City of Arcadia Development Services
Building permits, plan check, and inspections, after any required City design review or association review.
Arcadia building servicesService area · Arcadia
Custom homes and remodels in Arcadia.
In Arcadia, many projects replace an older house with a new custom home, and in five neighborhoods a homeowners association's Architectural Review Board reviews new homes and exterior changes in place of the City's design review. ROAM Design Studio LLC designs to whichever guidelines apply and handles permits, and ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324) builds the home.
Permits
Who issues building permits in Arcadia.
Arcadia is an incorporated city. Its Development Services Department handles building permits, plan check, and planning review, with applications through the City's online portal.
What ROAM Design Studio LLC does
We confirm zoning and any overlays for your address, prepare the permit set with the licensed engineers your project needs, submit to Arcadia Development Services, and respond to plan-check comments, as set out in your design agreement.
Residential design and permit servicesLocal considerations
What shapes projects in Arcadia.
- Homeowner association review. Five City-recognized associations (Arcadia Highlands, Upper Rancho, Santa Anita Oaks, Lower Rancho, and Santa Anita Village) have Architectural Review Boards that review new homes and exterior changes; homes in those areas are not subject to the City's site plan and design review.
- Single-family design review. Outside the association areas, new homes, rebuilds, and second-story additions go through the City's single-family design review before plan check.
- Northern foothill areas. Neighborhoods toward the mountains are in fire hazard zones, where the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies.
Sources: Arcadia homeowners associations, Arcadia building services, reviewed October 2026. Requirements change; confirm them with the agency for your property.
ROAM is not affiliated with City of Arcadia Development Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or permitting advice.
What we do in Arcadia
Design, permits, and construction from one coordinated team.
New custom homes
Ground-up single-family homes, including one-story homes with basements, designed by ROAM Design Studio LLC and built by ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324).
Custom homesRemodels and additions
Kitchens, primary suites, whole-house renovations, and additions, from design and permits through construction.
Remodels and renovationsDesign and permits only
Prefer to bid out construction yourself? ROAM Design Studio LLC can deliver a permitted plan set under its own agreement.
ROAM Design Studio LLCCommon questions
Building in Arcadia.
Does my Arcadia project need HOA architectural review?
If the property is in the Highlands, Upper Rancho, Santa Anita Oaks, Lower Rancho, or Santa Anita Village, yes: those associations' Architectural Review Boards review new homes and exterior changes. We plan the design around their guidelines.
Can I tear down an older Arcadia house and build new?
Yes, many Arcadia homeowners do. A new home goes through the City's single-family design review or, in an association area, the association's Architectural Review Board, before building permits.
Who issues building permits in Arcadia?
The City of Arcadia's Development Services Department handles building permits, plan check, and single-family design review outside the association areas, with applications through the City's online portal.
Planning a project in Arcadia?
Our office: 2012 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.