Yorba Linda, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Building permits described here are issued by the City for projects within incorporated Yorba Linda. Some projects also require outside-agency review, including Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Health Department review where applicable.

Department

City of Yorba Linda Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

4845 Casa Loma Avenue, Yorba Linda, CA 92886

Phone

714-961-7120

Email

electronicprocessing@yorbalindaca.gov

Website

https://www.yorbalindaca.gov/477/Permit-Process

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project can be submitted online. Yorba Linda only accepts limited online submittals for air conditioning/heating units, electrical service panel upgrades, EV charging stations, repiping, like-for-like reroofs without engineering, roof-mounted photovoltaic systems, and water heaters. Other projects can be handled through the Building Division counter or appointment process.
2. Complete the Building Permit Submittal Form and assemble required plans/documents. For many projects this includes the application, applicable fees, and, when required, floor plans, site plans, and two sets of scaled plans at least 18x24 inches.
3. Submit the package. For eligible online projects, email the completed submittal form and required documents to electronicprocessing@yorbalindaca.gov. For other projects, submit through the Building Division in person.
4. Pay plan check and permit fees as directed by the Building Permit Technician. For online submittals, staff emails payment instructions and the applicant must pay before permit issuance.
5. If plan review is required, the City performs completeness review first and then routes the plans to plan check. Cross-department and outside-agency review may also apply.
6. After approval, obtain the issued permit and approved plans, then schedule required inspections during construction.
7. Complete final inspection to close out the permit.

Typical processing time: Initial electronic applications may take up to 10 City-observed working days to process. If plan review is required, the City states a 15-working-day review period, including resubmittals.

Source: City of Yorba Linda Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

Yorba Linda states permits are required for new buildings, additions, residential work such as decks, garages, fences, fireplaces, pools, and water heaters, renovations, reroofing or roof repairs, electrical and solar systems, plumbing systems, HVAC systems, and demolition work.

Required Documents

• Building Submittal Form
• applicable fee payment
• and, depending on project scope, floor plans, site plans, and two sets of plans at least 18x24 inches drawn to scale. Online projects marked by the City as plan-review projects must also follow the City's electronic plan review document preparation requirements.

Permit validity

Permit applications expire if no permit is issued within 180 days, subject to written extensions. Issued permits become invalid if work is not commenced within 12 months after issuance, or if work is abandoned for 180 days after commencement. Expired permits may be renewed under the City's renewal-fee rules. Permits issued to correct code-enforcement or unpermitted-work cases have shorter deadlines.

Building code

Yorba Linda Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, the California Historical Building Code, 2025 Edition, and the California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition, with local amendments. Related municipal-code chapters separately adopt the California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Green Building Standards Codes.

Owner-builder

The City's permit submittal form includes an Owner/Builder option, and the City maintains owner-builder FAQs. This indicates owner-builder permits are allowed where legally applicable, subject to Building Official review and standard permit documentation.

Contractor requirements

The permit submittal form requires contractor company name, California contractor license number, expiration date, and license class when a contractor is used. The City also requires licensed contractors doing business in Yorba Linda to obtain a Yorba Linda business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$78 permit issuance fee is listed broadly in the Building permit/plan-check fee schedule, while many residential valuation-based building permit schedules start at $464 for the first $2,000 of valuation.

Plan check fee

Residential building plan check is valuation-based and begins at $232 for the first $2,000 of valuation; commercial plan check is also valuation-based. Additional standalone plan-check fees apply for specific disciplines.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Major building permits are valuation-based; many standalone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are flat-fee or item-based; permit issuance and extensions are flat fees.

Penalty (no permit)

The City's code states that work started without a permit is subject to an investigation fee equal to the permit fee that would otherwise have applied, in addition to the permit fee itself. Expired permits renew at 50% of the original permit fee if expired up to 1 year, and 100% if expired more than 1 year. A non-expired plan check/permit extension fee of $78 is listed.

Payment note

For online submittals, the Building Permit Technician emails payment instructions and a payment-portal link. Payment must be completed before issuance. The portal accepts credit cards but does not accept American Express. Applicants must include the assigned permit or plan-check number as the reference number and send payment confirmation back to staff.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet, subject to setback and other zoning limits.
• Masonry or concrete fences not over 3 feet high.
• Wrought iron, wood, vinyl, or chain-link fences not over 6 feet high, if not part of an existing swimming-pool barrier fence.
• Prefabricated above-ground swimming pools less than 18 inches deep and not exceeding 5,000 gallons.
• Decks not exceeding 120 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and not serving a required egress door.
• Temporary motion-picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery.
• Certain minor electrical work, such as portable plug-connected appliances, temporary decorative lighting, and same-type replacement of fixed motors/transformers/appliances in the same location.
• Certain minor mechanical work, such as portable heating/ventilating/cooling equipment, portable evaporative coolers, and some like-for-like appliance component replacements that do not alter approval.
• Certain minor plumbing work, such as stopping leaks, clearing stoppages, and replacing sinks, water closets, garbage disposals, or dishwashers when the work does not require rearrangement or replacement of valves, pipes, or fixtures.

Important: Even exempt work must still comply with technical codes and applicable city, county, and state ordinances. Yorba Linda also notes that separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required unless those items are independently exempt.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online citizen portal (online)
• 714-961-7120 (phone)
• 714-854-7411 (phone)
• Inspection schedule lookup (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests received after 3:30 p.m. are inspected on the next available business day.

Inspection hours

Inspections are conducted Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and alternate Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Requests received after 3:30 p.m. are inspected on the next available business day.

Typical inspection sequence: The City says inspections occur at specific times during construction and depend on project scope. Commonly referenced construction phases in the City's code and materials include foundation, framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and final inspection. The job card and approved plans must be on site for each inspection.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Yorba Linda Municipal Code Chapter 15.04 adopts the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, the California Historical Building Code, 2025 Edition, and the California Existing Building Code, 2025 Edition, with local amendments. Related municipal-code chapters separately adopt the California Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Green Building Standards Codes.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permit process
• Online permit process
• Plan check
• Permit exceptions
• Building project exemptions
• Electrical project exemptions
• Mechanical project exemptions
• Plumbing project exemptions
• Business licenses
• Municipal code, Title 15 Buildings and Construction
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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