Building Permits in California
California statewide rules
These state rules apply everywhere in the state. Cities and counties may add stricter local rules — open your city below.
- Issued by
- California Building Standards Commission (CBSC), Department of General Services source: dgs.ca.gov
- Local changes allowed
- Limited source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Building code
- 2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24), effective 2026-01-01 source: dgs.ca.gov
Pool
- Conditions
- When a building permit is issued for a new or remodeled pool or spa at a private single-family home, at least two of seven drowning prevention safety features are required. source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Solar Panels
- Conditions
- Review is limited to whether the system meets health and safety requirements of local, state, and federal law. source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
- Permit required
- Yes source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
Cities
- Los Angeles3,878,704 residents
- San Diego1,404,452 residents
- San Jose997,368 residents
- San Francisco827,526 residents
- Fresno550,105 residents
- Sacramento535,798 residents
- Long Beach450,901 residents
- Oakland443,554 residents
- Bakersfield417,468 residents
- Anaheim344,561 residents
- Stockton324,975 residents
- Riverside323,757 residents
- Irvine318,683 residents
- Santa Ana316,184 residents
- Chula Vista278,546 residents
- Santa Clarita229,159 residents
- Fremont228,192 residents
- San Bernardino224,775 residents
- Modesto220,592 residents
- Fontana218,455 residents
- Moreno Valley213,919 residents
- Oxnard200,616 residents
- Huntington Beach193,151 residents
- Glendale187,823 residents
- Ontario185,285 residents
- Elk Grove182,797 residents
- Santa Rosa177,524 residents
- Rancho Cucamonga176,675 residents
- Garden Grove172,361 residents
- Oceanside170,941 residents
- Lancaster167,426 residents
- Roseville163,304 residents
- Palmdale162,536 residents
- Corona161,540 residents
- Salinas160,783 residents
- Hayward158,440 residents
- Sunnyvale156,792 residents
- Escondido148,847 residents
- Pomona147,966 residents
- Visalia146,271 residents
- Victorville140,721 residents
- Fullerton140,054 residents
- Torrance139,576 residents
- Orange137,941 residents
- Pasadena137,195 residents
- Santa Clara133,132 residents
- Clovis127,993 residents
- Simi Valley125,778 residents
- Thousand Oaks124,229 residents
- Concord124,016 residents
- Vallejo123,475 residents
- Fairfield122,646 residents
- Berkeley121,749 residents
- Antioch118,453 residents
- Menifee117,041 residents
- Richmond115,353 residents
- Carlsbad113,575 residents
- Murrieta112,539 residents
- Temecula112,431 residents
- Santa Maria111,346 residents
- San Buenaventura (Ventura)109,831 residents
- Downey109,368 residents
- Costa Mesa109,131 residents
- Jurupa Valley108,154 residents
- West Covina106,920 residents
- Rialto104,918 residents
- El Monte104,639 residents
- Vacaville103,994 residents
- Burbank103,533 residents
- El Cajon103,291 residents
- San Mateo103,006 residents
- Chico102,911 residents
- Inglewood102,774 residents
- Hesperia101,836 residents
- Daly City101,418 residents
- Tracy100,136 residents
- Vista99,322 residents
- Norwalk98,230 residents
- San Marcos96,620 residents
- Merced96,073 residents
- Manteca94,292 residents
- Indio94,275 residents
- Chino94,010 residents
- Redding93,502 residents
- Hemet92,912 residents
- Mission Viejo91,601 residents
- Carson91,358 residents
- Compton91,129 residents
- South Gate90,805 residents
- Santa Monica90,729 residents
- Westminster89,537 residents
- Folsom88,091 residents
- Mountain View87,316 residents
- Santa Barbara87,291 residents
- Lake Forest87,159 residents
- Citrus Heights86,909 residents
- San Leandro86,571 residents
- San Ramon85,924 residents
- Whittier85,589 residents
- Livermore84,867 residents
Permit Categories
- Shed Permits
- Fence Permits
- Deck Permits
- Roof Permits
- Pool Permits
- Patio Permits
- Pergola Permits
- Garage Permits
- Carport Permits
- Tree Removal Permits
- Solar Panels Permits
- HVAC Permits
- Electrical Permits
- Plumbing Permits
- Driveway Permits
- ADU Permits
- Home Addition Permits
- Demolition Permits
- Windows Permits
- Water Heater Permits