Building Permits in Anaheim

Anaheim requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Anaheim Planning & Building Department — Building Division, which administers plan review, inspections, and code enforcement for all development within the city.

Anaheim has adopted the 2022 California Building Standards Code (Title 24), which encompasses the California Building Code (CBC), California Residential Code (CRC), California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Mechanical Code (CMC), California Electrical Code (CEC), California Energy Code (CEnC), and CALGreen (the California Green Building Standards Code). These statewide codes are adopted on a triennial cycle by the California Building Standards Commission and apply uniformly across the state, subject to local amendments filed with the state.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a building permit in Anaheim for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures including ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and JADUs (Junior ADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) system changes
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above applicable height thresholds
• Solar photovoltaic systems and battery storage installations
• Demolition of any habitable structure

Minor cosmetic work — painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes — is typically exempt under the CRC and Anaheim Municipal Code Title 15. Contact the Building Division before starting work if you are uncertain.

Anaheim Online Permit Center

The Anaheim Online Permit Center at anaheim.net is the city's primary permit submission platform. Through the portal you can:

• Submit new residential and commercial permit applications
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Respond to plan check correction notices without visiting City Hall
• Pay fees online
• Request and track inspections

Walk-in service is available at the Planning & Building counter at Anaheim City Hall. For questions about the portal or specific project requirements, contact the Building Division by phone or email through the contact information listed on the official Planning & Building page.

California Title 24 — What It Means for Your Project

Because California adopts its own statewide building standards, every Anaheim permit must comply with Title 24 requirements that go beyond what many other states require:

• California Energy Code (Part 6) — prescriptive or performance energy compliance is required for all new construction and most alterations. Residential projects typically require a CF1R/CF2R/CF3R compliance documentation package.
• CALGreen (Part 11) — mandatory green building measures apply to new residential and non-residential construction, covering water efficiency, construction waste management, and indoor air quality.
• Seismic requirements — Anaheim is in Seismic Design Category D due to its location in the high-seismicity region of Southern California. Structural plans must demonstrate compliance with CBC seismic provisions.
• CBC Chapter 7A / WUI — projects in or near identified Wildland-Urban Interface zones require ignition-resistant construction materials.

Disneyland Resort Specific Plan (DRSP) Overlay

Properties located within the Disneyland Resort Specific Plan (DRSP) boundary are subject to a separate layer of land use, design review, and density standards administered by the Anaheim Planning Division. The DRSP governs the area surrounding the Disneyland Resort complex and the Anaheim Convention Center corridor.

If your parcel is within the DRSP area:

• Contact the Planning Division before preparing construction documents to confirm which development standards apply
• Design review may be required in addition to standard building plan check
• Land use and intensity standards differ from the citywide zoning code
• The Building Division will coordinate with Planning on permit applications for DRSP parcels

Standard city-wide building and fire code requirements still apply within the DRSP; the overlay adds planning-level standards on top.

ADU Permits — California 60-Day Rule

Accessory Dwelling Units and Junior ADUs are permitted on qualifying residentially zoned lots under California state law. A critical timing requirement applies:

Under California Government Code § 65852.2, Anaheim must complete ministerial review of a complete ADU or JADU permit application within 60 calendar days. If the city does not act within that window, the permit is deemed approved by operation of law. This is a state mandate that overrides local discretion.

ADU permits in Anaheim must still comply with the 2022 CBC/CRC, the California Energy Code, and CALGreen. Detached ADUs may be up to 1,200 square feet, with 4-foot rear and side setbacks.

Permit Costs

Anaheim building permit fees are calculated from project valuation with additional fees for plan check, inspections, and applicable development impact fees. Fee categories typically include:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation per the city fee schedule
• Plan check fee — a percentage of the building permit fee
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit fees — per trade
• Development impact fees — for new construction or added dwelling units (transportation, parks, utilities)
• Energy compliance and CALGreen documentation fees — where applicable

Always obtain the current fee schedule directly from the Anaheim Building Division or the Online Permit Center. Do not rely on third-party estimates.

Typical Timeline

Second and subsequent correction cycles are typically faster than the initial review if all comments are addressed in full.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Verify zoning, overlays (including DRSP if applicable), and applicable Title 24 codes for your parcel using the city's Planning & Building resources
2. Plans: Prepare construction documents stamped by a California-licensed architect or engineer where required by the CBC or CRC
3. Energy and CALGreen compliance: Prepare Title 24 energy calculations (CF1R package for residential) and CALGreen checklist
4. Submit: File through the Anaheim Online Permit Center or in person at City Hall with all required documents and fees
5. Plan review: Building Division disciplines (building, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, zoning, fire) review the plans for code compliance
6. Corrections: Respond to correction notices and resubmit revised documents
7. Permit issuance: Pay remaining fees and receive the approved permit
8. Post permit on site: The approved permit card and plans must be available at the job site during all inspections
9. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase
10. Final: Pass final inspection; receive Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance where applicable

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project in Anaheim:

• Footing and foundation
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation (Title 24 energy compliance)
• Drywall
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule inspections through the Anaheim Online Permit Center or by contacting the Building Division. The approved set of plans must be on site for each inspection.

Common Reasons for Plan Check Corrections

• Plans do not comply with the 2022 California Building Code or Anaheim local amendments
• Missing Title 24 energy compliance documentation (CF1R/CF2R package)
• Missing CALGreen mandatory measures checklist
• Structural calculations, soils report, or engineer-of-record stamp missing
• Zoning conflicts — setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, use classification
• DRSP overlay requirements not addressed
• Incomplete fire sprinkler or fire alarm documentation
• Missing utility clearances (water, sewer, electrical service)

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Anaheim Planning & Building Department and the Anaheim Online Permit Center before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Building Division, the Online Permit Center, the Anaheim Municipal Code, the California Title 24 building standards, and the Disneyland Resort Specific Plan.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Anaheim and California state sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Anaheim Planning & Building Department before submitting plans or starting construction.