- After-the-Fact Permit
- A building permit issued retroactively for work that was already completed without a permit. Also called a retroactive permit.
- ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)
- A secondary residential unit on a single-family lot. Also known as a granny flat, in-law unit, or secondary suite.
- Building Code
- A set of regulations governing the design, construction, and modification of buildings. In California, the primary building code is Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
- Building Department
- The local government agency responsible for issuing building permits and enforcing building codes.
- BPC §7031
- California Business and Professions Code section 7031, which prevents unlicensed contractors from collecting payment and allows recovery of all money paid to an unlicensed contractor.
- Certificate of Occupancy
- A document issued by the building department certifying that a building meets all applicable codes and is safe for occupancy.
- Code Enforcement
- The process by which local governments investigate and resolve violations of building, housing, zoning, and property maintenance codes.
- Compliance Order
- A formal directive from a government agency requiring a property owner to bring their property into compliance with applicable codes.
- CSLB
- The Contractors State License Board — the California state agency that licenses and regulates contractors.
- Due Process
- The legal right to notice and an opportunity to be heard before the government can impose penalties or restrictions.
- Egress
- A means of exiting a building, particularly in an emergency. Building codes require specific egress standards for habitable rooms.
- Enforcement Action
- Any action taken by a government agency to compel compliance with building codes, including violation notices, fines, stop-work orders, and legal proceedings.
- Final Inspection
- The last inspection in the building permit process, which verifies that all work has been completed according to the approved plans and building codes.
- Grandfathering
- The principle that existing structures or conditions may be exempt from new code requirements if they were lawful when constructed.
- Latent Defect
- A defect that is hidden and not discoverable through reasonable inspection. Latent defects have longer statutes of limitation than visible defects.
- Lien
- A legal claim against a property, often used by government agencies to secure payment of fines or enforcement costs.
- Load-Bearing Wall
- A wall that carries structural loads from the roof or upper floors to the foundation. Removal or modification of load-bearing walls requires engineering and permits.
- Notice of Violation
- A formal written notice from a government agency informing a property owner of an alleged code violation.
- Open Permit
- A building permit that was issued but never received final inspection approval. Open permits indicate work that may not have been completed or inspected.
- Owner-Builder
- A property owner who performs construction work on their own property. California allows owner-builders to do certain work without a contractor's license, but permits are still required.
- Patent Defect
- A defect that is visible and discoverable through reasonable inspection. Patent defects have shorter statutes of limitation than hidden defects.
- Permit Fee
- The fee charged by the building department for issuing a building permit. After-the-fact permits typically carry additional penalty fees.
- Retroactive Permit
- See After-the-Fact Permit.
- Setback
- The minimum distance a building must be from a property line, street, or other boundary. Setback violations are common in unpermitted additions.
- Stop-Work Order
- A directive from the building department requiring all construction to stop immediately.
- Substantial Completion
- The point at which construction work is sufficiently complete for its intended use. This date is important for statute of limitations calculations.
- Surety Bond
- A bond that licensed contractors are required to carry (currently $25,000 in California). Homeowners can file claims against this bond for contractor violations.
- Title 24
- The section of the California Code of Regulations that contains the California Building Standards Code.
- TDS (Transfer Disclosure Statement)
- A California-required form that sellers must complete disclosing known material facts about the property, including known unpermitted work.
- Variance
- An exception granted by the local zoning board allowing a property to deviate from specific zoning requirements.
- Zoning
- Local land use regulations that control what types of structures can be built on a property and how they can be used.
