County Building Permits

Orange County Building Permit Guide

Building permit information for unincorporated Orange County and all incorporated cities. Find your jurisdiction's permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Important: Orange County issues building permits only for properties in unincorporated areas of the county. If your property is inside an incorporated city, select your city below - that city's building department handles your permits, not the county.

Unincorporated Orange County

Permit authority
OC Development Services, OC Public Works
Address
601 N. Ross Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Phone
(714) 667-8888
Email
privateproperty@ocpw.ocgov.com; ocpcustomercare@ocpw.ocgov.com

Cities in Orange County

Select your city for local permit authority, portal links, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Aliso Viejo Permit guide → Anaheim Permit guide → Brea Permit guide → Buena Park Permit guide → Costa Mesa Permit guide → Cypress Permit guide → Dana Point Permit guide → Fountain Valley Permit guide → Fullerton Permit guide → Garden Grove Permit guide → Huntington Beach Permit guide → Irvine Permit guide → La Habra Permit guide → La Palma Permit guide → Laguna Beach Permit guide → Laguna Hills Permit guide → Laguna Niguel Permit guide → Laguna Woods Permit guide → Lake Forest Permit guide → Los Alamitos Permit guide → Mission Viejo Permit guide → Newport Beach Permit guide → Orange Permit guide → Placentia Permit guide → Rancho Santa Margarita Permit guide → San Clemente Permit guide → San Juan Capistrano Permit guide → Santa Ana Permit guide → Seal Beach Permit guide → Stanton Permit guide → Tustin Permit guide → Villa Park Permit guide → Westminster Permit guide → Yorba Linda Permit guide →

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change - confirm current requirements directly with the relevant city or county department before applying.

Related California Resources

License Requirements Verify your contractor's CSLB license → Contract Template Free homeowner-contractor agreement →

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Orange County can be complicated.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authorities listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.