Permit Center 2025 Annual Report
February 24, 2026
Community Development
Lisa Brinton, Director
2025 Permit Center Annual Report Contents
2025 Permit Center Staff Report
2025 Permit Center Annual Report Dashboard
2025 Permit Center Key Actions Taken
2025 Permit Finance Committee Presentation
2025 Permit Center Annual Report PowerPoint Presentation 2026 Permit Draft Values in Action
2025 Identified Issues and Resource Needs
Staff resources are insufficient compared to volume
Division and department coordination is lacking process for final decision-making Zoning, building, engineering and fire codes have different criteria that can be confusing or even conflicting Internal Hurdles
Customer Complaints
2025 Staffing
Permit Services Organizational Chart
*Represents vacant positions
*Represents vacancies filled
Staff Training
Draft Values in Action
ADU Workflow Improvements
Currently, all Building plan checkers and inspectors have obtained certification as residential plans examiners.
Certification
Building plan checkers are completing training with the goal to Shift ADU plan reviews from consultants to City staff.
Training
Building inspectors are providing homeowners with Code Check booklets to help them learn important code requirements.
Resources
Building Inspectors created a visual guide to help homeowners identify which inspection to request.
Guides
Pre-Approved ADU Plans
The average time from permit application to approval for Pre-Approved ADUs is 53 days less than regularly designed ADUS. 60 homeowners have used the free plans to apply for a detached ADU.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permits by Year
The 2025 volume of applied, approved, and issued and permits hovered between 2023 and 2024 values Finaled ADUs increased by 23% from 2024 to 2025 and 44% from 2023 to 2025
MADOLORA
TM2025-001
09/03/25 (SB330)
BONDESEN
TM2025-004 8/29/25 (SB330)
MORTENSEN TM2025-002 09/05/25 (SB330)
CHRISTENSEN
TM2025-003 SUBMITTED 5/13/25
EAST BORONDA, LLC
TM2021-001
APPROVED
SPR
PARCEL 241 OF TM2021-001
SUBMITTED 1/18/24
Central AreaSpecific Plan
FGA Subdivision Status
Name
Area
Units
Completeness Review
Consistency Review
Tentative Map Approval
Final Map Approval
Site Plan Review
Building Permit Application Review
Christensen
CASP
670 Dwelling Units
Bardin Ranch
EASP
859 Dwelling Units
Bondensen
WASP
638 Dwelling Units
Madolora
WASP
648 Dwelling Units
Mortensen
WASP
391 Dwelling Units
East Boronda Phase One
CASP
415 Dwelling Units
East Boronda Phase One
CASP
3 Apartment Buildings (50 Delling Units Total)
East Boronda Phase One
CASP
12 Model Homes
N/A
Preliminary Application
Full Application180 days to submit full application
Completeness
Agency – 30 days to review
Applicant – 90 days to resubmit
Consistency
Agency – 30 days* to review
SB330 Timeline –Tentative Map Application
Applicant submitted preliminary application on 12/10/24 Applicant submitted full application on 5/14/25
Incompleteness letter sent by City 6/13/25
Applicant Resubmitted
9/3/25
Incompleteness letter sent by City 10/2/25
Applicant resubmitted on 11/20/25
Completeness letter sent by City on 12/19/25
Future Growth AreaGIS Dashboard
Total Permits Applied by Year
Building* permits increased 31% from 2023 and 14% from 2024 Simple* permits decreased 9% from 2024 to 2025
*Building permits require at least one plan review. Simple permits are fast-tracked (1–3 days) Total: 2,584
Go to Permitting Portal
found on City website
Submit Application
+
Upload Supporting Documents
City Verifies
Documents
+
Sends Invoice
Pay Permitting Fees
Final Inspections Conducted
Project Done!!!
Schedule Inspections
Permit gets Issued!
Simple Permit Process
Begin Construction
Consult with Current Planning
Research Cost and Financing
Prepare Plans
Submit Your Application
Plan Review
Project Gets Approved
Permit Issued
Congrats!!!
You now have your permit.
Begin Construction
Schedule Inspections
Final Inspections Conducted
Project Done!!!
Building Permit Process
Salinas Plan Review Timelines
Building Plan Reviews Completed on Time
72%
23% difference in on time reviews from 2024 to 2025
Volume of reviews had a minor increase from 2024 to 2025
Permits Approved by Review Cycle
Complete application submitted by applicant
Sent to applicant for corrections from Building and Planning Reviewed by Building, Addressing, and Planning
2nd round reviewed by Building and Planning
Application approved. Sent to applicant to pay permitting fees 8 DAYS
11 DAYS
6 DAYS
6 DAYS
9 DAYS
1 DAY
Plans Stamped – Permit Issued
Time with City – 18 Days
Time with Applicant – 23 Days
Building Permit Applied to Issued
Real Permit Example:
749 square foot ADU
Total Days: 41
Complete application submitted by applicant
Sent to applicant for corrections from Building and Fire Reviewed by Building, Fire, and Planning
2nd round Reviewed by Building and Fire
Application approved. Sent to applicant to pay permitting fees 5 DAYS
13 DAYS
62 DAYS
9 DAYS
113 DAYS
8 DAYS
9 DAYS
2 DAYS
3 DAYS
2 DAYS
Plans Stamped – Permit Issued
Time with City - 34 Days
Time with Applicant – 192 Days
Building Permit Applied to Issued
Real Permit Example:
Commercial Tenant Improvement
Sent to Applicant for corrections from Building
3rd round reviewed by Building
4th round reviewed by Building
Sent to Applicant for corrections from Building
Total Days: 226
Projected General Plan Update Timeline 2026
First Public Review Draft comment period
Workshop event – 3/7
Prepare public review draft EIR
Prepare updated EDE
Release first public review draft CAP
Revise General Plan based on comments
Release Second Public Review Draft General Plan with CAP and EIR for 45-day comment period Study sessions/briefings on EIR, CAP, and revised General Plan and approval process Revise documents following comment period
Publish revised General Plan, CAP, and EIR
Start approval process
Monterey County Airport LU Commission
Planning Commission
Traffic and Transportation Commission
City Council certification and adoption
Zoning Code Update
Multi-phase approach
Phase 1:
Housing law compliance - outlined in Housing Element
Objective design and approval standards
ADUs and SB-9
Other priority items and legal compliance – driveways, cannabis, cottage food Phase 2:
Consistency with General Plan Update once adopted
Amending current code to implement new land uses
Phase 3:
Complete zoning overhaul striving for ease of use and streamlining Fall 2025
Summer 2026
Fall 2025
Spring 2027
Fall 2025
Fall 2027
Front Counter Customers: 1,564
Current Planning
Fire Prevention
Small Business Support
Code Enforcement
Development
Engineering
Front Counter
Customers: 142
Permits Issued: 364
Plans Checked: 703
Completed
Inspections: 2,451
Fireworks Citations: 96
Front Counter Customers: 1,046
Permits Issued: 941
Plans Checked: 2,634
Completed Inspections: 5,794
Building Permits Reviewed for Compliance:
Opened cases: 1,721
Completed Inspections: 2,840
Closed cases: 1,557
Customer Assistance Interactions: 323
Approved Planning Applications: 535
2025 Division Highlights
Calls Received:
Held steady from 2024
Counter Transactions:
30% decrease from 2024
City Reports:
Held steady for 2024
Permit Applications:
4% decrease from 2024
Administration
Building
Plan Review
Building Inspections
Plan Reviews:
4% increase from 2024
On time Plan Reviews:
23% increase from 2024
Permits Approved:
2% increase from 2024
Completed Inspections:
Field: 18,944
Virtual: 1,158
13% increase from 2024
2025 Permit Services Activity
Construction Permits by Year
Finaled permits increased by 19% from 2024 to 2025
Volume of 2025 applied and issued permits hovered between 2023 and 2024 values Approved permits had a small 1% increase
Permits Issued
1100 Northridge Mall
20 W Gabilan St.
904 N Sanborn Rd
Finaled Buildings and Facilities
900 Northridge Mall
683 Fremont St
Finaled Buildings and Facilities
713 La Guardia St
919 Iverson St
930 S Main St
Questions?
For more information, contact Permit Services
(831) 758-7251
https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Your-Government/Departments/Community-Development