California Permit
Expediting Services

California's permitting landscape is one of the most complex in the country — 547 cities and counties, each with its own code, process, and timeline. We navigate it so your project doesn't stall at the counter.

Ocean Permits & Development helps property owners, architects, contractors, and businesses secure building permits across California. From Los Angeles and the surrounding counties to multi-jurisdiction rollout programs statewide, we manage the permitting process end to end.

Permitting in California is relationship- and process-driven. Knowing which department reviews what, how each jurisdiction prefers submittals, and where projects typically get stuck is the difference between a permit in weeks and a permit in months. As a Women-Owned Business (WBE) based in Los Angeles, we give you a single point of contact who owns your permit from submittal to approval.

What We Handle Across California

Building Permits — Residential & Commercial

New construction, additions, remodels, and tenant improvements through municipal building departments statewide. We manage submittals, track plan check, and respond to corrections.

ADU & Garage Conversion Permits

California's ADU laws have simplified the process significantly, but each city still applies its own local standards. We handle ADU permits across California's municipalities and counties.

Tenant Improvement Permits

Commercial TI permits for office, retail, restaurant, and medical projects. Each jurisdiction has its own process — we manage the variations across cities.

Sign Permits & Multi-Location Programs

Sign permits across California cities, and coordinated rollout programs for chains and franchises opening multiple locations in the same quarter.

Land-Use Entitlements & CUPs

Variances, conditional use permits, and discretionary approvals through planning departments statewide. We advise on strategy and manage the hearing process.

Code Violation Resolution

Retroactive permits and compliance order resolution for properties statewide, whether the jurisdiction is a large city like Los Angeles or a smaller municipality.

Why California Permitting Is Complex

547 cities and counties, each with its own code

California has 58 counties and 482 incorporated cities — every one with its own zoning ordinance, building code amendments, submittal requirements, and plan-check process. The California Building Code is a statewide baseline; local amendments create the real complexity.

California Coastal Commission jurisdiction

Properties within the Coastal Zone — spanning over 1,100 miles of coastline — require Coastal Development Permits in addition to local building permits. Some areas have certified Local Coastal Programs; others require state Coastal Commission review directly.

Title 24 energy compliance

California's Title 24 energy code is among the most stringent in the country and is updated on a regular cycle. Commercial, residential, and ADU projects all have specific compliance requirements that must be documented at permit submittal.

State ADU laws vs. local implementation

California has passed extensive ADU legislation that limits local governments' ability to restrict conversions and new ADU construction. But each city still applies its own standards within state limits — and how those standards interact with specific properties varies significantly.

Fire Hazard Severity Zones

Large portions of California are designated as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, triggering additional construction standards (Chapter 7A of the CBC) for new construction and significant remodels. Post-wildfire rebuild areas have additional state and local requirements.

Regions We Serve

Los Angeles & Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Long Beach, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Torrance, El Segundo

Orange CountyAnaheim, Irvine, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fullerton, Yorba Linda

San Diego RegionSan Diego, Chula Vista, Carlsbad, Escondido, El Cajon, Oceanside, San Marcos, Vista

Inland EmpireRiverside, San Bernardino, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Corona, Moreno Valley

Bay Area & Northern CaliforniaSan Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield — project-by-project coordination

Common Questions

Do you handle permits across all of California?

Our primary operations are in Los Angeles and Southern California, where we have deep day-to-day relationships with local jurisdictions. For projects in Orange County, San Diego, the Inland Empire, and selected Northern California cities, we manage permits on a project-by-project basis with local coordination. Contact us with your specific location and project type — we'll tell you directly whether we're the right fit.

How does California's permitting process differ from other states?

California's building code (Title 24) is more comprehensive and frequently updated than most state codes. California also has additional statewide requirements that other states don't — the Coastal Commission, Fire Hazard Severity Zone standards, aggressive ADU legislation, and CEQA environmental review for discretionary projects. The sheer number of local jurisdictions — each with its own amendments and processes — makes California permitting more complex than most states.

What is Title 24 and why does it matter for my permit?

California Title 24 is the state building standards code. Part 6 — the California Energy Code — is what most people refer to when they say 'Title 24.' It sets minimum energy performance standards for buildings, including requirements for insulation, windows, lighting, HVAC systems, and water heating. Title 24 compliance documentation (energy calculations from a certified energy analyst) is required for most building permit submittals in California. Part 11 — CALGreen — adds mandatory green building standards. Both must be addressed in your permit package.

Does California's ADU law override local restrictions?

State ADU law significantly limits what cities can prohibit, but it doesn't eliminate all local control. Cities can still regulate things like setbacks, height, and design standards within state minimums. Some cities have adopted local ADU ordinances that are more permissive than the state baseline. Understanding how state law interacts with a specific city's local ordinance — and what exemptions apply to your property type — is part of our pre-submittal feasibility review.

What is CEQA and does it affect my permit?

CEQA — the California Environmental Quality Act — requires environmental review for discretionary government approvals that may have significant environmental effects. For most residential permits and smaller commercial TIs, CEQA review is not required (the project is categorically exempt). But discretionary approvals — variances, CUPs, zone changes, and certain large developments — trigger CEQA review, which adds time and documentation to the process. We identify CEQA applicability as part of our pre-submittal analysis.