City of Sierra Madre Planning & Community Preservation
Building permits, plan check, and inspections, with applications through the City's online portal.
Sierra Madre Building & SafetyService area · Sierra Madre
Custom homes, remodels, and rebuilds in Sierra Madre.
Sierra Madre is a small foothill city, incorporated in 1907, with canyon and hillside lots below the San Gabriels. ROAM Design Studio LLC works through the City's hillside rules and permit counter, and ROAM Builders Inc. (CSLB Lic. #1151324) builds custom homes, remodels, and rebuilds to the approved plans.
Permits
Who issues building permits in Sierra Madre.
Sierra Madre is an incorporated city. Its Planning & Community Preservation Department at 232 W. Sierra Madre Boulevard handles building permits and planning review.
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 the City of Sierra Madre, and respond to plan-check comments, as set out in your design agreement.
Residential design and permit servicesLocal considerations
What shapes projects in Sierra Madre.
- Hillside Management Zone. New homes in the City's Hillside Management Zone need a Hillside Development Permit, with standards for grading, height, and how a house sits on the slope.
- Fire hazard zones. Sierra Madre adopted the 2025 fire hazard maps in May 2025. The Very High zones are mainly the foothill and canyon areas, where the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code applies.
Fire rebuilds: Sierra Madre adopted an urgency ordinance in March 2025 to streamline Eaton Fire rebuilding and reduce its cost. See our Eaton Fire rebuild page for how we work on rebuilds.
Sources: Sierra Madre Building & Safety, Sierra Madre fire hazard severity zones, Sierra Madre City Council packet, April 2025, reviewed October 2026. Requirements change; confirm them with the agency for your property.
ROAM is not affiliated with City of Sierra Madre Planning & Community Preservation or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or permitting advice.
What we do in Sierra Madre
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 renovationsFire rebuilds
Rebuild planning, permits, and wildfire-resistant construction for homes lost in the Eaton Fire.
Eaton Fire rebuildsCommon questions
Building in Sierra Madre.
Does Sierra Madre have special rules for fire rebuilds?
Yes. Urgency Ordinance 1480-U, adopted in March 2025, streamlines rebuilding after the Eaton Fire and reduces some costs. Check with the City for the current terms for your property.
Do I need a Hillside Development Permit in Sierra Madre?
New homes in the Hillside Management Zone do. We confirm whether your lot is in the zone and what the permit requires before design is finalized.
Who issues building permits in Sierra Madre?
The City of Sierra Madre's Planning & Community Preservation Department handles building permits, plan check, and planning review. Sierra Madre projects are not permitted by LA County.
Planning a project in Sierra Madre?
Our office: 2012 Lincoln Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103.