California Permit Requirements
Complete HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing permit data for every county in California. Fees, processing times, inspections, and required documents — all from official sources.
14 counties covered
56 online submissions
56 permit records
Plumbing
Roofing
Electrical
HVAC
Counties in California
14 countiesAlameda County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per Alameda County fee schedule. Cities (Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, etc.) have separate permit offices. Contact (510) 670-5700 for county unincorporated area permits.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Contra Costa County
California
ElectricalPlumbingHVACRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per Contra Costa County fee schedule. Building Valuation Data values increased 5% effective 1/1/2025. Use ePermits Center for fee calculation.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Fresno County
California
ElectricalHVACPlumbingRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per Fresno County Master Fee Schedule. Use Citizens Portal for permit applications. Contact (559) 600-4497 for current rates.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Kern County
California
ElectricalHVACPlumbingRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per Kern County Public Works fee schedule. Use Kern County Accela portal for permit applications and fee calculation. Residential fee estimator available at kernplanning.com.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Los Angeles County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per LA County Building & Safety fee schedules (2024–2025). Separate fee schedules for Building, Electrical, Mechanical, and Plumbing. Plan check: 80% of permit fee for over-the-counter projects.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Orange County
California
ElectricalPlumbingHVACRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per OC Development Services fee schedule. Use myOC eServices portal for permit applications. Contact (714) 667-8888 Mon–Fri 8am–4pm.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Riverside County
California
ElectricalHVACPlumbingRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per Riverside County Building & Safety fee schedule (effective February 17, 2025). Use Public Permit Portal for online applications. Separate fee schedules for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Sacramento County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per Sacramento County fee schedule. City of Sacramento and County use separate permit systems. Contact (916) 875-5296 for County or use city portal for Sacramento city limits.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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San Bernardino County
California
ElectricalHVACPlumbingRoofing
From Based on construction valuation. Fees include plan review, issuance, trade subcode fees, SMIP fees, and technology surcharge. Use OpenCounter portal or EZ Online Permitting for fee calculation. Contact (909) 998-2000 to schedule inspections.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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San Diego County
California
ElectricalPlumbingHVACRoofing
From Based on construction valuation. City of San Diego: mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permits have separate fees. SD County (unincorporated): use interactive fee estimator at sdcounty.ca.gov. Contact (858) 694-2320 for current rates.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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San Francisco County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per City and County of San Francisco DBI fee schedule. Plan check fee: 33% of permit fee. Residential electrical/plumbing/mechanical: minimum $102.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Santa Barbara County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per Santa Barbara County fee schedule. Contact Planning & Development at (805) 568-2000 for current rates.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Santa Clara County
California
ElectricalPlumbingHVACRoofing
From Based on construction valuation per Santa Clara County fee schedule. Use Public Permit Portal (Accela) for fee calculation. Confirm with county if planning application also required.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Ventura County
California
PlumbingRoofingElectricalHVAC
From Based on construction valuation per Ventura County Resource Management Agency fee schedule. Use Ventura County Citizen Access (vcca.ventura.org) for permit applications.
3–5 business days (residential); 10–15 business days (commercial) processing
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Frequently Asked Questions — California Permits
What permits do contractors need in California?
Contractors in California typically need permits for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and roofing work. Requirements vary by county — each county has its own fees, processing times, inspection stages, and document requirements.
How much does a contractor permit cost in California?
Permit fees in California vary by county and trade. Base fees typically range from $50 to $500+, with additional valuation-based fees in some counties. PullReady provides exact fee data for all 14 California counties.
How long do permits take to process in California?
Processing times in California range from same-day approval in some counties to 2–4 weeks in others, depending on the county, trade type, and current workload.
Do I need a local license to pull permits in California?
Many California counties require contractors to hold both a state license and a local county license before issuing a permit. Check each specific county page on PullReady for exact requirements.
Get instant access to every California county
Full permit checklists — fees, documents, insurance minimums, contact info, and submission links. Everything a contractor needs before showing up to the permit office.