Permit guide
A working glossary of California permit statuses
Plain-language definitions for the approval, correction, suspension, and review states contractor teams see most often.
Plain-language definitions for the approval, correction, suspension, and review states contractor teams see most often.
Permit status labels vary by authority having jurisdiction, portal vendor, permit type, and local workflow. Treat this glossary as an operating translation layer—not a substitute for the official definition in a specific government system.
Submitted or received
The portal has accepted the application into its workflow. This does not necessarily mean staff review has started.
In review or plan check
The application is in a review stage. The responsible department and sequence can differ by jurisdiction and project type.
Corrections required
The reviewer needs additional or revised information before the application can continue. Open the official notice for the exact requested changes.
Suspended or on hold
The permit is not moving through the normal review path. The reason and required next action should be confirmed in the portal or with the AHJ.
Approved or issued
The application has reached an approved or issued state in the portal. Confirm any remaining fees, conditions, documents, or inspection prerequisites before scheduling work.
Finaled or closed
The permit record has completed the applicable closeout process. Exact inspection and documentation requirements vary by AHJ.
Build your internal translation
Document the labels your highest-volume AHJs use, the internal owner for each next action, and the official source your team should open when a status is ambiguous. A centralized monitoring view can surface the change; the local record remains the authority for its meaning.