Frequently Asked Questions

Planning permits are required for most new development projects, new businesses, or projects requiring special exceptions from City Zoning standards, like setback adjustments, variances or modifications of parking standards.

Permit Applications

Permit applications are available at the Public Counter at City Hall and on the City’s website. The City’s Community Development Department processes zoning and other discretionary land use permit applications. Most permit applications require public notice and/or a public hearing. The Community Development Director can take final action on some types of minor permits; however most development permit applications require final action by the five-member Planning Commission or the City Council.

The time required to get a Planning permit varies, depending upon the type and number of permits required, and on the size and complexity of your project. Generally, most minor permit applications that don’t require a public hearing or environmental review are processed within six to ten weeks from the date the City receives a complete application. Permit applications for larger, more complex development projects can typically require six months to one year to process, sometimes longer, especially if an environmental impact report is required.

All businesses require a Business Registration, issued by the City. Contractors and others doing business within the City but based outside the City also require a Business Registration. If you’re planning to start a new business, it’s important to check with the Planning Department to determine if your business is allowed in the zone where you plan to operate.

For more information on Business Registration, call 951-332-6464, ext. 224 or email the department. If you plan to operate a business from your home, check with the Planning Department to see if it qualifies as a Home Occupation. Home occupations are businesses operated out of a home, typically in a residential zone, and require approval of a Home Occupation Permit through the Planning Department.

You can check the City’s Zoning Map (PDF) and Zoning Ordinance, which list allowed land uses by Zone; or contact the Planning Department. The Planners can help you with this information.

Whenever possible, new development should follow all applicable land use and zoning standards. In some cases, applicants can apply for a setback adjustment or variance to allow exceptions from Zoning standards and requirements. Such exceptions must be justified based on physical site constraints or other planning factors. Financial cost is usually not a justification for granting an exception to zoning standards. To determine if an exception is needed, or to find out how to request an exception, call the Planning Department at 951-332-6464.

Typically, requests for exceptions require:

• Architectural plans, and an initial fee deposit
• Planning application
• Written description of the request and reasons for the exception

Please refer to the appropriate application checklist for a list of the required information.

Planning fees are charged on a time and materials basis. An initial fee deposit is required at the time you submit a planning application. The City charges against the deposit for the amount of staff time spent on processing your application.

The City has adopted a Fee Schedule (PDF) which lists the fee deposit required for each type of Planning permit application. The initial deposit is based on average costs to process applications similar to yours. Actual costs may vary, depending upon the project type, scope and complexity. Applicants are notified if an additional fee deposit is required to complete the processing of their application. Any deposit balance remaining after the City takes action on your application is returned to the applicant.

The number of dwellings allowed on a single parcel is determined by the Land Use Zone in which the parcel is located. To find out the number of dwellings allowed on your property, check the Zoning Map (PDF) to find your property’s zone, and then check the “development standards” for the Zone in which your property is located. Development standards are described in the City’s Zoning Ordinance. City Planning staff can help you find this information.

For residential zones, the maximum fence height alongside and rear property lines is six feet. Within the street setback area, solid fencing (like concrete block and wood fences) cannot exceed forty-two inches.

An additional two feet of open fencing is allowed on top of solid fencing in the street setback area.

Setbacks are the closest distance from a structure to the nearest property line. They apply to buildings and other structures such as sheds, barns, patios, arbors and other roofed structures. The minimum required setbacks for each Zone are listed under “development standards” in the City’s Zoning Ordinance.

Allowed building height is determined by the Zone in which the building is located.

For example, for one-family dwellings, the maximum height is three stories, or 40 feet. Maximum allowed heights for other types of buildings varies, depending upon Zone and type of use. Refer to the Zoning Ordinance development standards for the appropriate Zone.

Off-street parking space requirements are determined by the type of land use and land use intensity. The number of off-street parking spaces required can be based on:

• Gross floor area
• Number of bedrooms and/or dwelling units
• Number of employees
• Number of seats

Off-street parking requirements are described in Section 18.12 of the Zoning Ordinance. Public street parking spaces don’t count toward meeting the parking requirement.A

Alternative parking requirements and exceptions to parking requirements may be approved or conditionally approved by the Director, as described in Section 13.18 of the Zoning Ordinance.

A conditional use permit is a type of Planning permit which allows flexibility in providing for, regulating, or preventing various uses, so they will be compatible with existing or desired conditions in their neighborhoods. Conditions of approval, such as limited hours of operation, parking requirements, signage or other requirements can be applied to projects to help reduce or avoid their negative impacts and improve their compatibility with the neighborhood.

Special development standards apply to the number, size and placement of detached accessory structures. Section 09.10.20 of the Zoning Ordinance sets permit requirements and explains exceptions.

For example, on lots of one acre or less, when the principal use of a lot is a one-family dwelling, approval of a Site Development Permit is required to allow:

1. One accessory building (e.g. shed, barn, guest quarters) with a total floor area of up to 650 square feet, or 2) one additional detached accessory building with a floor area of 120 square feet or larger on a lot which already has one or more existing or approved detached accessory buildings with a floor area of 120 square feet or larger. Detached accessory structures with floor areas of less than 120 square feet do not require permits.

Decisions of the Planning Director and the Planning Commission may be appealed within ten calendar days of the decision date. Depending on the type of approval you are appealing, the appeal may have to go to hearing. To appeal a decision, you must submit an appeals form (PDF), a letter describing the reasons for the appeal, and a fee.

Review Planning Commission and City Council public hearing agendas on the City’s website and contact the Project Planner via email or phone if you have questions. Submit comments to the Planner or attend public hearings to address your comments to the Commission or City Council.

In order to avoid excessive concentration of commercial cannabis activity in the City, no exempted lot shall be located within a 1,000-foot radius of three or more exempted lots. The distance specified in this paragraph shall be the horizontal distance measured in a straight line from the property line of the lot on which a proposed exempted premises is to be located to the closest property line of each of the three nearest lots on which exempted premises are located, without regard to intervening structures.

Exempt Lot Locations

Exempted commercial cannabis activity shall only be conducted upon an exempted lot that is located in one or more of the following zone districts of the City: 

• B-P (Business Park)
• C-1/C-P (General Commercial)
• M-SC (Manufacturing - Service Commercial)
• R-VC (Rubidoux-Village Commercial)

Type 3 (retail sales) shall be the only exemption type allowed in the C-1/C-P (General Commercial) and R-VC (Rubidoux-Village Commercial) zone districts of the City.

Limitation

As set forth in Jurupa Valley Municipal Code Section 11.45.030 (e), the number of exempted retail sales premises within the City shall be limited to 1 per 15,000 City residents.

This number shall increase with each additional 15,000 City residents, such that for 30,000 City residents the number of exempted retail sales premises would be limited to 2, for 45,000 City residents the number would be limited to three exempted retail sales premises, and so on.

Population Limitation

The population figures to be used shall be those most recently estimated and officially published by the California Department of Finance for cities, counties and the state.

According to the current population, the maximum number of exempted retail sales premises that will be permitted in the City of Jurupa Valley is 7.

Priority processing means an application filed by an applicant as provided by Measure L, adopted by the voters of the City of Jurupa Valley on November 6, 2018 and City of Jurupa Valley Municipal Code Section 11.45.040.

According to Measure L: “The City’s designated permitting agency shall give priority in processing applications to those applicants that can demonstrate that they filed an “initial-not amended or restated-Statement by Unincorporated Association, that specifically contains the following language: "commercial cannabis" or "commercial marijuana," which contained those exact words at the time such Statement by Unincorporated Association was filed with the California Secretary of State, and that was file-stamped by the California Secretary of State on or before the date of September 1, 2016.”

As set forth in Section 11.45.050 of the Jurupa Valley Municipal Code, 100 calendar days following the date of enactment of this Chapter, the City Clerk shall begin accepting non-priority applications. The City Clerk shall ensure that each non-priority application is date and time-stamped, and processed in the order in which it was received.

Disqualifiers

• Any non-priority application with a proposed exemption type of Type 3 (retail sales) that is processed after the maximum number of exempted retail sales premises has been reached, as set forth in Subsection (e) of Section 11.45.030 of the Jurupa Valley Municipal Code, shall be deemed incomplete.
• Any non-priority application processed after the maximum number of exempted lots allowed within a 1,000-foot radius of the applicant's proposed lot has been reached, as set forth in Subsection (d) of Section 11.45.030 of the Jurupa Valley Municipal Code, shall be deemed incomplete.
• Any non-priority application with a proposed exempted premises located in the C-1/C-P (General Commercial) or the R-VC (Rubidoux-Village Commercial) zone classifications of the City, and that also indicates a proposed exemption type other than Type 3 (retail sales), as set forth in Subsection (m) of Section 11.45.030 of the Jurupa Valley Municipal Code, shall be deemed incomplete.
• Any non-priority application with a proposed exempted premises not located within the C-1/C-P (General Commercial), M-SC (Manufacturing- Service Commercial), B-P (Business Park), or R-VC (Rubidoux-Village Commercial) zone classifications of the City, as set forth in Subsection (l) of Section 11.45.030 of the Jurupa Valley Municipal Code, shall be deemed incomplete. 

Zoning Map

View the City's Zoning Map (PDF). 

The City Clerk will determine if the priority application or non-priority application is complete through an initial 10-day review period.

Pursuant to Resolution Number 2018-76, the fee for a Commercial Cannabis Permit is $2,500.

In anticipation of rainfall, city staff works to identify and address drainage concerns throughout the City. Mitigating draining problems often requires:

• Asphalt pavement berm repair
• The creation of earth swales adjacent to roadways
• Modifying storm drains
• Pavement repair

City staff also canvasses areas to identify potential drainage concerns at existing draining facilities (examples are under street culverts) and clean debris to maintain storm-water flow.

Residents and businesses are strongly encouraged to thoroughly prepare for increased rainfall. Please refer to this tip sheet (PDF) to find out what you can do to better prepare for the El Niño event and address drainage and stormwater problems long-term.

Yes, sandbags and sand are available for Jurupa Valley residents.

Sandbags and sand are available at the following locations:

• Fire Station Number 16 at 9270 Limonite Avenue
• Fire Station Number 18 at 7545 Mission Boulevard

Stations are open during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. You will have to make arrangements to fill and haul them yourselves.

Please Note: There is a 10-bag maximum and you must show proof of Jurupa Valley, CA residency. No contractors.

Rates are set by the contract (also known as a franchise agreement) by and between the City and Burrtec.

Per the contract by and between the City and Burrtec, a rate increase is usually awarded in May of each year. The hauler is entitled to an inflationary increase that City Staff review for accuracy. Once the review is complete, City Staff submit the rate increase to the City Council for consideration.

The haulers are contractually entitled to modest rate increases tied to an inflation formula.

No, the City has an exclusive franchise agreement with Burrtec Waste, which gives them the rights to provide waste and recycling collection within City-limits. This enables the City to bargain as a large collection of customers, resulting in a competitive, market-based rate. 

Yes, a process for performing "self-haul" has been established by the City in conjunction with the hauler.

Residents interested in self-hauling must obtain a Self-Haul Permit (PDF) and provide records which demonstrate their compliance with the self-haul process. Residents are encouraged to contact the City at 951-332-6464 to obtain more information about the self-haul process before applying for the self-haul permit.

No. Public Works coordinates the removal of couches, mattresses, and other large items from City owned alleys and rights of way. To report items for pick up, contact Public Works at (951) 332-6464.

The Sheriff’s Department is solely authorized to cite or impound vehicles parked in excess of 72-hours on public streets. Please call them at (951) 776-1099.

No. Anyone is free to park their vehicles on their private property as long as they are operational and rated for residential-zoned parking.

No. Anyone is free to park their vehicles on any City right of way as long as they are operational and rated for residential-zoned parking.

No. Advertising vehicles for sale on public streets is considered a form of free speech. It has been determined to be in violation of the United States Constitution for the City to prevent persons from selling vehicles on the street by advertising them with signage.

There is a specific process established by the City's municipal code to designate areas for permit parking. For more information, please contact Traffic Engineering at (951) 332-6464.

The Jurupa Valley Municipal Code currently does not have an ordinance that addresses Christmas or other holiday lights or yard décor.

Generally speaking, walls and/or fences are not required between private properties unless one of the properties has a swimming pool. For issues regarding the property line, we recommend you hire a private surveyor to determine where the property lines are. If there is a discrepancy, it would be a civil matter between the two property owners.

This is not a Code Enforcement issue. It is a civil matter between the two property owners.

Please contact the Public Works Department at (951) 332-6464.

Please contact the Public Works Department at (951) 332-6464.

No. There are no codes or other rules that regulate the paint color of house exteriors.

No. Southern California Edison is responsible for maintaining electrical power or utility lines. If there is vegetation growing in to the power lines that needs to be trimmed, please call (800) 655-4555. To report an object that is caught in power lines, please call (800) 611-1911.

No. Any violations within mobile home parks are investigated by the Mobile Home Ombudsman’s office at the California Department of Housing and Community Development. Complaints may be filed online.

This is a civil matter between you and your neighbor. The City does not regulate the placement of trees or how big/tall they grow.

Please contact Public Works/Engineering at (951) 332-6464 to find out whether or not they have a permit for the work being done.

No. Code Enforcement regulates land use and aesthetics/property maintenance. Rental issues and landlord/tenant disputes can be addressed by contacting the Fair Housing Council at (951) 682-6581.

For permitting inquiries, please call the Building Department at (951) 332-6464.

No. Once reported to Code Enforcement, the property owner will be notified to have the items removed.

Please contact Public Works/Engineering at (951) 332-6464 for information on the code and restrictions pertaining to containers.

This would be considered a public disturbance, and needs to be addressed by the Sheriff Department (951) 776-1099.

The easiest way to report a building code (or any code violation) is to use the City's menu of online reporting options.  Reporting online allows you to track the progress of your complaint as City Staff work through the issue.  You can also call City Hall at (951) 332-6464.

How to Clear a Notice of Violation

*Make an appointment with your case code enforcement officer to meet you at City Hall to review your permitting process and requirements.

1.    Go to City Hall (8930 Limonite Avenue, Jurupa Valley) 

If you received a Notice of Violation or Stop Work Notice, go to City Hall and initially meet with the Planning Department.  If you have any questions, contact the code enforcement officer assigned to your case.

2.    Apply for a permit.

Simple permits can be issued "over-the-counter."  More complex applications are reviewed by plan check technicians and/or engineers and other agencies. Call the building department for more on the plan check process.

3.    Schedule Inspections

You are not done when the permit is issued. You must still schedule and pass all the inspections that are required for your permit. Once these are complete, you will receive a final inspection, at which time you will have finished the permit process.

Note about as-built construction

If you received a Notice of Violation for work that was already complete, you still must apply for a permit for that work. You may be required to expose the inside of walls to verify structural requirements, or take other actions to verify that the construction complies with Building Code Requirements.

We receive complaints from a number of sources including internal referrals, outside agencies and the general public.  Of those complaints received from the general public, we may offer to keep a complainant's name confidential for various reasons.  A court order is required to find out the complainant's name if we agree to confidentiality.

Yes. In some cases you may be able to submit “As-Built Construction” plans to obtain a permit for the illegally built structure. Step one is to speak with the Planning Division (951) 332-6464. You may be required to submit structural calculations if “As-Built” structure does not meet all the provisions of conventional construction per the California Building Code.

The code enforcement officer may impose an investigation fee to cover associated costs. Additionally, fees are assessed if permitting of structures is allowed. Contact our Building Department at (951) 332-6464 for more information on permitting. If the violation cannot be approved or legalized by a permit, you may be required to obtain a demolition permit and immediately remove the violation, cease the unlawful use and/or demolish and restore the structure to its original permitted condition. In less severe circumstances you may be given (30) days to cease the unlawful use or demolish the unlawful structure. If you fail to comply with our direction, you may be subject to an administrative citation or further legal action.

Where you fall within this penalty range is based upon the following:

• The seriousness of the violation. Could the violation harm human health/safety or the environment?
• The length of time the violation has existed
• The diligence and cooperation of the property owner
• The effect of the violation on other properties.
• The owner's level of responsibility for the violation. Did the owner create or add to the violation?

Code enforcement officers strive to assist the property owner to obtain compliance. If permits are not obtained, a "Notice of Pendency of Administrative Proceeding" will be recorded against the title of the property. This recorded document serves to notify the public of the violation and may prevent you from selling the property or obtaining refinancing or title insurance on the property.  In addition, your case may then be referred to The City Attorney’s Office to be pursued in Superior Court.  This could result in a judgment against you, and increased costs and penalties.

Under most circumstances you will be given 30 days.  This may involve simply stopping the illegal use demolition or obtaining the necessary permits.  Under some circumstances an extension of time may be granted when the property owner is steadily working to resolve the problem and is making progress.

You can appeal any determination of violation.  The appeal period is 30-days from receipt of the Notice of Violation.  Appeals of some determinations require a fee.