Approvals for a new single family home in California

Due Diligence & Studies

• Boundary / ALTA Survey

  Required

  A boundary survey fixes the lot lines the building is placed from.

• Topographic Survey

  Likely

  Gives the grades the house, driveway and drainage are drawn on.

• Geotechnical Investigation / Report

  Check locally

  Only where the soils, a slope or the building department call for borings.

• Wetlands Delineation

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this. Check for wetlands, floodplain or other environmental conditions.

• Flood / Floodplain Study

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this. Check for wetlands, floodplain or other environmental conditions.

• Stormwater / Drainage Study

  Check locally

  Some towns ask for a drainage plan for a new building.

Land Use & Entitlements

• Variance Approval

  Check locally

  The agency checks your application within 30 days, then must decide within 60 or 180 days of its environmental finding.

  Agency

  City or county planning commission or zoning board

  Clock

  Set by law

  Source

  leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

• Historic Preservation Approval

  Check locally

  Only in a historic district, where the commission reviews new buildings.

• Coastal Development Permit

  Check locally

  Only in the coastal zone. The city or county issues it where it has a certified coastal program.

  Agency

  California Coastal Commission or the city or county with a certified coastal program

  Source

  coastal.ca.gov

• Zoning Permit

  Required

  The zoning office confirms the new building meets the setbacks, height and lot coverage.

• HOA or Architectural Review Approval

  Check locally

  An HOA may need to approve the house design before it is built.

Design & Permit Documents

• Civil Design Package

  Check locally

  Many towns ask for a lot grading and utility plan for a new building.

• Architectural Design Package

  Required

  The building drawings, from design through the permit set.

• Structural Design Package

  Likely

  The structural drawings the building permit is reviewed on.

• Fire Protection Design Package

  Check locally

  Only where the building code or the town requires sprinklers.

• Foundation Design

  Likely

  The foundation design for the new building.

• Energy Code Package

  Required

  The energy code report, usually filed with the permit set.

• Permit Drawing Set

  Required

  The signed and sealed drawing sets the building department reviews.

• Issued-for-Construction Drawing Set

  Likely

  The final drawings the trades build from, with the permit comments included.

Environmental & Site Authorizations

• Soil / Erosion Control Approval

  Check locally

  ShovelCue has no California record for this line yet, so check who handles it for this site.

Utilities & Infrastructure

• Water Service Approval

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this, since new buildings need new utility service.

• Sewer Service Approval

  Check locally

  Likely needed for a project like this, since new buildings need new utility service.

• Electric Service Approval

  Check locally

  ShovelCue has no California record for this line yet, so check who handles it for this site.

• Road Opening Permit

  Likely

  A new driveway or utility connection in the street needs a road opening permit.

Permits & Construction Authorizations

• Demolition Permit

  Check locally

  Usual when an existing structure is demolished.

• Building Permit

  Required

  The building permit. Many towns start the review only after the earlier approvals are in hand.

• Plumbing Permit

  Required

  The plumbing permit, reviewed on the same clock as the building permit.

• Electrical Permit

  Required

  The electrical permit, reviewed with the building permit.

• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required

  The heating and cooling permit, reviewed with the building permit.

• Fire Protection Permit

  Check locally

  Only where the building code or the town requires sprinklers.

• Retaining Wall Permit

  Check locally

  Only if the scope includes it.

• Temporary Power Permit

  Likely

  Lets the utility connect temporary power for construction.

• Health Department Approval

  Check locally

  Only with a well or septic system, or food service.

• Certificate of Occupancy

  Required

  Every occupiable building needs it before use.

Construction Readiness

• Construction Entrance Installed

  Likely

  A stabilized entrance so trucks do not track soil onto the road.

• Erosion / Sediment Controls Installed

  Likely

  Silt fence and controls in place before digging, as the erosion control plan shows.

• Utility Mark-Out Complete

  Likely

  Call 811 so the state one call center marks the utility lines before digging.

• Survey Control Established

  Likely

  The surveyor sets control points so the building goes in the right place.

• Required Site Signage / Postings Complete

  Likely

  The permit placard and the labor postings on site.

• Site Ready to Mobilize

  Likely

  The milestone for your target construction start.

• Cal/OSHA Construction Activity Permit

  Check locally

  Needed before building a structure over 36 feet high or digging a trench 5 feet deep or more that workers enter.

  Agency

  Cal/OSHA

  Source

  dir.ca.gov

Sources

• leginfo.legislature.ca.govVariance Approval
• coastal.ca.govCoastal Development Permit
• dir.ca.govCal/OSHA Construction Activity Permit

Items with no source link come from the national list and are decided by the town or the site. Ask the local office.

Other project types in California

• New multifamily building
• Retail tenant fit out
• Deck or porch