Do I Need a Permit to Replace Windows in My Orange County City?
Window-replacement permit requirements vary by city in Orange County. Select your city below to see whether a permit is required for a like-for-like retrofit and what conditions apply.
All 34 incorporated Orange County cities plus unincorporated Orange County.
“Permit exempt” does not mean “code exempt”
In Irvine, Huntington Beach and San Clemente a qualifying like-for-like replacement may not require a building permit, but the work still has to comply with the law:
- • California Energy Code fenestration requirements still apply.
- • Required safety glazing still applies in hazardous locations.
- • Emergency-escape (egress) openings cannot be improperly reduced.
- • HOA and condominium architectural rules may still apply.
- • Historic, coastal, floodplain, environmentally sensitive and fire-overlay areas may require separate approvals.
All Orange County jurisdictions
- YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a building permit. A retrofit installed into the existing frame may be processed with a final inspection only.
- YES· Permit Required
Window and door change-outs are permit work in Anaheim, including like-for-like retrofit replacements.
City guide - YES· Permit Required
Brea maintains an official window or door replacement permit category; replacement windows require a building permit.
- YES· Permit Required
Window and door change-outs are permit work under the City's current building permit guidance.
- YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a permit, retrofit units included. Planning and HOA approval may also apply.
City guide - YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a building permit.
- YES· Permit Required
All replacement classifications require a permit, including retrofit and flanged installations. Planning, HOA and fire-zone requirements may apply.
- YES· Permit Required — Expedited Worksheet Process
A permit is required. Window replacements use the City's expedited worksheet permit process.
- YES· Permit Required
The City's permit information specifically identifies window and door change-outs as permit work.
- YES· Permit Required
The City's permit FAQ states that installation or replacement of windows requires a permit.
- NO· Permit Exempt — Conditional
A building permit is generally not required for a replacement window or door when the waterproofing membrane is not altered and emergency-egress dimensions are equal to or better than the original permitted layout.
City guide - NO· Permit Exempt — Conditional
A building permit is generally not required for a replacement window or door of the same dimensions when there is no change to the structural frame or the opening size.
City guide - YES· Permit Required
Non-structural window replacements go through the City permit process; over-the-counter processing may be available.
- YES· Permit Required
Window replacement uses the City's building permit workflow. No current window-replacement exemption is published.
- YES· Permit Required
A building permit is required, and Planning, design review or coastal review may also apply.
- YES· Permit Required
Replacement of windows and sliding or French doors requires a building permit.
- YES· Permit Required
A permit is required to replace any window or exterior door.
- YES· Permit Required
Window replacement follows the City's building permit and fenestration process. HOA or Mutual approval is separate from the City permit.
- YES· Permit Required
Window replacement follows the City's building permit process, including energy-compliance and egress verification.
- YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a building permit; windows are not on the City's exemption list.
- YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a building permit. HOA requirements are separate.
- YES· Permit Required — Express Permit Available
A permit is required. Simple qualifying like-for-like change-outs may use the City's Express / iPermit online process, which is a faster permit, not an exemption.
City guide - YES· Permit Required
Window and door replacement uses the City's permit application workflow. Old Towne properties carry additional historic-preservation restrictions.
- YES· Permit Required
Placentia maintains a residential window replacement permit process.
- YES· Permit Required
New and replacement windows and doors require a building permit.
- NO· Permit Exempt — Conditional
Replacement doors and windows are exempt from a building permit when the waterproofing membrane is not altered and emergency-egress dimensions are equal to or better than the original permitted layout.
- YES· Permit Required
All window and exterior-door replacements require a building permit, retrofit and flanged alike. HOA and fire-zone requirements may apply.
- YES· Permit Required
The City states that all window replacements on existing structures require a building permit.
- YES· Permit Required
Window replacement is a permit-required project in Seal Beach.
- YES· Permit Required
Window change-outs follow the City's official window change-out permit guidance.
- YES· Permit Required
City guidance states that a building permit is required for any window replacement. Glass-only repair is treated separately.
- YES· Permit Required
A building permit is required. A non-structural window change-out uses the County's Residential Simple permit process through OC Development Services.
- YES· Permit Required
The City lists window and door change-outs among the work that requires a permit.
- YES· Permit Required — Express Permit Available
A permit is required. Same-size, same-location replacements may qualify for the City's Express Permit, which is a faster permit, not an exemption.
- YES· Permit Required
The City maintains a residential window and door replacement permit process and fee category.
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Permit determinations on this page are drawn from each jurisdiction's own official building-division guidance and are dated with the last verification. City requirements change: confirm with your building department before starting work.