Mission Viejo, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Sec. 010 adopts the 2025 California Building Code, California Residential Code, Green Building Standards Code, Plumbing, Mechanical, Electrical, Historical, and Existing Building Codes, the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, the International Property Maintenance Code, and the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code by reference, together forming the city's Building Regulations, with copies on file with the building official under Health and Safety Code Sec. 18942(e)(1). The city amended the Building Code's exemption list at Sec. 2 (Sec. 060) so that only fences not over 6 feet high are work exempt from a permit; the parallel Residential Code exemption at Sec.

2 (Sec. 190) is amended the same way. Sec. 4, amended by Sec. 090, penalizes starting work, building, electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing, before the necessary permit issues: the violator owes an investigation fee equal to the required permit fee, on top of that permit fee, and still must comply with every other code provision. New or relocated main buildings, and remodels exceeding 50 percent of an existing building's value or area, must also underground their utility services as a permit condition under Sec. 100, though the building official may waive or delay that requirement for hardship cases with a recorded performance guarantee.

Reconstruction reaching 75 percent or more of a building's value under Sec. 080 must meet full new-construction standards, counting all construction from permits issued in the prior two years toward that threshold. Appeals over alternate materials or interpretations go to a five-member Board of Examiners and Appeals composed of the mayor and city council under Sec. 110.