Planning and Building Agency E-Plan Review Processing Guide
Please review the following steps of the e-plan review process prior to submitting a project request. Applicants are encouraged to understand the steps below and contact the Planning Division with any questions prior to submitting a request.
Step 1: Qualify
At this time, e-plan review is available for the following types of non-discretionary projects. If your project type is not listed below, please contact the Planning Division at (714) 647-5804 or PlanningDepartment@santa-ana.org for assistance. Please note that this process does not apply to solar projects. To submit this type of project, please visit Solar e-plan check.
Planning Division Review
- New Single-Family Residence
- Accessory Dwelling Unit/Junior Accessory Dwelling Unit
- Sign Permit or Sign Program Review
- Neighborhood Review
- Major commercial or Industrial façade remodel
- Major residential modification
- Landscape Plan Review
- Residential Front Yard Fence
- SB 9 Two-unit project
Building Safety Plan Check Review
- Tenant Improvements without change of occupancy
- Interior remodel of non-historic residence
- Shell suite improvements (non-tenant specific)
- Window change-out
- Mechanical unit installation/replacement
- Parking lot improvements or restriping
- Structural damage repair
- Seismic retrofit
- Minor commercial or industrial addition under 2,500 sq. ft.
- Minor rear residential addition
- Accessory structures: patio covers, pool/spas, sheds
Step 2: Submit a Project Request
Confirm the project and use the corresponding button below to submit a project request. Please allow up to three (3) business days to receive a response email regarding the request. In the meantime, you may begin completing any required Planning Division applications accessible by clicking here or Building Safety Plan Check applications by clicking here.
Step 3: Upload
If eligible, staff will send an email inviting you to create an account and upload plans and documents. Follow the E-plan Review Upload and Submittal Guidelines for file naming, size requirements and uploading instructions.
Step 4: Pre-screen
Staff pre-screens the uploaded material and advises whether the submittal is incomplete, requires additional information, or accepted into the review process. Please allow up to five (5) business days to receive an email notification regarding pre-screen status.
Step 5: Fee Payment
If a review fee is required, the applicant receives a link via email requesting payment of the application fee. The link to pay online is valid for 10 days.
Step 6: Department Review
Upon payment confirmation, staff begins review of the project and notifies the applicant of an approval decision or with direction to resolve comments by uploading revised plans and documents to the system. Subsequent rounds of staff review occurs until project approval.
Step 7: Approval
If applicable, the applicant receives a link via email to submit final payment. Staff sends a notification email providing approval and notice of digitally stamped documents available to download.
Step 8 (For Planning Division Review projects only): Building Plan Check Submittal
The case planner creates a new e-plan review project and the above steps are repeated until building plan check approval.