ARE operational, expect delays. Inspection requests should be made via email at building.safety@culvercity.org. Please provide the following information:

• Permit number (s)
• Site address
• Type of inspection being requested.  Include any additional info that the inspector might need to properly conduct your inspection.
• Date of desired inspection. (Inspection dates are not guaranteed.  You will receive a confirmation email once your inspection is scheduled.)
• Inspection contact name and phone number.

Inspections may be conducted in person or virtually via FaceTime or Cisco Webex Meet. Practice social distancing during the inspection. If you are not feeling well, please reschedule the inspection.

1. Complete the permit application for the specified scope of work: 
   • Building Permit Application
   • Mechanical Permit Application(PDF, 909KB)
   • Electrical Permit Application
   • Plumbing Permit Application
2. Please be sure to provide a contact name, phone number and email address.
3. Send the completed application to building.safety@culvercity.org or fax it to (310) 253-5824.

4. Staff will process the application and you will receive an invoice of fees along with a link to our online payment portal.

5. Once the payment has been processed, the issued permit will be sent back for electronic signature and must be signed by the contractor, property owner as owner/builder or agent for the contractor or property owner. Contractors will be required to have a current Culver City business license.

Only the following building permit types may be handled electronically via email.

• Window Replacement Permitting Guidelines(PDF, 458KB)
• Block Wall Instructions
• Retaining Wall via Standard Plan (hillside exempt)
• Voluntary Seismic Retrofit per LADBS Standard Detail
• Signage (pre-approved by Planning)

1. Send a completed Application for Building/Demo Permit with plans to building.safety@culvercity.org
2. Staff will process the application and you will receive an invoice of fees along with a link to our online payment portal.
3. Your plans will routed electronically to the appropriate departments.
4. Staff will notify you via email with corrections or approval.
5. If your plans are approved staff will email the issued permit for electronic signature.  Permits must be signed by the contractor, property owner as owner/builder or agent for the contractor or property owner. Contractors will be required to have a current Culver City business license.
6. Once we have received the signed permit, we will send the approved/stamped plans to you via email.

To see if you qualify for a streamlined "no fee" expedited permit click below.

If you do not qualify for an expedited Solar PV or EVSE, please follow the instructions below:

1. Send a completed Electrical Permit Application with a pdf of your plans to building.safety@culvercity.org
2. Staff will process the application and your plans will routed electronically to the appropriate departments.
3. Staff will notify you via email with corrections or approval.
4. If your scope of work includes scope that is not integral to your solar or EVSE work, you will receive an invoice of fees along with a link to our online payment portal.
5. If your plans are approved staff will email the issued permit for electronic signature.  Permits must be signed by the contractor, property owner as owner/builder or agent for the contractor or property owner. Contractors will be required to have a current Culver City business license.
6. Once we have received the signed permit, we will send the approved/stamped plans to you via email.

1. Complete the permit application for the specified scope of work: 
   • Building Permit Application
   • Mechanical Permit Application(PDF, 909KB)
   • Electrical Permit Application
   • Plumbing Permit Application
2. Please be sure to provide a contact name, phone number and email address.
3. Wrap the completed application(s) around the required number of plans and drop in the bin labeled "Building Safety Drop Off" located outside of our offices on the 2nd floor of City Hall. Plans are accepted for drop off from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday and open Fridays.

4. Plans and applications will sit for approximately 48-72 hours for sanitization prior to processing.

5. Staff will process the application(s) and you will receive an email with invoice of plan check fees along with a link to our online payment portal.

6. Once the payment has been processed, you will receive and email confirmation of payment and a subsequent email verifying that your plans have been routed to the appropriate departments.

Please Note:  All plan checks are running approximately 15-20 business days from date of payment and routing.

1. Bring the required number of resubmittal, revision or addendum sets along with a detailed narrative of either correction responses or changes and drop in the bin labeled “Building Safety Drop Off” located outside of our offices on the 2nd floor of City Hall.  Drop off of plans is available from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday, and open Fridays.
2. Plans and applications will sit for approximately 48-72 hours for sanitization prior to processing.
3. Staff will process the application(s) and you will receive an email verifying that your plans have been routed to the appropriate departments.

4. Some minor revision/addendums may be handled digitally. Please email building.safety@culvercity.org with a summary of the changes and a pdf copy of the existing approved plan sheet and updated sheet.

Please Note:  All plan checks are running approximately 15-20 business days from the date of payment and routing.

1. A correction list will be sent out by email only when all departments have completed their review. Please follow the directions in your email notification.
2. To pick up the plans you must email building.safety@culvercity.org, include “Request Plan Pick Up” and permit number in your subject line. Let us know what day you would like to pick up.
3. Staff will arrange for the plans to be place outside in our pick up bin labeled “Building Safety Correction Pick Up” located outside of our offices on the 2^nd floor of City Hall.  The plans will be labeled with the plan check number and property address. Pick up of plans is available from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday and open Fridays.

1. Building Safety staff will notify you of approved plans and will send the invoice of fees with a link to our online payment portal.
2. We will require that you provide us with your contractor's name, state license number, Culver City business license, phone number and email. Contractors will be required to have a current Culver City business license.
3. Once the payment has been processed, the issued permit will be sent back for electronic signature and must be signed by the contractor, property owner as owner/builder or agent for the contractor or property owner. Contractors will be required to have a current Culver City business license.
4. Once Building Safety receives the signed permit, we will contact you to coordinate a time to pick-up the plans from the “Building Safety Issued Plan Pick-Up” bin located outside our offices on the 2nd floor of City Hall.  The plans will be labeled with the permit number and property address. Plans are available for pick up 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday - Thursday and open Fridays.

Click here to view form.

Smoke Detector Requirements for Resale(PDF, 365KB)

Information Bulletin for Gas Shutoff Valve(PDF, 136KB)

Standard Block Wall Detail 6ft. or Less

General List of Required Building Permits(PDF, 55KB)