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.

Duct replacement permits in Tustin, CA

General California guidance last updated September 23, 2026 · Tustin data fully re-verified September 13, 2026

What HVAC contractors need to know about pulling a duct replacement permit in Tustin (Orange County).

Short answer

In California, replacing or extending ductwork requires a mechanical permit, and the Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) treats it as an alteration: replacing a duct system entirely — or adding/replacing more than about 40 linear feet in unconditioned space — generally triggers duct sealing with third-party HERS leakage testing. Ducts must meet the insulation R-value for the climate zone. A C-20 (HVAC) licensed contractor generally pulls it.

Tustin accepts submittal through the Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal and has adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code (with Tustin amendments). Fee details and sources are below.

Tustin permit data

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

Permit portal

Citizen Self Service (CSS) Portal

verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Plans and completed permit applications are submitted through the CSS Portal; submittal questions go to PlanPermitSubmittals@tustinca.org and solar questions to PVSubmittals@tustinca.org. The city collects permit payments only through the CSS Portal or in person at the City Hall Finance counter, and never asks for a bank routing or wire number

Adopted code edition

2025 California Building Standards Code (with Tustin amendments)

verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · Tustin City Code Sec. 8100 adopts by reference the 2025 California Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Wildland-Urban Interface, Historical Building, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Referenced Standards Codes, subject to the local amendments in Article 8, Chapter 1 — enacted by Ordinance No. 1569, adopted November 18, 2025

Fee schedule

FY 2026-2027 Comprehensive Fee Schedule — effective April 1, 2026 (City Council Resolution No. 26-05, January 20, 2026); building fees under Building Division Fees

verified Sep 13, 2026 · source · The Comprehensive Schedule of Fees page lists the schedule as adopted January 20, 2026 with an effective date of April 1, 2026; the PDF cover reads "Approved by City Council Resolution No. 26-05 on January 20, 2026" and "Effective April 1, 2026"

City of Tustin Community Development — Building Division →All verified Tustin data →

The general picture in California

Ductwork replacement is permitted mechanical work across California, and the review is mostly an Energy Code review. Title 24, Part 6 treats duct work as an alteration: replace the system, or add or replace more than about 40 linear feet in unconditioned space, and duct sealing with third-party HERS leakage verification generally follows — documented on a CF1R-ALT and registered before final. The materials layer is simple but strictly checked: insulation at the climate zone's required R-value (R-6 or R-8 in most cases), joints sealed with mastic or listed UL 181 tape — never cloth-backed duct tape — and flex duct supported so it isn't kinked or compressed. Because the HERS rater is independent, the schedule needs their test and registration between substantial completion and final inspection. Fees, forms, and inspection scheduling are set per city — confirm with the local building department.

For deeper background that isn't Tustin-specific, see the statewide duct replacement guide.

Typically needs a permit

Duct replacement itself triggers a permit in nearly every California jurisdiction, Tustin included. Tustin-specific variations are confirmed with the issuing department above.

Usually doesn't (general norm)

Maintenance sealing of accessible duct joints (verify locally)
Replacing registers and grilles
Repairing insulation on existing ducts

Documents & plans generally required

Mechanical permit application
Contractor license and city business registration
Duct layout with sizes, materials, and the equipment served
Insulation R-value spec meeting the climate zone (commonly R-6 or R-8)
Energy-compliance form (CF1R-ALT) and HERS registration where testing is triggered
Support/hanger spacing and connection method for flex duct

Common reasons duct replacement applications get bounced

Code-rooted patterns across California — not a Tustin-specific rejection rate.

Missing CF1R-ALT or HERS registration when the scope triggers duct testing
Insulation R-value below the climate-zone requirement
Cloth-backed duct tape as the sealing method — sealing must be mastic or listed (UL 181) tape
Leakage over the allowed percentage at the HERS test
Flex duct unsupported, kinked, or compressed to the point of choking airflow
Scope written as a 'repair' when most of the system is being replaced

The inspection sequence

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

1Rough inspection where ducts are concealed in framing before cover
2Final inspection with the system complete and the HERS duct-leakage results registered where required

Licensing — who can pull it

Duct replacement in California is generally C-20 (HVAC) licensed work; a B (General Building) contractor may pull within a larger remodel under CSLB rules. The HERS duct test is performed by an independent third-party rater, not the installing contractor.

Other verified Tustin notes

Building Division: 714-573-3130 · tustinbuilding@tustinca.org. Counter hours: Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Inspection requests are submitted through the CSS Portal 24 hours a day; requests received by 3:00 p.m. are performed the following workday. For an inspection timeframe, call the inspector between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. on the day of the inspection.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Contractors and other businesses based outside Tustin that conduct activity in the city must obtain a City of Tustin Business License, which can be applied for online at any time.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
Plan check by appointment for minor projects (patio covers, fences and free-standing block walls, pools and spas, kitchen and bathroom remodels), one hour maximum: email plans to planpermitsubmittals@tustinca.org at least 24 hours before the requested date with the subject "Plan Check by Appointment".
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
The city estimates first-submittal plan check at approximately 10 working days and resubmittals at five working days, unless a special zoning or other approval is required; expedited plan check is available for a slightly higher fee.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source
SolarAPP+: residential roof-mounted PV projects that meet the SolarAPP+ eligibility list can get automated plan review (plans submitted by a pre-approved contractor; SolarAPP+ charges a processing fee), then apply for the city's Electrical Photovoltaic (SolarAPP) permit in the CSS Portal. Properties in the Cultural Resource District or listed in the Historic Resource Survey are not eligible.
verified Sep 13, 2026 · source

Frequently asked questions

Does a duct repair need a permit?

Small like-for-like repairs are often treated as maintenance, but replacement and extension are permitted mechanical work — and once the altered footage in unconditioned space passes roughly 40 linear feet, the Energy Code's sealing-and-testing requirements generally come with it. Describe the real scope; cities notice 'repairs' that replace half a system.

What leakage does the HERS test allow?

The allowed leakage is a percentage of system airflow set by the Energy Code, and it differs for new, entirely replaced, and altered duct systems. The practical version: mastic at every joint, tested by an independent HERS rater, results registered — an unregistered test doesn't close the permit.

What R-value do ducts need?

Title 24 sets duct insulation by climate zone — commonly R-6 or R-8 for ducts in unconditioned space, with R-8 required in many zones. The CF1R-ALT documents the value for the project's zone, and both the inspector and the HERS rater look at the duct label.

Do I need a separate permit if I'm also replacing the furnace or AC?

Usually one mechanical permit covers both scopes, but the energy paperwork compounds — the equipment changeout triggers its own measures and the duct replacement its own. The trap is pulling an equipment-only permit and 'discovering' the duct replacement at final.

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