Anaheim, CA Permit Requirements: Renovation Permits (2026)

Anaheim adopts the 2022 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Mechanical Code, Energy Code, and Green Building Code through Municipal Code Title 15. Permits are required for any work that alters the structure (moving or removing walls, adding windows, changing roof framing), upgrades electrical service, relocates plumbing, adds or replaces HVAC equipment, or changes the building envelope in ways that trigger Title 24 energy compliance. Interior cosmetic work including painting, wallpaper, new flooring over existing subfloor, cabinet replacement in the same footprint, and non-structural trim work is permit-exempt. Water heater replacements require a plumbing permit and seismic strapping per California Plumbing Code 507.2. HVAC equipment replacements require a mechanical permit and must meet current Title 24 efficiency standards, which often means AC condensers need HERS testing. Kitchen and bathroom remodels almost always trigger electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits. Whole-house remodels exceeding 50 percent of the home's pre-improvement value may trigger substantial improvement rules requiring full current-code compliance. Permit plan check typically takes 2 to 6 weeks for residential projects; over-the-counter permits are available for straightforward work. Working without a permit can result in double permit fees, stop-work orders, and issues at resale when buyers discover unpermitted work. Use the Anaheim online permit portal at anaheim.net for applications.