Montclair, CA
MenuDepartment Overview
Welcome to the Community Development Department web page! The Department administers the coordination of all land planning and development activity in the City, along with managing a myriad of services available to
The Community Development Department consists of three divisions: Planning, Building and Code Enforcement. The relatively small size of our City allows us to provide a responsive, high level of personalized customer service not often experienced when dealing with other governmental agencies. While the summaries below provide an overview of each Division's responsibilities, you are invited to visit each Division's web page to obtain more detailed information, including such things as downloadable application forms, handouts, adult and youth recreation class schedules, after-school programs, senior citizen activities, and facility rentals. Please click on any of the sub-heads below to go directly to that Division's web page.
Planning Division
Planning Division staff is responsible for ensuring the orderly physical improvement of land and property in
Building Division
The Building and Safety Division is responsible for establishing and enforcing minimum building codes for the purpose of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of those who live, work, shop and play in Montclair Building staff provides public counter information, handles phone and online inquiries, issues building permits, and performs building plan checks and on-site construction inspections. The relatively small geographic area of the City allows Building staff to spend the amount of time necessary with residents, business owners, and developers to ensure that projects move forward in an expeditious manner. The Building Division also plays an integral role at regularly scheduled Development Review Committee meetings. Further, staff members interact regularly with other City departments to address any issues of mutual interest early in the construction process in order to avoid needless delays.
Code Enforcement Division
The Code Enforcement Division's responsibility is to ensure that all property owners and businesses in Montclair are in compliance with various sections of the Montclair Municipal Code. Code Enforcement staff maintains a presence throughout the City seven days a week through the use of full- and part-time staff, who conduct regular, proactive inspections Citywide, in addition to responding to complaints from citizens.
Some of the most common violations and reasons for Code Enforcement to seek voluntary compliance:
- "Appearance violations." Such things as unmaintained landscaping, peeling paint, broken windows, and inoperable vehicles in a neighborhood not only are unsightly, but have the potential for negatively impacting property values, quality of life, and indirectly leading to increased criminal activity.
- Illegal garage conversions and room additions. These types of unauthorized residential property improvements often can lead to life safety hazards such as improper construction and insufficient exit routes in case of fire or other emergency.
- Unpermitted uses of land or buildings. The Montclair Municipal Code allows specified types of land uses in the City's various zoning district to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses. Establishment of an unpermitted land
use has potential to negatively impact nearby properties and create a public nuisance.
Illegal signs. Montclair's Sign Code is designed to afford the City's businesses adequate opportunities to identify themselves while observing a minimum aesthetic expectation. Permanent and temporary signs and advertising devices that create visual clutter and detract from the character of the City's commercial areas are generally not permitted.