Community Development Department, planning Division

Development Portal (homepage banner)

Planning and Building Safety staff have designed an Online Portal to submit projects, view status updates, and manage documents and fees. Applicants or owners can access individual projects, real-time updates, department revisions, required documents, and fee information. Other features include managing inspection requests and researching public documents.

VIDEO: DEMONSTRATION OF MALIBU'S NEW DEVELOPMENT PORTAL

  1. Development Portal

Planning and Building Safety staff have designed an Online Portal to submit projects, view status updates, and manage documents and fees. Applicants or owners can access individual projects, real-time updates, department revisions, required documents, and fee information. Other features include managing inspection requests and researching public documents.

Pre-Design -  Early in the process of designing a project, you should first review the City’s Zoning Ordinance (Malibu Municipal Code Title 17) and the Local Coastal Program Local Implementation Plan, as well as other applicable Code sections. You may consult with the City and County Departments that are involved in reviewing planning applications. See the Planning Agency Contact handout for a complete list of Departments. For Woolsey Fire Rebuild projects, contact Aakash Shah at Ashah@malibucity.org. 


PLANNING: PHASE 1

Step 1. Register and submit your project through the Development Portal.

Step 2. Once your request is received, staff will staff will direct you to the Development Portal to upload a preliminary set of plans, if applicable. Based on these plans, staff will provide you a submittal checklist of required documents. 

Step 3. Once you have gathered the required documents, you may upload all application documents through the Online Portal. 

Step 4. The Submittal Administrator will review your application documents. Once the documents have been satisfactorily submitted, pay fees through the Online Portal. 

Step 5. Once payment is received, your application is officially filed. It will be routed to reviewing departments. Also, you will receive an email with the name of your assigned Case Planner. 

BUILDING: PHASE 2

Step 1. You must have Planning approval before moving forward to Building Safety. 

Step 2. Register and submit your project for Building plan check through the Development Portal. Be sure to include “plan check” in the Project Description.

Step 3. Once you have gathered the required documents, you may upload all application documents through the Online Portal. 

Step 4. The Permit Technician will review your application documents. Once the documents have been satisfactorily submitted, pay fees through the Online Portal. 

Step 5. After any corrections have been addressed in building plan check, request permits through the Development Portal.


  1. Required In-person Submittal
  2. Optional In-person Submittal

May be submitted during regular City Hall hours. No appointment is required.

APPEALS

  • Short-Term Rental Appeal
  • Appeal of Coastal Development Permit (CDP)
  • Appeal of Non-CDP
  • Request to Review Administrative Plan Review
  • Film Permit Appeal 

EVENT PERMITS

  • Special Event Permit
  • Temporary Use Permit (TUP)


  1. Revised Submittals
  2. Substantial Conformance Request

Visit the Development Portal, and select the  Revised Submittal option in the Planning tile. 

For applications submitted in 2023 and onward, applicants will only be able to re-submit revised plans or documents once all Departments have reviewed the project, including the Community Development Department, Planning Division. All revised submittals are required to be submitted with a memorandum detailing documents submitted and changes made.

  1. Express Generator Permits
  2. Express Tenant Improvement Permits
  3. Express Ground-MOunted Solar Permits

Generator Permits

Applicants are encouraged to visit the Planning public counter on Mondays and Wednesdays to receive a same-day review. No appointment is required. These permit applications require Planning approval prior to proceeding to Building Plan Check. 

General Requirements - Uniform Application and two (2) sets of plans or 1 digital set on a USB. NOTE: It is highly recommended that plans and submittal requirements conform to the Building Safety Division's Generator Submittal Requirements to avoid resubmittals. 

Payment: Over-the-counter fee $200.00. 


  1. Wireless Communication Applications
  2. Payments

Wireless Communication Applications - Appointments Required

To submit a wireless application, follow the steps below:

  1. Email mplanning@malibucity.org a set of project plans with a detailed scope of work. Once received, a staff member will provide you a submittal checklist outlining the application materials and fees required. 
  2. Once you are ready to submit, schedule an in-person or virtual appointment by emailing mplanning@malibucity.org. Appointments are held on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2:00 PM and 3:00 PM. 
  3. After you request an appointment via email, you will be asked to share a link with the attached submittal checklist and any required documents on that checklist, saved as separate PDF files. 
  4. Appointment - During the appointment, a staff member will evaluate your application submittal. If it is determined complete, payment options will be provided to you. 
  5. Forms - See the Planning Forms webpage.