Palm Desert City Hall is pleased to welcome people who wish to conduct business in person with City staff. City Hall is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Payments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m.

City services continue to be offered by phone, email, or online. If you prefer to continue to do business remotely with the Permit Center, we encourage you to do so by calling (760) 776-6430 or by emailing us.

Please note that while the City is open for in-person business, digital submittals are more efficient and expeditious.

The Land Development Division of the Development Services Department provides engineering support to the development community in Palm Desert through mapping, plan review, permitting and inspections of private projects.

Payment

Prior to submitting plans for review, plans must be paid for with a check mailed to the Palm Desert Permit Center or over the phone with a credit card. Once the payment has been processed, a receipt will be issued and the plan can be submitted to the Public Works Department FTP site for review. 

Permitting Services 

Once plans are approved staff will request a signed and stamped mylar to be submitted for approval. An invoice with permit fees will be e-mailed to the applicant. Once the mylar is approved and the permit fees paid then a grading permit will be e-mailed to the applicant. 

Inspections 

Engineering inspections for grading, street improvements, or storm drain improvements may be scheduled through thePublic Works Business Operations Division by emailing our team. Requests must be submitted by 3:00pm the day before the inspection is needed.

Before a final inspection can be scheduled, the engineer must submit a Letter of Certification for review and approval. Allow 24 hours for review and approval of Letters of Certification.

Top of Form Certification

Prior to the footing inspection with the Building Department, the Civil Engineer of Record for the project must submit a signed and stamped Top of Form Certification to the Public Works Department for review and approval. The certification can be uploaded to the Public Works Department FTP site. Click here to upload to the FTP site. Allow 48 hours for review and approval. A standard fillable form is located on this page under Land Development Forms and Resources.

Plan Revisions

Substantial revisions to the project design during the project should be submitted to the Public Works Department for review and approval as a revision to the approved plan. The civil engineer for the project may contact the Public Works Department for clarification regarding what substantial changes need to be submitted for review.

Letter of Certification and Final Inspection

Prior to scheduling the final inspection of the project, the Civil Engineer of Record must submit a signed and stamped Letter of Certification certifying that the site was constructed per the approved plans.

 A fillable Letter of Certification form can be found on this page under Land Development Forms and Resources and can be submitted to the Public Works via the FTP site. Click here to upload to the FTP site. Once the Letter of Certification has been submitted, it will go through a review process. Allow 24 hours for review and approval of the Letter of Certification before scheduling a Final Inspection. Call 760-776-6450 or email our team to schedule your inspection.

Plan Submittal and Review

Click here for Electronic Plan Submittal and Signature Policy

Land Development reviews Final Maps, Parcel Map Waivers, WQMPs, and plans for SWPPPs, street improvements, storm drain improvements, traffic signal, street vacations, and signing and striping. Plans are reviewed by City staff to ensure compliance with engineering standards, codes, ordinances, policies and procedures as well as all applicable state and federal regulations.

Plans for review must be submitted digitally via the Permit Center FTP site. Plans are reviewed on a first come first serve basis. Plan review times may take between 2-3 weeks for the first submittal, depending on the size and complexity of the project, and may go through 2-3 plan reviews before final approval.

Digital Signatures

Design professionals, such as Architects and Engineers, whose “wet” signature is required for submittal of hard copy plans will be required to obtain a “digital signature” key for signature of electronically submitted plans. Engineers submitting a Form Certification or Letters of Certification may submit them using a digital signature.

• Click here for details about digital and electronic signature requirements

Digital Plan Submittal

All plans submitted for review must adhere to the following naming convention.  The file name must include the following unless it is for a single family home:

• Planning Department Case Number
• Plan Type
• Name of Engineering Company
• Date of Submittal
• Plan Check Number
• Example File Name: PM31836_FinalParcelMap_TerraNova_6-16-18_check1.pdf

(The plan check number must be changed when resubmitting)

*If the plan is for a single family home, substitute the Planning Case Number for address.

Resources

• Land Development Plan Check Application
• Checklist for Development Plan Map Check Submittal
• Checklist for Grading Plan Submittal
• Fees - Commercial, Industrial, Multi-Family Projects
• Fees - Single Family Grading
• Fees - Subdivision Improvement
• Letter of Certification
• Pad & Form Certification
• PM10 Packet (Less than 10 acres)
• Survey Control Network
• WQMP Agreement for O & M
• 2013 MS4 Permit
• Construction General Permit
• Title Sheet Template - DWG File
• Master Drainage Plan
• Parcel Information
• Landscape Fees
• Landscape Inspection Schedule - New Residential and Commercial
• Landscape Inspection Schedule - Renovations and Custom Homes

Request for Bond Release

• Bond Release Form