Hesperia | Permits and fees

Hesperia, California Permits and Fees: Review Bodies, Deadlines, Appeals, Planning and Building Fees and Development Impact Fees

A housing project in Hesperia passes through up to three stages: a land use approval from the Planning Division, plan checks by Engineering and Building and Safety, and building permits with inspections. Chapter 16.12 of the Development Code sets who decides and how fast. The City Council sets the fees by resolution; the last two updates took effect on December 1, 2024 and December 1, 2025. This page lists the review bodies, the deadlines, the appeal steps and the fees that apply to new homes. The Hesperia overview has the summary.

Four Review Procedures

Section 16.12.005 says "Land use applications will be reviewed and approved in accordance with four basic procedures." The first is a noticed public hearing before the Planning Commission or City Council. The second is administrative review with notice, where neighbors are told and may comment "before the reviewing authority renders its decision." The third is administrative review without notice, "used when land use decisions made by the reviewing authority are based upon standards that have been adopted by the city as law or policy." For the second and third, "The reviewing authority shall be the development review committee." The fourth is ministerial review by the building official, which applies fixed rules with no judgment call.

Sources: Hesperia Municipal Code 16.12.005, 16.12.360 and 16.12.460 (Supplement 24 Update 2).

• The Development Review Committee. The City's Development Process page calls it "an administrative body that reviews land use applications," made up of City departments "such as Planning, Building, Engineering and other local public agencies." Its public hearings "take place every other Wednesday at 10:00am in the Joshua Conference Room at City Hall."
• The Planning Commission. "Planning Commission Meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of each month, as well as the 4th Thursday of each month when necessary," at 6:30 pm in the Council Chambers.
• The City Council. "City Council meetings are held on the first and third Tuesday of each month."
• A table row to check. The table in Section 16.12.460 lists single-family residential development of one to four dwelling units under ministerial approval. It prints the row for multi-family projects that meet the Objective Design Standards under two columns, review without notice and review with notice. Ask the Planning Division which one applies.

Before You File

• Preliminary submittal. The Development Process page describes it as "an informal, no-cost application" that "allows applicants to receive feedback from the City before submitting a formal application." Staff "provide feedback within approximately two weeks."
• Pre-application conference. Section 16.12.015 lets the planning department require a conference "to identify city ordinances and improvement standards applicable to the proposal, and to identify any significant development opportunities and/or constraints on the site."
• SB 330 preliminary application. The fee schedule lists a "Preliminary application pursuant to SB330" at $138, and the City posts a form for it. The CEQA and permit streamlining page explains what that application does.
• One filing. Section 16.12.020 says "When more than one land use decision is required for a single project, all applications shall be filed concurrently."
• Fire review. The City's forms page says the "San Bernardino County Fire Department operates independently from other county agencies and requires a separate submittal for plan reviews and permits."

Deadlines in the Code and in the City's Flow Chart

• Completeness. Section 16.12.025 follows Government Code 65943: "not later than thirty (30) days after the city has received an application for a development project, it shall determine whether the submitted application materials are complete." Each resubmittal starts "a new thirty-day time period."
• Decision. Section 16.12.035 says the City decides "within the following time limits, or the application shall be deemed approved": six months from a complete application where a negative declaration is prepared or the project is exempt, and one year where an environmental impact report is prepared. A negative declaration is a written finding under state environmental law that a project needs no environmental impact report.
• Maps. A tentative map is decided within 50 days after the environmental document is complete.
• ADUs and SB 9. Sixty days from a completed application, under state law.
• When a decision takes effect. Under Section 16.12.045 a hearing decision is "effective on the eleventh day after the decision date," and a decision made with no hearing on the eleventh day after written notice is mailed. Ordinances take effect "thirty (30) days after the second reading."
• How long approval lasts. A site plan approval lasts up to 36 months, and residential site plans cannot be extended. A tentative map also lasts 36 months.

The City's Development Process Application Flow Chart gives the working times. The committee decides whether an application "is incomplete or accepted within 4 weeks from submittal date," and "Every resubmittal will take 4 weeks to review." An environmental document "could take up to 12-18 weeks to complete." After acceptance the chart shows one week to send draft conditions and one week to the committee hearing, 6 to 8 weeks to a Planning Commission hearing, and 5 to 7 more weeks to a City Council hearing. An approval is "effective 10 days after public hearing unless appealed."

Notice and Appeals

• Who is told. Under Section 16.12.010, for a site of 35 acres or less "all properties within a three hundred (300) foot radius shall be notified," and 600 feet where the project needs a density bonus, a legislative act or an environmental impact report. Notice is mailed "at least ten days prior to the hearing."
• Who may appeal. Section 16.12.055 lets "the applicant or other affected party" appeal, and defines an affected party to include "any resident or business interest."
• Where the appeal goes. "The planning commission shall consider appeals regarding land use decisions made by the DRC," and "The city council shall consider appeals regarding land use decisions made by the planning commission." A Commission decision on a minor exception, on completeness or on the need for an environmental impact report is final.
• Deadline. "An appeal of a land use decision must be filed prior to the date on which such land use decision becomes effective." A filed appeal "stays proceedings in the matter appealed until a decision is rendered."
• Hearing. "Within thirty (30) days of the acceptance of an application for an appeal," the appeal body sets the matter for hearing.
• Fees. $391 to the Planning Commission and $324 to the City Council.
• After a denial. An application denied by the committee, the Commission or the Council "cannot be resubmitted to the city within one year," unless it was denied without prejudice.

Planning and Engineering Fees

The City's City Fee Schedule page says "The following fee schedule was adopted by the Hesperia City Council on September 16, 2025. This schedule will be effective beginning December 1, 2025." The second column below is from that schedule. The third column is from the User Fee Study Report FY 2026-27 on the September 15, 2026 Council agenda, which proposed new amounts effective December 1, 2026. The meeting records read on October 10, 2026 show no vote on that item, so treat the third column as proposed.

Sources: City of Hesperia, City-Wide Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2025-26, Sections 30, 190 and 201; Planning Services Fees and Calculation Chart; User Fee Study Report FY 2026-27.

• Technology fee. The schedule lists a "Technology Fee (all development applications and permits)" of 10 percent, "previously: Automation Surcharge Fee." The planning fee chart says "TOTAL FEES ARE SUBJECT TO A 10% AUTOMATION FEE."
• General Plan update fee. "7% of Building Permit," charged "per EDU, or 1.5 multiple dwelling units."
• How fees are set. The September 2026 staff report says a consultant prepared a full fee study in fiscal year 2022-23, adopted on December 19, 2023 "with the changes to the fees effective March 1, 2024." Updates followed on September 17, 2024 and September 16, 2025. For 2026 it reports that "the CPI has increased 3.3%" and proposes increases for 198 of 570 fees. The draft resolution allows a yearly adjustment by the Consumer Price Index "of not less than 0% and no more than 5%."

Development Impact Fees

A development impact fee is a one-time charge on new buildings that pays for public facilities needed because of growth. Section 16.12.076 says "the city council shall establish development impact fees and connection charges by resolution" after a public hearing. Appendix A of the fee schedule prints the amounts "(Effective April 2, 2022)."

Source: City of Hesperia, City-Wide Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2025-26, Appendix A, Development Impact Fees.

• When the amount is fixed. "Fees for development permits (e.g., building and grading permits) shall be the fees in effect at the time of issuance of such permit."
• Park fee. "Park Fee - New Tracts/Subdivisions (Per Unit)" is $5,486.50, made up of $5,461.50 and a $25 administrative fee. Section 17.52.010 also makes park land or a fee a condition "of final approval of any building permit" for a house, apartment, second dwelling unit or mobile home space.
• School fee. "Residential New Construction" pays "$6.43/sq. ft. + $25 admin fee." Residential additions pay $4.79 per square foot, with additions under 500 square feet exempt. A 2,000 square foot house pays $12,885 (VanPlex arithmetic: 2,000 times $6.43, plus $25).
• Assessment District 91-1. Development outside the district that benefits from its improvements pays buy-in fees per acre: $2,587 for streets, $729 for sewer, $507 for water and $730 for the fire station.
• Drainage area fee. The schedule prints "A-04 Drainage DIF Fees" of $10,539.11 per single-family unit. The August 2026 staff report says "In 2025, pursuant to a court order, the City ceased collection of A-04 Drainage fees."
• Water and sewer. Connection fees are separate: $7,991 for a 3/4-inch water meter on a house, and sewer fees of $4,679 and $1,406 per equivalent dwelling unit. See the sewer, septic and flood page.
• ADUs. Government Code 66311.5 bars impact fees on an ADU "that has 750 square feet of interior livable space or less."

For one new house on an existing lot with sewer, the impact fees, a 3/4-inch water meter and the two sewer fees come to $29,291 in the December 2025 schedule (VanPlex arithmetic: $15,215 plus $7,991 plus $6,085). School, park where it applies, and building fees are added to that.

The staff report of August 18, 2026 explains the history. "The City last completed a Nexus Study in 2018, which established the maximum allowable DIF rates," $21,735 for a single-family residence and $14,735 for a multi-family residence, and the Council "adopted a discounted fee schedule." A nexus study is the report that ties each fee to the cost of facilities new development needs. The report's table shows the current fees are 30 percent below the 2018 maximum for homes, and says "staff is preparing to commence a new Nexus Study in Fiscal Year 2027-28." It also compares Hesperia's $15,215 with estimates of $23,777 for Victorville and $22,149 for Apple Valley, which the report calls "general comparisons."

Building Permits

• Permit required. Section 16.12.065 makes it unlawful to construct, alter, move or demolish a building "unless a building permit for each building or structure has first been obtained."
• Codes. Section 15.04.010 adopts the 2025 California Building Code, the 2025 California Residential Code and the other 2025 state codes, by Ordinance No. 2025-08 of December 2, 2025.
• Steps. The City's Permit Process page lists consultation at the Building and Safety Division at 9700 Seventh Avenue, application, plan review by a Plans Examiner, permit issuance "when plans are approved by all applicable divisions and agencies and fees are paid," inspections with notice "24 hours in advance," and a final inspection.
• Plan review and inspection fees. For new residences the schedule lists plan review at "$1,264 + $0.21 per sq ft over 1,000 sq ft" and inspection of "New residences" at $2,080, plus $0.35 per square foot over 1,000. The September 2026 staff report says total building fees "on a 2,000 sq ft house" are $4,391 and would rise to $4,490.
• Public improvements first. Section 16.20.161 says "No Building permit shall be issued until" public improvements are complete and accepted or security is posted. Section 16.20.170 lets the City Engineer require curb, gutter, sidewalk and paving where a new building changes traffic or drainage.
• Frontage. No residential building permit on a lot with less than 40 feet of frontage, unless approved in a planned development.
• Renting the homes. The City's Rental Housing Business License and Inspection Program requires registration of all rental properties. The fee schedule lists $75 for a single-family rental and $50 per unit for multi-family rentals, including duplexes, each plus the current business license fee.

The Development Code Update

The City's Development Code Update page says "The City of Hesperia is undertaking a comprehensive update of its Development Code" and "has selected PlaceWorks to assist." The April 21, 2026 City Council agenda carried a recommendation to approve an agreement "with PlaceWorks, Inc. in the amount of $344,530" for the work. The page lists workshops on October 8, October 22 and November 12, 2026, the second of them on "Permitting & Processing." A presentation of September 10, 2026 lists permit findings for site plan reviews, conditional use permits and variances among the items to be rewritten. Review steps on this page may change when that work is adopted.

Where the Documents Differ

• The date of the impact fee schedule. Appendix A of the fee schedule says "(Effective April 2, 2022)." The August 2026 staff report heads its table "Current DIF Fees as of April 22, 2022." The amounts are the same in both.
• The date of the 2025 fee update. The City Fee Schedule page and the September 2026 staff report say September 16, 2025. The draft resolution for 2026 recites that the schedule "was adopted on September 15, 2025."
• Effective date of a decision. Section 16.12.045 says the eleventh day after the decision. The City's flow chart says "effective 10 days after public hearing." An appeal filed within ten days meets both.
• The 10 percent fee. The planning fee chart calls the 10 percent charge an automation fee and the fee schedule calls it a technology fee. It is one charge.
• Approval period. Section 16.12.060 says a land use decision becomes void "Unless a land use is established or plans have been submitted and accepted by the building division," and gives no number of months in that sentence. Section 16.12.095 supplies 36 months for site plans.

Where to Go Next

Related on VanPlex: the Hesperia overview, the California impact fees page and the CEQA and permit streamlining page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official sources (checked October 2026)