PERMIT DRAWINGS · IRVINE, CA

Permit drawings in Irvine, CA, at a fixed price

Irvine sits in Seismic Design Category D, so most new structures here need engineered shear walls on top of the architectural set. We draw the set to what the Planning and Development Services reviews, coordinate with your engineer, and quote it all in writing within 2 working hours.

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Per sq ft of drawn area

$1,200 minimum · $195/sheet for new builds under 1,200 sq ft

✓ Plan check here: about 8 weeks
✓ Energy forms for climate zone 3C
✓ SDC D: engineer coordination included
✓ Corrections answered free

What permit drawings cost in Irvine

A permit set for a project in Irvine, CA costs $1 per square foot of drawn floor area, with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft.

Residential permits here are reviewed by the Planning and Development Services, phone (949) 724-6313. Plan check takes about 8 weeks for a typical residential submittal, so from ordering drawings to first comments, plan on roughly 10 weeks.

Project	Drawn area	Fixed fee	What sets the fee
Garage conversionProject minimum	400 sq ft	$1,200	Project minimum
New ADU at Irvine's 1,200 sq ft cap$1 per sq ft	1,200 sq ft	$1,200	$1 per sq ft
Addition with existing rooms shown$1 per sq ft	1,500 sq ft	$1,500	$1 per sq ft

Local data last checked July 12, 2026.

What makes a Irvine permit set different

California's energy code is stricter than the national model code, and climate zone 3C sets the insulation, window and HVAC targets your drawings have to show in Irvine.

Seismic Design Category D means new structures and large openings in bearing walls usually need engineered shear walls, hold-downs and a structural engineer's calculations, so plan for an engineer on anything beyond interior work.

For ADUs, Irvine allows up to 1,200 sq ft and 16 ft in height, with 4 ft side and 4 ft rear setbacks, per our research. An ADU at that cap is billed at $1 per sq ft, so $1,200 for the drawings.

About 80% of homes in Irvine sit in an HOA. If yours does, start the association's architectural approval at the same time as the permit; it runs on its own clock.

The full sheet list, and what our fee does and doesn't cover, is on the permit sets page. In Irvine, the sheets that change are the site plan (ADU setbacks of 4 ft side and 4 ft rear), the Title 24 forms for climate zone 3C and the structural sheets your engineer seals.

Submitting in Irvine

You (or your contractor) submit through Irvine's permit portal. We deliver print-ready PDFs set up for electronic submittal, plus native DWG files.

When the reviewers send comments, forward the correction letter. We revise free, as many rounds as it takes, within the scope you approved.

Questions people ask before they order

How much do permit drawings cost in Irvine?

At ArchWorkPro, $1 per sq ft of drawn area with a $1,200 minimum, or $195 per sheet for new construction under 1,200 sq ft. City fees are separate.

How long does plan check take in Irvine?

About 8 weeks for a typical residential submittal, per our research in July 2026. Confirm with the Planning and Development Services at (949) 724-6313, since workloads change.

Do I need an engineer in Irvine?

For most new structures, yes. Seismic Design Category D means engineered lateral design for new buildings and large openings in bearing walls. You hire the engineer; we draft to their design.

Which energy forms does Irvine want with the drawings?

Title 24 compliance forms (CF1R) for climate zone 3C, under the California Energy Code (Title 24, Part 6). We prepare them with the set.

How big can an ADU be in Irvine?

Up to 1,200 sq ft, 16 ft tall, with 4 ft side and 4 ft rear setbacks, per our research. Confirm current limits with the city before you design; we check them when we quote.

Get your Irvine permit set quoted

Send the address, a sketch and rough dimensions. Within 2 working hours you get a fixed fee, the sheet list and a delivery date.

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