Stop Work Order Information

Stop Work Order Information

A “Stop Work Order” is a legal demand issued by the City of Santa Clarita Building & Safety Division requiring you or your contractor to stop all construction work on the project and/or property immediately. Construction debris shall not be removed from the site until approved by Building & Safety.

Stop Work Orders may be issued in response to unpermitted construction, or construction which violates City zoning or building codes. The types of projects which require a building permit include, but are not limited to:

• Home remodeling and room additions (excluding painting, replacing finished flooring, moldings, replacement of kitchen or bathroom cabinets, wallpapering, etc.)
• Patio covers and trellises
• Accessory structures such as gazebos, greenhouses, and storage sheds over 120 sq. ft.
• Swimming pools – new or remodeled
• Block walls over 42 inches in height
• Accessory dwelling units (ADU) or Junior Accessory Dwelling Units (JADU).
• Conversion of a garage into a living or sleeping space

The property owner is responsible for ensuring that construction work on their property complies with City codes and that a building permit is issued prior to commencing the work.

A homeowner or contractor may apply for a building permit online or in person at:

Permit Center at City Hall
City of Santa Clarita
23920 Valencia Blvd., Suite 140
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
(661)-255-4935
www.santaclarita.gov

Construction plans may be required as needed for the scope of work.

The Building Permit Process:

1. Visit the City Permit Center or santaclarita.gov for assistance in determining what clearances and permits may be required for your project.
2. If construction plans are required for your project, they will need to be reviewed by Permit Center staff to make sure the project meets City codes. For very small projects, the plan review can often be done over-the-counter. For other projects, the plan review process can take several weeks.
3. Once all clearances have been obtained, and all applicable fees have been collected, a building permit can be issued to a licensed contractor or the property owner.
4. A building permit becomes invalid if the work is not commenced and inspected by Building & Safety within twelve months of issuance.

Building Inspections:

1. Once a building permit has been issued, please schedule a preliminary site visit by a Building Inspector to verify the scope of work and ascertain what inspections are necessary for you to move forward with your project. The Building inspector can lift the Stop Work Order and the project can move forward.
2. Rough inspections of framing, electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical work (air conditioning and heating systems) shall be completed and approved before covering or concealing these elements.
3. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to notify Building & Safety that work is ready for inspection. Instructions for requesting inspections are listed on the permit documentation.
4. A final inspection shall be completed when the construction work is finished.

Failure to Comply:

If construction work continues after being issued a Stop Work Order, the property owner shall be subject to fines and a lien placed on the property.