Santa Ana, CA · Orange County

No notary required

Detached ADU Grading Permit Waiver Request

Legal property owners of qualifying detached ADU projects use this request to seek a waiver from Santa Ana’s standard precise grading plan and permit requirements.

What this form is

This request is for detached residential ADU projects with a total building area of 1,200 square feet or less that may qualify for a grading permit waiver. Owners complete the project address and drainage checklist, confirm the listed conditions, and sign to accept responsibility for site drainage. A grading plan and permit are required if any checklist answer is no, and the building official may require a permit based on site conditions.

Who needs it

Legal property owners requesting a grading permit waiver for a detached residential ADU project of 1,200 square feet or less should complete this request.

How to submit it

Submit the completed waiver request with each set of plans to the Building Safety Division. The form gives the address as 20 Civic Center Plaza, P.O. Box 1988 (M-19), Santa Ana, CA 92702.

About notarization

This document is signed and dated without a notary; the legal property owner signs the waiver request and no notarized or sworn attachment is mentioned.

How to submit this form

  1. 1

    Download The Waiver Request

    Download the Detached ADU Grading Permit Waiver Request PDF.

  2. 2

    Complete The Checklist

    Enter the project address, check the applicable answers, and complete the owner information.

  3. 3

    Sign And Date

    The legal property owner signs the waiver request and dates it.

  4. 4

    Submit With The Plans

    Include a copy of the completed request with each set of plans and submit them to the Building Safety Division.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a notary for the Detached ADU Grading Permit Waiver Request?
No. The legal property owner signs and dates the waiver request; the document does not mention a notarized or sworn attachment.
Who can request a grading permit waiver?
The form says legal property owners may request a waiver for residential detached ADU projects with a total building area of 1,200 square feet or less, if all listed conditions are met.
What happens if I answer no to a checklist question?
The form states that a grading plan and permit are required if you answer no to any checklist question.
How do I submit the waiver request?
Submit the completed request with each set of plans to the Building Safety Division at 20 Civic Center Plaza, P.O. Box 1988 (M-19), Santa Ana, CA 92702.

Need something notarized?

This Detached ADU Grading Permit Waiver Request doesn’t need a notary — but if you have another Santa Ana form that does, a commissioned online notary can help.