Home permit fees in South Orange County

Laguna Niguel lists $18.63 for a water heater and $58.57 for a water heater vent, with a permit issuance fee of $39.59. Aliso Viejo lists $18.06, and says a base permit fee of $58.83 plus an issuance fee of $25.26 applies to plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits.

Mission Viejo lists $75 for each water heater and/or vent, with a $25 issuance fee. Laguna Hills lists $80, with a $55 issuance fee. San Clemente lists $51 for each water heater including vent, and its $35 issuing fee is extra.

Rancho Santa Margarita lists $56.94, and a permit issuance fee of $108.69. The County of Orange, which handles Ladera Ranch and Coto de Caza, lists $85 for a storage type water heater.

For an air conditioner or heat pump of up to 5 tons, Laguna Niguel lists $89.12, Aliso Viejo lists $82.78, and Rancho Santa Margarita lists $45.55. Mission Viejo lists $75 for a home heat pump or condensing unit and $150 for a home air handling unit.

Laguna Hills lists one fee of $170 for home HVAC. The county lists $206 for forced air units or air conditioning units. San Clemente lists $51 for a furnace of up to 100,000 Btu/h, and has no row for swapping an air conditioner.

For home solar, Mission Viejo lists $450 for a system up to and including 15 kW, and Rancho Santa Margarita lists $450. Laguna Hills lists $350 for up to 15 kilowatts. Laguna Niguel lists $205.20 for the permit and $205.21 for plan check. The county lists $455 for a roof mounted system.

For an electrical service or panel, Laguna Niguel lists $61.27 and Aliso Viejo lists $56.95, both for up to 600 amps. Rancho Santa Margarita lists $102.49 for up to 200 amperes, and San Clemente lists $118 for not over 200 amperes. Mission Viejo lists $125 for not over 225 amps and Laguna Hills lists $200. In those two cities the same row covers an EV charger.

The county lists $320 for an electric vehicle charging station permit covering up to 2 stations.

Only two of these fee lists print a flat fee for a home re-roof. Rancho Santa Margarita lists $177.41 and the county lists $370. Aliso Viejo, Laguna Hills and San Clemente base building permits like this on the value of the job.

For a private pool, Laguna Niguel lists $612.69 for the permit and $233.94 for plan check. Aliso Viejo lists $578.56 and $214.05. The county bases a new pool on the value of the job.

The county lists $819 for a standard patio permit. Rancho Santa Margarita lists $246.61 per 10 windows for window or sliding glass door replacement.

We could not open the fee lists for Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Beach or Lake Forest, so those cities are not here. Capistrano Beach is part of Dana Point, and Foothill Ranch is part of Lake Forest.

Several of these lists also add a plan check charge or a small technology fee worked out as a share of the bill. We have left those out because they are not a set dollar amount. Fees change, so check the schedule or call the permit counter before you plan around a number.