Still having trouble with your online submittal? The Community Development Department now offers in-person appointments to assist you with the process. Appointments can be scheduled Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm. When scheduling an appointment, please be sure to include the reason for your visit. The more detail you provide, the better we will be able to prepare for your appointment.  

Appointments can be made for the following services: 

Permit Services will be offering in person assistance with online submittals.

Building & Safety Plan Check will be offering in person assistance with inquiries specific to code and building standards, City specific requirements, and submittal requirements.

The Development Assistance Counter will be offering in person appointments for more detailed or specific planning case inquiries.

Please click here to access our Appointment Scheduling System.

Due to our ongoing commitment to protect public health, walk-ins will not be accepted. All customers will be required to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing.

Permits are not required for

• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R, Division 3, and Group U Occupancies when projecting not more than 54 inches (1372 mm).
• One-story detached buildings accessory on a single family home site used as tool and storage sheds, or playhouses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 m2). Note: This exception does not apply to patio covers which are subject to permit regardless of size; be sure to contact the Development Assistance Counter for specific setback requirements at 949-724-6308.
• Fences not over 7 feet (1829 mm) high. Be advised, however, that height limitations of the City of Irvine Zoning Code are still applicable. Contact the Development Assistance Counter at 949-724-6308 for assistance in defining height limitations.
• Retaining walls which are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids.
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 925 L). Note: A 2 foot minimum setback is required from any associated pool equipment and any property line.
• Platforms, walks and driveways not more than 30 inches (762mm) above grade and not over any basement or story below.

Permits are not required for

• Replacement of toilets, sinks, garbage disposals, and dishwashers provided such work does not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures
• The stopping of leaks in drains, soil, waste or vent pipe, provided, however, that should any concealed trap, drain pipe, soil, waste or vent pipe become defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, the same shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be procured and inspection made as provided per code
• The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures provided such work does not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes, or fixtures

Permits are not required for

• A portable heating appliance.
• Portable ventilating equipment.
• A portable cooling unit.
• A portable evaporative cooler.
• A closed system of steam, hot or chilled water piping within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the California Mechanical Code.
• Replacement of any component part of assembly of an appliance which does not alter its original approval and complies with other applicable requirements of the California Mechanical Code.
• Refrigerating equipment which is part of the equipment for which a permit has been issued pursuant to the requirements of the California Mechanical Code.
• A unit refrigerating system as defined in the California Mechanical Code. Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above exempted items.

In an effort to protect public health amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and consistent with the Governor's March 19, 2020 Executive Order N-33-20, the City of Irvine is taking additional safety precautions for Building and Grading inspections.

Effective Monday March 23, 2020, the following precautions will be in effect.

• Inspections of exterior facilities and unoccupied, unconditioned interior spaces: This includes both residential and commercial construction. In-person inspections can continue with strictly-enforced precautionary measures in place as follows:

  • No face to face contact between inspectors and site personnel. All communication will take place via email, text, or telephone only.
  • All areas that are subject to inspection must be completely unoccupied and empty. There shall be no personnel in the area including any personnel from builder, contractor, or trades.
  • Prior to inspector arrival, building plans for the area subject to inspection must be placed on a flat, cleaned surface within or adjacent to the area of inspection.

• Inspections of interior, occupied, or conditioned spaces: In-person inspections will be suspended for both residential and commercial properties. To the extent possible, inspectors will conduct inspections of these spaces virtually through use of video applications, such as FaceTime, Skype, or WhatsApp. Virtual inspections will be coordinated as necessary by inspectors at the time of appointment.

• General Safety Precautions: Builders, contractors, and all personnel working on job sites subject to inspection must abide by Covid-19 precautions as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html

To review the City’s adopted procedure, click here.

For Contractors:

1. Valid Contractors License Pocket Card (or copy) which must reflect a license type for the work being done.
2. A current copy of the Workers’ Compensation Certificate showing the policy number, expiration date, and the California State Contractors Board or the City of Irvine as the certificate holder.
3. A copy of their City of Irvine Business License or the license number.

*YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE EACH TIME YOU OBTAIN PERMITS. THE CITY OF IRVINE DOES NOT HOLD ANY OF THE ABOVE DOCUMENTATION ON FILE, except City of Irvine Business License.*

FOR CONTRACTORS’ AGENTS:

The contractor may send an employee to the City with the above documents to obtain the permit. If the contractor sends an agent, they must provide the agent with a NOTARIZED LETTER OF AUTHORIZATION. The agent must also provide the contractor’s documents as described above.

FOR PROPERTY OWNERS:

Permits may be issued to the property owner after a Property Owner’s Package is filled out by the property owner. If the permit is being issued to an agent or representative of the property owner, the authorization section must also be filled out by the property owner naming the specific agent or representative. A copy of the owner’s driver’s license or other ID will be required to verify the owner’s signature. That document can be obtained by clicking here.  

FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OR PROJECTS THAT ADD SQUARE FOOTAGE AFFECTING THE EXTERIOR DIMENSION:

One additional set of approved plans will be required for all new construction or any construction with added square footage affecting the exterior dimension. This plan will be forwarded by the City to the Orange County Tax Assessor along with a copy of the permit (per Senate Bill 493; Chapter 510, Section 72 of the State of California Revenue and Taxation Code; Effective date January 1, 1992.)

• The City of Irvine's Environmental Programs website offers a wealth of information and an e-newsletter on incentive programs and tips on how to save energy.
• The Energy Upgrade California website is a one-stop location where residents can enter their zip code and see energy rebates and incentives (including free items) offered by local utilities.inspection supervisor in advance of any of these days for which inspection or work to in public right of way is desired.

Payment plans may be available.  For more information please call 1-866-353-5867 or visit https://www.paymycite.com/irvine.

There will be information on the letter explaining that a second level hearing may be requested if you do not agree with the results of the review. You may request the second level hearing by indicating either an in person or in writing hearing on the form and returning it to the Parking Enforcement Center at the above address within 15 days of the mailing of the notification letter. Requests received outside the 15 day period will not be honored.

Hearings are scheduled, one evening a month and are scheduled by the processing company, not personnel at the police department. The hearings are held by an independent hearing examiner.  As a convenience, the hearings are conducted in an office located in the lobby of the police department.  The hearing examiner is not an employee of the police department and therefore is not in that office during anytime other than when the hearings are scheduled. The hearing officer may not be contacted directly. Instructions on what to bring to the hearing are included in a letter that will be sent to confirm the hearing appointment.  Results of both in person and in writing hearings are decided after the hearing is conducted and notification is provided in writing.

If you feel the citation should not have been issued, or was issued in error, for instance the violation was simply not committed, or the violation should not have been cited because of a parking variance or some other extenuating circumstances, you may request a review of the citation.

Reviews must be requested in writing within 21 days of the violation and the request must be sent to the processing company that maintains the citation records. Requests received that are postmarked outside the 21-day period will not be reviewed.

City of Irvine
c/o Parking Citation Service Center
P.O. Box 11923
Santa Ana, CA 92711

The review should include the name address and phone number of the person requesting the review and a complete explanation including any evidence available of why you feel the citation was issued in error. It is important to include all information helpful to your position because there will not be an opportunity to add information for the reviewers consideration after the fact.

Example

Handicapped Placard - You were issued a citation for being parked in a Handicapped Space but you do have a placard and just forgot to hang it up. Include in your request for review, an explanation of what occurred, a copy of the issued placard (must not be expired), a copy of the DMV registration for your placard (this will prove that it was issued before the date of the violation), a signed letter from the registered owner of the placard. This may be a different person than the driver of the vehicle. The registered owner must state that he/she was in fact in the vehicle, at the location, on the date and time the citation was committed, and include a photocopy of the placard owners ID or drivers license. Requests for dismissals received outside the 21-day period will not be reviewed.

Example

No Current Tabs - A citation for this violation is sometimes issued even when the vehicle is currently registered if the owner forgets to put the new tabs on the plate, or if the tabs are stolen without the owner realizing they are missing. In these cases, the violation can be reduced to a nominal administrative fee by making the correction and having the back of the citation signed by a law enforcement officer. If the vehicle was not currently registered, the violation can be signed off if proof of current registration is provided and the back of the citation is signed by a law enforcement officer within 21 days of the violation. Corrections can also be signed off at the business desk of the police department during business hours. Once the citation is signed off, the reduced fine amount indicated on the back of the citation can be sent to the processing company. This procedure is the same for any correctable equipment violation. Reduced fines will not apply to payments received outside the 21-day period.

There are several things that can cause this situation.

The first is that the original citation payment was made after the maximum 21-day period and therefore increased due to additional penalties. The partial payment of the increased amount would have been received, but the citation would still be referred to DMV for collection because of the balance due. In this case, the total amount is still due to the DMV. It is advisable to pay the total fine amount to DMV so that the vehicle registration wont be delayed, causing additional fees. The original payment can then be refunded if proof of that payment can be provided. To receive a refund of this nature, contact the Parking Supervisor at the Irvine Police Department, 949-724-7037.

The second possibility for this to occur is that an error was made when posting the original payment and it was not credited to the correct citation. If you have proof of payment for a citation that the DMV is showing due on the vehicles registration, contact the Parking Enforcement Center at 1-866-453-3603.  They will instruct you on how to provide the proof of payment. They can also issue a letter which can be provided to the DMV once the error has been corrected.

If you were the registered owner of the vehicle at the time you received the parking citation or notice of delinquent parking, you are responsible for paying the citation. If you did not own the vehicle at the time the parking citation was issued, then it is your responsibility to notify the Department of Motor Vehicles that you sold the vehicle. You are required to submit a DMV Release of Responsibility Form that includes the date you sold the vehicle, as well as the name and address of the person who bought your vehicle. If you are still receiving parking citations from the City of Irvine, it probably means that the Department of Motor Vehicles records are still showing you as the registered owner of the vehicle that received the parking citation.  If the parking citation occurred when you were still the legal owner, you are responsible for that citation even if you have since sold the vehicle.

No. Payment extensions are not granted because the Department of Motor Vehicles requires that you pay your citation in full within 21 days from the date that your parking citation was issued, or 14 days from the date of your delinquent parking notice. There are no exceptions.

If you received a notice of delinquent parking and your vehicle was not in the City of Irvine on the date the citation was issued, you need to call the Parking Citation Service Center at 866-453-3603 and request an Administrative Review Form. Complete the Administrative Review Form and submit it along with your vehicle registration and a copy of the delinquent notice. An investigating officer will review the appeal and render a decision as to whether or not you are responsible for paying the parking citation. You will receive written communication from the Parking Administration Office that will provide you with the status of the parking citation.  Also note that UCI and The Toll Roads report to the DMV as being an agency in the City of Irvine.

No, you cannot appeal the late fee. Per the California Vehicle Code, parking citations must be paid within 21 days of the issue date, or 14 days from issuance of the delinquent parking notice. If you moved and did not receive your delinquent parking notice and you failed to submit a change of address with the Department of Motor Vehicles within 10 days from the date you moved, you will still be held responsible for any additional late charges.

No. Parking citations cannot be canceled due to financial hardship or inability to pay. Additional penalties will be imposed if your citation is not paid within the prescribed time and a DMV hold may be placed on your vehicle's registration. In addition, your delinquent citation may be referred to an outside collection agency for collection proceedings against you, which may affect your credit rating.
 

Yes. According to CVC 22651(i)(1), your vehicle may be towed if there are 5 or more unpaid parking citations issued to that specific license plate.