What does getPermit actually do?

getPermit reads your job details and tells you what a California city expects before you file: which permits the work triggers, the documents and plans you'll need, the fees to budget for, and the common reasons applications in that jurisdiction get bounced back. It produces a clear checklist you can act on. It does not submit to the city for you — you (or your permit person) stay in control of what gets filed.

Is there a human involved, or is it just AI?

Both. The AI does the research and drafts the assessment and checklist; an experienced permit coordinator reviews and approves it before it's treated as authoritative. The human check is the point — it's how we keep it trustworthy in a process where a wrong filing has real consequences.

Which cities do you cover?

We're starting deep in California rather than shallow everywhere. For a city we haven't fully mapped yet, we'll give you accurate general California guidance and point you to that city's official building department — and you can join the waitlist to be notified when we cover it in depth. We will not invent city-specific fees or timelines we haven't verified.

Solo electricians, plumbers, and HVAC contractors, and small general contractors who don't have a dedicated permit department and lose billable hours to permit admin.

How much does it cost?

It's pre-launch. Join the waitlist and you'll get founder pricing, your jurisdiction prioritized, and a direct line to the team. No spam, no credit card.

We're onboarding a first set of California contractors. Join the waitlist with your city and trade so we can prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in.

ADU permits in Santa Ana, CA

A plain-English starting point for ADU contractors working in Santa Ana (Orange County). This is general California guidance — it does not replace the requirements published by the city.

Short answer

Yes — every ADU (new construction, garage conversion, or a JADU within the existing home) requires building permits in California. State law (Government Code §65852.2) constrains how cities may regulate ADUs and sets a mandatory review period for a complete application, but each jurisdiction still sets its own development standards, fees, and submittal format. ADUs are generally permitted and built under a B (General Building) contractor coordinating the trades.

Santa Ana-specific fees, forms, and timelines are set by City of Santa Ana Building Safety Division. Verified data — portal, fee schedule, adopted code — is sourced below.

The general picture

An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is a project type rather than a single trade — it bundles building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, so it always requires permits from the local building department. California state law (Government Code §65852.2, and §65852.22 for Junior ADUs) sets a baseline framework that limits how local agencies may regulate ADUs and requires them to act on a complete ADU permit application within a state-mandated review period; the specific local development standards, fees, and submittal format are still set by each city or county. Confirm those specifics with the jurisdiction below before you file.

Typically needs a permit

New detached ADU
Garage or accessory-structure conversion
Junior ADU (JADU) within the existing home
Attached / addition-style ADU

Usually doesn't (general norm)

There is effectively no no-permit path for an ADU — by definition it creates a dwelling unit and requires permits
Only minor cosmetic work inside an already-permitted, legal ADU is treated like any existing dwelling
Anything that creates or converts living space requires a permit

Documents & plans generally required

Site plan showing the existing dwelling, the ADU footprint, setbacks, and parking
Floor plans and elevations
Structural plans/calcs for new construction or conversions
Title 24 energy documentation
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical plans for the new unit
School/impact fee and utility-connection forms where applicable

Common reasons ADU applications get bounced

These are general, code-rooted patterns across California — not a Santa Ana rejection rate.

Site plan missing required setbacks, dimensions, or the existing structure
A local ordinance that conflicts with state ADU law and hasn't been updated — resolve with the AHJ
Incomplete structural or Title 24 documentation
Fire-separation or egress details missing for a conversion
Utility/sewer capacity or connection details not addressed

The inspection sequence

A typical order — the number of stops and exact sequence vary by jurisdiction and scope.

1Foundation / underground rough for new construction
2Framing, then rough electrical/plumbing/mechanical before cover
3Insulation and Title 24 / HERS verification where required
4Final inspections across trades and a final building sign-off before occupancy

Licensing — who can pull it

An ADU is generally built under a licensed B (General Building) contractor who coordinates the C-10 (electrical), C-36 (plumbing), and C-20 (HVAC) subtrades. State ADU law is statewide; the local building department is still the Authority Having Jurisdiction for the permit itself.

Santa Ana permit data

Sourced from public City of Santa Ana documents — every field carries the source URL and verification date.

Permit portal

Accela Citizen Access (ACA)

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · ACA is the city's online permitting portal for Planning, Building Safety, and Public Works — submitting plans, paying fees, obtaining permits, and scheduling inspections. It replaced the legacy Online Permit System effective July 1, 2026

Adopted code edition

2025 California Building Standards Code (Title 24)

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · Per the city's notice, the 2025 code took effect January 1, 2026; applications submitted after 2 PM on December 24, 2025 must comply with the 2025 codes. Adoption by reference is codified at Santa Ana Municipal Code Sec. 8-43 — "California Building Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2024 International Building Code" (https://library.municode.com/ca/santa_ana/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIITHCO_CH8BUST_ARTIIBUCO_DIV2AM_S8-92RE)

Fee schedule

City of Santa Ana Miscellaneous Fees Schedule FY 2025-26 — includes Planning & Building Agency permit and plan-check fees

verified Aug 10, 2026 · source · No FY 2026-27 schedule was posted as of retrieval; the Building Division's Miscellaneous Fees page still links the FY 2025-26 PDF as current

City of Santa Ana Building Safety Division →All verified Santa Ana data →

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build an ADU in California?

Yes, always. An ADU creates a dwelling unit and requires building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. State law (Gov. Code §65852.2) limits how cities may regulate ADUs and sets a mandatory review period for a complete application, but the city is still the permitting authority. Confirm local standards with the department below.

Does a garage conversion to an ADU need a permit?

Yes. Converting a garage or accessory structure into living space is an ADU and requires permits, including fire separation, egress, and Title 24 compliance. Confirm the local process with the AHJ below.

How long does an ADU permit take in California?

California law requires local agencies to act on a complete ADU application within a state-mandated review period set by statute. The clock depends on the application being complete and on local process — confirm current timing and completeness requirements with the city's building department below. getPermit does not publish city-specific timelines it hasn't verified.

What is a JADU?

A Junior ADU (JADU) is a smaller unit, size-capped by state law, created within the walls of an existing single-family home with its own entrance. It still requires a permit and has its own state-law rules (Gov. Code §65852.22). Confirm local specifics with the department below.

Other trades in Santa Ana

Electrical permits Plumbing permits HVAC permits Solar permits Roofing permits All Santa Ana permits All California guides

Want getPermit to map Santa Ana in depth?

Join the waitlist with your city and trade. We prioritize the jurisdictions our early users actually work in — and we'll never invent fees or timelines we haven't verified.

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