Building & Safety Services

The Building Division The City of Lake Forest's Building and Safety division works within the broader context of the Community Development Department, which includes planning and code enforcement services. The Community Development Department is responsible for administering programs that guide the City’s growth and development. The Building and Safety Division reviews architectural and structural plans, issues building permits, and provides inspection services for new construction and remodeling activities throughout the City. The City has contracted for Building and Safety Services since its incorporation in 1991. Historical Snapshot The City was primarily a bedroom community, with 20,300 dwelling units and a population of 58,700 upon incorporation. In the early 2000s, the City annexed the communities of Foothill Ranch and Portola Hills, increasing the number of dwelling units to 27,058, and the population to 78,200. During this timeframe, the City also saw significant industrial development in the area formerly encumbered by the runway patterns of Marine Corp Air Station El Toro. After the closure of the military base, the City approved the residential development of the vacant land that remained under the former flight path. This allowed for the development of 5,115 additional homes. Robust construction of the new homes commenced in 2014 and continued at a steady pace until the present time, as evidenced by the permit revenues received by the City. Current Snapshot Today, the City includes nearly 9 millio n square feet of industrial and manufacturing land uses. As of February, the remaining new residential development includes approximately 30 units at the Meadows community as well as approximately 109 unit s in the Portola Center community. At present, the City has a population of 85,840. In 2020, the City approved an updated General Plan to guide its growth for the next twenty years. The General Plan identified five “Focus Areas” that can accommodate mixed-use development at densities up to 43 units per acre, potentially resulting in an additional 12,600 dwelling units. The City works on a 9/80 schedule and provides 10-day plan check capabilities (see Scope of Work for the Maximum Service Timeframes). Counter hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding 10 holidays annually. The City currently uses the EnerGov permit software. Community Devel opment is exploring technology enhancements and improvements that can integrate with the current permitting and GIS software. The City has an online permit application submittal and review process for residential solar permits with the expectation to transition to more online applications over the next few years. The Building and Safety fee schedule is available on our website ( Building | Lake Forest, CA - Official Website ) or you can view the schedule PDF here . Building Division Key Performance Indicators (KPI) - Last Three Fiscal Years Key Performance Indicators FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 Number of permits issued by the Building Division 3,676 3,809 2,790 Number of inspections by the Building Division 19,197 21,996 15,924 Plan Check and Permit Fee Revenue *Excluding new residential developments $1,619,049 $1,451,445 $1,467,866