Costa Mesa, CA Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Section 5-1 adopts a full stack of construction codes for Costa Mesa, including the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, based on the 2023 National Electrical Code as published by the National Fire Protection Association. Enforcement of that adopted code, like every construction code in Section 5-1, is the responsibility of the building official under Section 5-2, and the development services director or a designee is authorized to issue permits under Section 5-10 once an applicant has complied with all requirements. Where the California Code of Regulations or the State Building Standards Code differs from the local amendments, state regulations control over the city's construction codes.

The city keeps a copy of the adopted Electrical Code on file in the building official's office under Health and Safety Code Section 18942(d)(1) for public inspection. Fees for electrical permit services do not take effect until the city council adopts them by resolution, a requirement drawn directly from Government Code Sections 66016 and 66020. Appeals from a building official determination under the Electrical Code go to the Access, Building, Fire and Housing Board of Appeals per Section 5-3, which must render written decisions with a copy to the appellant, and that board's decision is final with no further appeal to the city council.