◆ California permits
Most structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work in California needs a permit — and pulling the wrong path, or skipping an inspection, stalls the job. BIDGRIT tells you whether your scope likely needs a permit, which review path to expect, and the inspection sequence that follows, across California’s major metros.
Check permit requirements →As a rule, a permit is required for new construction, additions, structural alterations, re-roofing, most electrical and plumbing changes, HVAC replacement, and window/door changes that alter framing. Cosmetic work — paint, flooring, cabinets, like-for-like fixture swaps — generally does not. The exact line is set by your local building department and can vary by jurisdiction.
Simple, well-defined scopes often clear over-the-counter (OTC): you walk in, the permit is issued the same day. Larger or structural scopes go to plan check, where plans are reviewed over days to weeks and corrections are issued before approval. Knowing which path your job takes before you submit sets the schedule and the client’s expectations correctly.
BIDGRIT’s permit intelligence covers California’s largest jurisdictions — Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and Long Beach — each with its own review paths and timelines, plus the typical inspection sequence for your scope.
Most structural, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, re-roofing, and framing-altering work requires a building permit; cosmetic work such as paint, flooring, and like-for-like fixture swaps usually does not. The exact threshold is set by your local building department, so confirm with the jurisdiction before you start.
Over-the-counter (OTC) permits are issued same-day for simple, well-defined scopes. Plan-check permits apply to larger or structural work and require the building department to review your plans — typically days to weeks — and may return corrections before the permit is approved.
Over-the-counter permits can be same-day. Plan-check timelines vary by jurisdiction and scope, commonly from a couple of weeks to a couple of months, and each correction cycle adds time. The review path and local backlog are the main drivers.
Built into every BIDGRIT § 7159 contract flow
Check permit requirements →This page is general information for California contractors, not legal advice. Statutory requirements and local amendments change — confirm specifics with the relevant authority (CSLB, your building department, or counsel) for your project.