Drafting & permit plans · California
Title 24, CALGreen, and CBC permit sets for California projects.
California layers its own energy code (Title 24, Part 6), CALGreen, and state fire- and earthquake-hazard maps on top of the building code. We sort out all three before we draft.
CALIFORNIA CODE ADOPTION
Building
2025 California Building Code (CBC, Title 24 Part 2) — based on the 2024 IBC with California amendments; in effect since Jan. 1, 2026
Residential
2025 California Residential Code (CRC, Title 24 Part 2.5) — based on the 2024 IRC; in effect since Jan. 1, 2026
Energy
2025 California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6) — California’s own energy code, not the IECC; applies to permits applied for from Jan. 1, 2026
CALGreen (Title 24, Part 11) mandatory measures apply to new buildings and to additions and alterations that meet its thresholds; cities can add local amendments.
CLIMATE ZONE · Title 24 zones 1–16 — e.g. Oakland 3, coastal LA (Torrance) 6, San Diego 7, Sacramento 12, Fresno 13, Sierra 16. Check the parcel’s zone with the California Energy Commission’s lookup.
Editions checked October 2026 · Sources: California Building Standards Commission: codes · California Energy Commission: 2025 Energy Code
WHAT TO KNOW IN CALIFORNIA
Title 24 is California’s own energy code
California uses its own energy code (Title 24, Part 6), not the IECC. Projects comply by the prescriptive or the performance path; the permit set carries the certificate of compliance (CF1R for homes, NRCC forms for commercial), and installation and verification certificates follow during construction. An independent energy consultant prepares the energy documents, itemized on your quote.
CALGreen applies above its thresholds
Where CALGreen applies, the permit set includes the CALGreen mandatory-measures checklist (construction-waste diversion, water-use reduction, low-VOC materials). Tier 1 and Tier 2 are voluntary statewide, but a city can adopt them as mandatory — we check the local amendments.
Statewide ADU rules
State law requires the city to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days, or it is deemed approved. Every city and county must also run a pre-approved ADU plan program, with a 30-day decision for detached ADUs that use a pre-approved plan. We work both paths depending on lot constraints.
Fire and earthquake hazard maps vary by parcel
CAL FIRE fire hazard severity zones (adopted city by city — the Berkeley hills, for example) trigger CBC Chapter 7A wildfire construction; California Geological Survey earthquake zones (liquefaction, landslide, fault rupture) trigger a site-specific geotechnical report. We check the parcel against both maps before quoting.
HOW WE WORK IN CALIFORNIA
California layers its own energy, green-building, and accessibility rules on top of the model codes. Every California permit package includes the Title 24 energy compliance documents, a CALGreen checklist where CALGreen applies, and the hazard-zone documentation the parcel needs. The energy documents are prepared by an independent energy consultant and itemized on your quote.
For coastal and Bay Area projects, LADBS, SF DBI, San Diego DSD, and Oakland each have their own online submittal portal and requirements; we submit in the format each city asks for. For Sacramento Valley and Central Coast projects, we handle the drafting end-to-end; where a seal is required, an independent California-registered engineer prepares or directly supervises that work and seals it, and we coordinate our drawings with theirs.
For ADUs, state law sets a 60-day approve-or-deny deadline for a complete application, and every city and county must run a pre-approved ADU plan program. We work both the standard and pre-approved paths depending on lot orientation, setbacks, and parent-parcel zoning, and we read the state ADU statute against the local code before routing the project.
MAJOR BUILDING DEPARTMENTS
- · City of Los Angeles LADBS
- · San Francisco DBI
- · City of San Diego
- · City of Sacramento
- · City of San Jose
- · County of Los Angeles
- · County of San Diego
- · City of Oakland
- · City of Berkeley
- · City of Fresno
- · County of Orange
- · County of Alameda
PLAN-REVIEW TIMES
Review times vary by city and workload, and several departments publish their own: San Francisco (permit dashboards and review targets), San Diego DSD (a weekly processing-time snapshot), Sacramento (standard plan-review cycle times) and Oakland (estimated turnaround times). Check the city’s current figures before you set a schedule.
Published by the departments: San Francisco permit performance · San Diego DSD processing times · Sacramento plan-review cycle times · Oakland turnaround times
WHAT WE QUOTE IN CA
Tenant improvements (Bay Area + LA)
Offices and retail, up to 3,000 sf with no structural change; restaurants, gyms, churches, event spaces and larger or structural spaces we refer to a registered architect. CBC compliance, plus CALGreen nonresidential measures where the TI triggers them.
Custom homes + Title 24 energy
Single-family new builds, additions. Title 24 energy compliance (prescriptive or performance) by an independent energy consultant, plus CALGreen residential.
ADUs and JADUs
Statewide-streamlined and city pre-approved paths both supported.
Tell us the lot APN, the AHJ, and your start window. We reply within one business day.