Building permits in Newport Beach, CA
Newport Beach (Orange County) follows California's statewide codes, but runs its own permit intake, forms, fees, and review timelines through its building department. Here's the general picture for the trades — and where to confirm the specifics.
Newport Beach's Building Division (Community Development) takes permits and plan checks online around the clock through the CiViC Online Portal, and in person at the public counter in the Civic Center, 100 Civic Center Drive. Residential Express Permits cover simple single-scope work such as furnace replacements, reroofs, or window changeouts, and new solar and energy storage submittals are online only. The 2025 California Building Standards Code took effect January 1, 2026 under Ordinance No. 2025-23, and the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Schedule of Rents, Fines and Fees sets Building & Development fees effective July 25, 2026.
Verified local data — Newport Beach
Every fact below is sourced from a public City of Newport Beach document or portal page. Each carries the source URL and the date we last verified it. Full dataset last re-verified .
- Permit portal
- CiViC Online Portal
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Permitting and plan check services available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Building Division's hours page links the same portal to schedule inspections online — https://www.newportbeachca.gov/government/departments/community-development/building-division/operational-hours-staff
- Submission methods
Online · In-person
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Public counter in the Civic Center at 100 Civic Center Drive; permit issuance and plan check submittal 7:30 AM–4:30 PM Monday–Thursday and 7:30 AM–3:30 PM Friday. Online submittal through the CiViC Online Portal
- Adopted code edition
2025 California Building Standards Code
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Newport Beach Municipal Code Title 15 adopts the 2025 California Building (Ch. 15.04), Residential (15.05), Electrical (15.06), Mechanical (15.07), Plumbing (15.08), Green Building Standards (15.11), Historical Building (15.13), Existing Building (15.14), and Energy (15.17) Codes under Ordinance No. 2025-23, effective January 1, 2026
- Fee schedule
- Schedule of Rents, Fines and Fees — Fiscal Year 2026-27 (Building & Development fees effective July 25, 2026)
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Adopted via Resolution 2026-28 and incorporating additional fees adopted via Resolution 2026-56; most fees effective July 1, 2026, Building & Development fees effective July 25, 2026. Building fees are in the Community Development — Building section of the PDF
Other local notes
Community Development main line: (949) 644-3200 · Permit Counter: (949) 718-1888. Counter hours: 7:30 AM–5:30 PM Monday–Thursday, 7:30 AM–4:30 PM Friday.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Businesses based outside Newport Beach that conduct activity in the City — contractors included — must file a City Business License Tax application.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Residential Express Permits (single-family/duplex stand-alone projects) cover simple single-scope work such as a new ceiling fan, furnace replacement, reroofing, or window and door changeouts; they are not for remodels or projects that require multiple permits and plan review.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Per the city's CiViC inspection-scheduling guide, you do not need to be a contact on the permit to schedule an inspection, but you do need a CiViC account.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Since August 1, 2024, all new photovoltaic and energy storage system submittals are online only; single-family and duplex residential projects are eligible only through SolarAPP+, and other solar projects are submitted through CiViC.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Online plan submittals: upload complete construction plans as a single combined PDF that is not password protected, printed landscape, and to scale.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Official building department
City of Newport Beach Community Development — Building DivisionVerified Newport Beach specifics are shown above. For project-specific fees, timelines, and counter staff, this department is the authority.
Permits by trade in Newport Beach
Electrical permits
Service panel upgrades · Rewires and circuit additions · EV charger installs →
Plumbing permits
Water heater replacement · Repipes · Sewer line repair →
HVAC permits
AC / furnace changeouts · Heat pump installs · Mini-split systems →
ADU permits
New detached ADU · Garage or accessory-structure conversion · Junior ADU (JADU) within the existing home →
Solar permits
Rooftop solar PV systems · Battery energy storage (ESS) · Solar + storage retrofits →
Roofing permits
Full roof replacement (tear-off) · Re-roof / overlay where allowed · Structural sheathing or deck repair →
Common jobs in Newport Beach
Each job below is combined with Newport Beach's verified permit data — portal, fee schedule, and adopted code edition.
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