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Home / California Permits / Lake Forest

Building Permits in Lake Forest, California

City in Orange County
Verified August 2026

Adopted Construction Codes

These are the state-level code editions for California. They apply in Lake Forestunless a verified local adoption or amendment is noted — in local-adoption states, confirm the city or county's own code editions with the building department.

CodeEditionAdoption
CBC — 2024California Building Code, 24 CCR Part 2, based on the 2024 International Building Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle by the California Building Standards Commission; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CEBC — 2024California Existing Building Code, 24 CCR Part 10, based on the 2024 International Existing Building Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CEC — 2023California Electrical Code, 24 CCR Part 3, based on the 2023 National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CFC — 2024California Fire Code, 24 CCR Part 9, based on the 2024 International Fire Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CMC — 2024California Mechanical Code, 24 CCR Part 4, based on the 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CPC — 2024California Plumbing Code, 24 CCR Part 5, based on the 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
CRC — 2024California Residential Code, 24 CCR Part 2.5, based on the 2024 International Residential Code. Adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗
Energy — 2025California Energy Code, 24 CCR Part 6. Developed by the California Energy Commission and adopted in the 2024 Triennial Code Adoption Cycle; 2025 edition effective 1/1/2026. · source ↗

Permit Requirements

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Building Department

Building department website ↗

Apply online — Lake Forest permit portal ↗

Permit fee schedule ↗ · fee schedule checked August 2026

Adopted building fee schedule (effective July 1, 2025); tiered flat fees by construction type and square footage with separate plan check and permit components.

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