Permits, Plans, and Inspections

The Project Assistance Center Online (PACO)  is your online portal to submit for permits and plans, pay fees, and request inspections.

Visit elcajon.gov/PACO to apply online today! You can find supporting documents for PACO submissions in our Documents & Forms Library

Engineering Services helps process requirements for:

• Encroachment permits for work in public right-of-ways
• Grading plans for any grading activity on public/private property
• Lot splits and subdivisions
• Sewer lateral video inspections
• Sidewalk vending permits
•  Construction site inspections (Building inspections are performed by the Building division)
• Wide load/transportation permits

Additional Resources

• Engineering Documents & Forms Library: standard drawings and templates, checklists, and permit application supporting documents 

• Storm Water Documents & Forms Library

• Project Assistance Center Online (PACO) FAQ 

• Private Development - Engineering
  • Engineering Services main: (619) 441-1653 
  • Engineeringservices@elcajon.gov, ATTN: Private Development

• Building Safety - Community Development
  • Building permits, fire permits, and abatement
  • 619-441-1726, option 2
  • Building@elcajon.gov

• Planning - Community Development
  • Zoning and allowable uses per the Zoning Code 
  • 619-441-1726, option 2
  • Planning@elcajon.gov

Public Records

The City Clerk's office maintains the City's records and ensures they're readily accessible to the public. Examples of searchable documents include:

• Assessor parcel maps
• Finalized permits
• Improvement plans
• Legal contracts and agreements
• Subdivision maps

Ways to Access Records

• Access all available records yourself by using the self-service Public Records Search. Look for the search tool below. 
• Instructions to access Engineering's maps and as-built index via the GIS Hub:

1. Visit the City's GIS Hub at: City of El Cajon Maps
2. Scroll down and click the link for the “Parcel Information” to access the map and as-built index
3. Click the magnifying glass icon in the top right to search for an address or APN
4. Enter the location – the “Address Locator” feature should populate the location found in the system and allow you to click it
5. The system will pull up the location and a blue circle will appear, which represents the searched location
6. Click on the blue circle (or any other location on the map if desired) – a small screen should appear with arrows on the left (check top or bottom)
7. This screen shows documents associated with the location. Click the right and/or left arrows to toggle between different documents
8. There should be text in the top left of the screen indicating what the document is - common examples include but are not limited to: as-builts, maps, and parcels
9. Scroll down to “Document Link” and to the right, click “View” to view each document in a new window

• Submit an online Public Records Request to our City Clerk's office

GIS Interactive Maps 

You can access maps at the Geographic Information System (GIS) HUB to assist with:

• City boundaries & zip codes
• Development projects
• Parcel information
• Street resurfacing
• Benchmarks 
• Moratoriums
• Sewer and Storm Drain networks, hyperlinks to inspection videos, photos, and pdf reports
• Zoning