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Building & Safety Division
Please contact the Building & Safety Division with any questions: building@cityofbrea.gov / (714) 990-7600
About Us
The Building & Safety Division is committed to protecting the lives and safety of the residents and visitors of Brea, preserving the City’s quality of life, and contributing to the City’s economic development. This is accomplished through the implementation of the building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and energy codes, as well as code enforcement regulation of local and state laws for all buildings in the City of Brea. The Division provides plan review and field inspections of buildings to ensure a safe, accessible, and energy-efficient environment throughout our community. The Division regulates local and state laws related to building construction, maintenance, use, repair, and rehabilitation. The Division also manages the City’s permit system which coordinates and streamlines the construction permit process. Applications for construction projects are submitted to the Building & Safety Division where the review process is coordinated among several departments. This provides the customer with a comprehensive single point of contact throughout the entire review and permit process.
Applying for Building Permits
The Building and Safety Division is now accepting building permit applications via the online permit center. The new electronic permit processing system is now open for submittals, and it provides 24/7 online services for all patrons, including Permit and Plan Check Applications, Payment Processing Online, Status of your project throughout the process, and to search for Building, Planning, Engineering, and Fire Records.
Click the button below to access the Online Permit Center and you will be directed to the site:
Notice to New Users:
If you are a new user you may click here for a free online account. It only takes a few simple steps and you'll have the added benefits of seeing a complete history of your applications, access to invoices and receipts, checking on the status of pending activities, print your own permit and more.
*Please login to the Online Permit Center from a full web browser since certain functionalities are not available from a mobile device.
Notice to Existing Users:
You may need to clear your browser cache to prevent document upload errors.
- Please click here to see instructions from Microsoft Support at “How do I clear my browser cache.”
Apply for a Certificate of Occupancy
Certificate of Occupancy Application
C of O applications should be submitted to the Building and Safety Division, along with supplemental questionnaires. Building and Safety will complete the C of O process, which leads to the issuance of a C of O by the Building Official. The C of O must be posted in a conspicuous place on the premises at all times. To check the status of a C of O application, please call 714-990-7600 or email building@cityofbrea.gov.
Announcements
Beginning March 1, 2026, a small service fee of 4% will apply to all credit card transactions. This fee is automatically collected by the City's third-party payment providers.
The service will appear as a separate line item on your receipt, while your bank statement will reflect the total amount charged. The fee amount is based on the cost charged by the payment provider, and the City does not retain any portion of this fee.
Thank you for your understanding!
- View the full list of the City's Development Fees.
- The 2025 California Building Standards Code is now enforceable as of January 1, 2026. See the Building Code Requirements page for more information.
- NEW ONLINE PERMIT CENTER is now live! For any general questions, please email building@cityofbrea.gov.
- Reroof Submittal Guidelines: Reroof Submittal Guidelines
- Frequently Asked Question: Will my construction project increase my property tax? Find out by visiting the California State Board of Equalization website.
- California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards are in effect starting July 1, 2014. For more information, visit the California Energy Commission website.
- Get the free FEMA earthquake safety guide for homeowners.
- SB 407: Water Conserving Plumbing Fixture Replacement is now enforceable as of January 1, 2014. Find out if the new requirements apply to your project.
- SoCalGas Pipeline Safety Information - Contact 811 Before You Dig.
Contact Us
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Building & Safety Division
1 Civic Center Circle
Brea, CA 92821
Ph: 714-990-7600Front Counter Hours
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Thursday
& Alternate FridaysPlan Check Status
(714) 990-7600
Online Permit CenterInspection Request Line
(714) 990-7668
Code Enforcement
(714) 990-7764