The Building & Safety Division’s permit counter is on the first floor of Garden Grove City Hall, 11222 Acacia Parkway, Garden Grove, CA 92840; phone (714) 741-5307, email building@ggcity.org. City Hall is open Monday to Thursday 7:30am to 5:30pm and alternating Fridays 7:30am to 5:00pm, and plan checks and permit issuance are accepted until 4:00 pm.
This guide covers Building & Safety, its 2026 user fees, inspections and construction hours, and the Planning, Engineering and Orange County Fire Authority contacts.
What requires a building permit in Garden Grove?
The GG Ready customer portal takes new commercial, residential and engineering permit applications, along with other permits such as reroof, solar, signs, new addresses, cell sites and ADU/JADU projects.
ADU Go: the City offers free, pre-approved ADU construction plans (architectural only), submitted online through GG Ready. They cannot be used on a property in the Special Flood Hazard Area (Flood Zone “A”).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments
Who handles permitting in Garden Grove?
| Office | Handles | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Building & Safety Division | Building permits and inspections; City Hall first floor, 11222 Acacia Parkway | (714) 741-5307; building@ggcity.org |
| Planning Services Division | Zoning questions by ticket; City Hall 1st Floor; does not answer building and safety questions | (714) 741-5312 |
| Public Works Engineering Division, Land Development Section | Street and grading permits and plan review; right-of-way encroachment permits | 714-741-5192 |
| Orange County Fire Authority: Planning and Development | Fire plan review of new development; fire code questions | (714) 576-6108 |
| Orange County Fire Authority: Community Risk Reduction | Fire inspection requests | (714) 638-6353 |
Planning’s ticket times average 2 business days for general inquiries, 7 business days for cursory reviews and 4 weeks for preliminary reviews. Fire protection in Garden Grove is provided by the Orange County Fire Authority, not a city fire department.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Garden Grove permit costs and fees
Updated planning and building fees apply to applications submitted on or after July 1, 2025, with further adjustments effective 6/9/26:
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Issuance fee, single permit | $64.00 |
| Issuance fee, combination permit | $97.00 |
| Building permit software fee | $10.00 |
| Plan review | 65% of the permit fee ($60.00 min.), increased 2 percent in a flood hazard overlay zone |
| Inspection or reinspection | $193.00 each |
| Overtime inspection | $232.00/hour, two hour minimum |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →How to get a building permit in Garden Grove
Open a ticket with Planning Services; building questions go to Building & Safety instead.
New applications, including reroof, solar and ADU/JADU, are submitted in the portal.
An application is abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued; the Building Official may grant written extensions of up to 90 days each.
OCFA reviews fire plans for new development; Engineering issues street, grading and right-of-way permits.
7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the City of Garden Grove on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California
Inspections in Garden Grove
Inspections are scheduled online by entering the permit number. The daily inspection list shows each time bracket, updated at 8am on the day of the inspection, and virtual live inspections are offered. Fire inspections are requested from OCFA Community Risk Reduction at (714) 638-6353.
Construction is allowed from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays; no construction or repair work is permitted on Sundays or federal holidays.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Official Garden Grove permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- Garden Grove Building & Safety
- Garden Grove inspections
- Garden Grove GG Ready portal
- Garden Grove 2026 user fees
- Garden Grove plan check extension
- Garden Grove ADU Go
- Garden Grove Planning Services
- Garden Grove Engineering Division
- Garden Grove: Orange County Fire Authority
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Can I build on a Sunday in Garden Grove?
No. No construction or repair work is permitted on Sundays or federal holidays.
Are Garden Grove’s pre-approved ADU plans free?
Yes. The ADU Go plans are free, but they cannot be used on a property in Flood Zone “A”.
How long does a Garden Grove plan check application stay open?
It is abandoned 180 days after filing unless pursued; the Building Official may grant extensions of up to 90 days each.
Simplify Garden Grove permitting with Alliance Permitting
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →- Confirm which City divisions and outside agencies the project needs, from building and fire to grading and utilities
- Prepare the plans and forms and file them through the City’s portal or counter
- Book the City’s inspections and track the permit through to final
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
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More California permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Garden Grove permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.