News from: The City of Cathedral City

Cathedral City is continuing to make significant strides in enhancing its offering of online services. Since December, staff have implemented many new online services, making it easier and faster for residents and businesses to access essential services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, without ever having to leave their home or office – a plus, especially during our current heat wave! Following are some of the key achievements staff have accomplished to better serve our constituents.

An abundance of available permits, plans, and licenses are available online.

In response to the increasing demand for more accessible and efficient city services, Cathedral City has launched online permitting. There are currently sixty-two building, engineering, and fire permits and three planning applications (General Plan and Zoning Confirmation, Preliminary Review, and Zoning Compliance Letter) available online. Need a garage sale permit? That can also be done online. Individuals can apply for, track, pay for, and receive permits all without the need for in-person visits. By the end of August 2024, staff anticipates having over 100+ Permits/Plans/Licenses all available through the City’s online portal, including business licenses. Since implementation in December, the top permits being filed for online include:

Expedited HVAC Residential Changeout
Expedited Residential Main Service Panel Changeout
Expedited Residential Reroof
Expedited Water Heater
Expedited Window/Door
Plumbing (Residential)
Residential Addition and Alteration
Residential Solar PV Roof Installation
Residential Fence/Walls
Residential Pool/Spa
Non-Residential Tenant Improvements
Utility Encroachment
Grading
Park Permit Reservations
Pool Drain Permit: Residential/Non-Residential
Precise Grade Residential

Rapid Permit Issuance and Solar Permitting (Same Day Permitting)

Through the implementation of Solar App+ the City has reduced the time it takes to process a residential solar permit from several weeks to the same day. With just the click of a button, residents can get their permit issued and then move on to schedule an inspection. https://www.cathedralcity.gov/departments/building-and-safety/solar-photovoltaic is the link for more information and log in information for Solar App+

City-Wide E-Plan Checking

Submitting three sets of paper copies of building plans is a thing of the past. The Building Department is now accepting all plans electronically through the online portal.

City-Wide Building Inspection Requests Online

Beginning Monday, July 15, individuals will be able to schedule any building inspection online through the portal. This will replace the call-in number to schedule inspections.

Public Kiosks available with paper scanning ability.

Don’t have a computer or scanner to upload documents? No problem. The City has implemented public kiosks with paper scanning abilities at City Hall, the Fire Administration Offices, and the Police Department.

Accessing Online Services

To access any of the City’s online permitting, licensing, and plan-check services, one must first create an account.

Cathedral City – Citizen Self-Service Portal is the main portal to access online services. https://www.cathedralcity.gov/business/cathedral-city-online-help provides how-to instructions to register and create an account.

The new online system is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that even those with limited technical skills can navigate it with ease. Additionally, the city has provided online tutorials to assist users with any questions or issues they might encounter.

As the city continues to roll out more online services, residents can look forward to even greater convenience and efficiency. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to modernize city services, making them more accessible and responsive to the needs of the community.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to improve and expand our digital services. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us serve you better.