California note
Whittier projects often need planning before plan check
Whittier Building and Safety asks projects to be evaluated by Planning Services before Building and Safety plan review, then permits and inspections follow.
For a Whittier property change, repair, or new build, the first stop may be Planning Services before plan check. That is the part to ask about before jumping straight to Building and Safety.
That can matter for more kinds of work than people expect: enlarging, repairing, changing, moving, tearing down, changing the use of, or building something new. Once Planning Services and any other required agency steps are handled, the project can move toward Building and Safety plan review and permit issuance.
Inspections usually come later during the work, and requests should be set up at least one business day ahead. Whittier also has an online permits and inspections portal, so the process does not have to live only at the counter.
The reason to slow down at the beginning is the setting. Whittier has older neighborhoods, hillside edges, business streets, and historic areas. Start with the address and the full idea, not the first task alone. Planning, plan check, permit, and inspection are connected steps.
Where to see it
Whittier Plan Check, Permits, and Inspections pages and the city's online permits and inspections portal.
Official sources
Official pages
Reviewed July 3, 2026
Current rules, forms, fees, deadlines, maps, and office instructions.
Rules, forms, fees, deadlines, and office procedures can change. Check the current page before you file, pay, or rely on a date.
Connected places
Open the local directory
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