Holiday closure: December 24, 2024, to January 1, 2025

Santa Ana City Hall and most City facilities will be closed for the holidays. Learn more here.

Plan Check Information

Submittal, Approval Requirements, and More Information

  • Re-submittals for projects currently reviewed by Building Division Plan Check Engineers are available at the plan drop-off area located at the City Hall Ross Annex lobby.
    • Monday though Thursday from 8am to 5pm.
    • Alternating Fridays from 8am to 5pm.
  • Re-submittals for projects currently reviewed by third party consultants shall be dropped off directly to the respective consultant offices to avoid any delays.

You may call the Building Division at (714) 647-5800 for any building related questions.

Re-submittal Drop Off Cart is Located by Reception in the Ross Annex Building.

resubmittal drop off

Useful Plan Check Information

How to Get Started

In order for a construction permit to be issued and the work to be properly inspected, plans must be prepared and submitted to the city for review and approval.  Plan check involves review of the submitted plans by various city departments to meet its respective code requirements.  Once the plans have been approved by all applicable city departments, the Building Safety Division will be authorized to issue the permit.

For more information regarding plan review and plan check requirements review the links below:

Plan Requirements

Number of Plans

The number of plans required varies by project. Click here for a list of plan types and the number of sets required.

For projects requiring fire review by the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), an additional (2) sets and an electronic copy are required for OCFA per OCFA handout.

Initial Submittal Requirements

  • Completed Permit Application(s)
  • Completed Plan Check Submittal Form
  • Minimum of Planning approval of the Certificate of Occupancy (for non-residential projects if applicable)
  • Submittal of plans and specifications
  • Applicable documentation including structural calculations and Title 24 energy calculations (2 sets of each)
  • Mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans, where required, must be submitted separately

Resubmittal Requirements

  • Transmittal with permit/plan check number referenced
  • Written response to plan check comments
  • Original plan check markup plan set
  • (3) sets of revised plans for architectural and structural plans
  • (2) sets of revised plans for mechanical, electrical, or plumbing plans

Other Department Approvals

  • Plans must be reviewed and approved by the following City agencies prior to permit issuance:

City Agency                                                                 Phone Number                     Location

Building Division                                                      (714) 647-5800                    1st floor, City Hall Ross Annex

Planning Division                                                     (714) 647-5804                    1st floor, City Hall Ross Annex

Public Works Agency                                            (714) 647- 5039                   1st floor, City Hall Ross Annex

Police Department (plan check)                     (714) 647-5840                    1st floor, City Hall Ross Annex

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA)      (714) 573-6100                    1st floor, City Hall Ross Annex

  • An OCFA Fire Analyst will be available at City Hall Monday-Thursday from 8:00am to 11:00am

Building Safety Division is now offering Electronic Plan Review. For more information, please click on the button below.

Building Codes & Design Criteria

Building Codes adopted by the City of Santa Ana (effective January 1, 2023):

  • 2022 California Building Code
  • 2022 California Residential Code
  • 2022 California Electrical Code
  • 2022 California Mechanical Code
  • 2022 California Plumbing Code
  • 2022 California Energy Code
  • 2022 California Fire Code
  • 2022 California Historical Building Code
  • 2022 California Existing Building Code
  • 2022 California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen)
  • Santa Ana Municipal Code

Design Criteria

Wind Speed Basic design wind speeds, V, by Risk Category (CBC 2022 & ASCE 7-16):

  • 95 mph for Risk Category II (most common)
  • 105 mph for Risk Category III
  • 110 mph for Risk Category IV
Wind Exposure Site specific for each project (CBC Sec. 1609) – Most areas in the City of Santa Ana can be classified as wind exposure category B
Seismic Design Category Site specific for each project based on project location. (CBC Sec. 1613)

The design parameters may be determined by using the ATC Hazards by Location Tool available at: https://hazards.atcouncil.org/
Rainfall (drainage) 2 inches per hour for roof drainage design
Conventional Construction Criteria Wall Bracing design per CBC Section 2308.6 and Table 2308.6.1 using  Seismic Design Category D and SDS > 1.00
Flood Zones Parts of the City of Santa Ana have flood zone designations of A and AE as outlined by the FEMA flood insurance rate maps (FIRMs). FEMA Flood Maps by address are available at: https://msc.fema.gov/
Climate Zone Zone 8

 

2022 CRC, Table R301.2 Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria:

GROUND SNOW LOAD

WIND DESIGN

Seismic Design Category

SYBJECT TO DAMAGE FROM

WINTER DESIGN TEMP

ICE BARRIER UNDER-LAYMENT REQUIRED

 FLOOD HAZARDS

AIR FREEZING INDEX

MEAN ANNUAL TEMP

Speed (MPH)

 Topo-graphic Effects Special wind region

Wind Borne debris Zone

Weathering

Frost Line Depth

Termite

Zero

95

 No No

No

D2 or E

Negligible

12-24"

Very Heavy

43

No

See Exhibit B

0

60
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