James Davis, PE · Licensed Structural Engineer

info@jdbuildingengineering.com (815) 277-1087 Multi-state licensed · Remote services

JD Building Engineering

California Engineering Permit

California licensed services

Permit-Ready Structural Engineering for California Projects

James Davis, PE provides licensed structural engineering for residential and light commercial permit sets throughout California. Permit-ready drawings and calculations are prepared for Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Oakland, plus other cities and counties statewide.

California has among the nation’s most demanding seismic requirements. PE-stamped structural calculations are expected for most commercial work and for many residential additions, hillside homes, and ADUs.

Whether you need structural calculations, permit-ready framing and foundation drawings, or plan-check responses, JD Building Engineering delivers code-compliant documents ready for California building-department submittal.

Title 24

California Building Code (CBC) — Title 24, Part 2

Seismic

ASCE 7 and CBC Chapter 16 seismic design, including SDC assignment and special detailing

Wood, steel & concrete

NDS, AISC, ACI, and TMS design as the structure requires

Digital seal

Electronic seals where accepted by the authority having jurisdiction

California building codes

Building, civil, and structural code requirements

California adopts model codes through Title 24. The tables below summarize the primary codes and referenced standards used for permit drawings and PE-stamped calculations.

Building code

California occupancy, residential, and accessibility provisions that typically govern the permit set JD Building Engineering’s structural sheets support.

Code / Standard Application
California Building Code (CBC) — Title 24, Part 2 Commercial and multi-family construction; occupancy, egress, fire-resistance, and accessibility (Ch. 11B)
California Residential Code (CRC) — Title 24, Part 2.5 One- and two-family dwellings and townhouses up to three stories
California Fire Code (CFC) — Title 24, Part 9 Fire protection, hazardous materials, and fire-department access
CALGreen — Title 24, Part 11 Mandatory green-building measures that affect structural and site documentation
IBC Chapter 11 / ANSI A117.1 / ADA Accessibility for public accommodations and commercial buildings where they apply

Civil building code

Civil deliverables, when the project and licence allow, include site and grading coordination, drainage, and retaining structures tied to the foundation design.

Code / Standard Application
IBC Chapter 18 — Soils and foundations Site development, retaining walls, and foundation soils
CGS / Caltrans / CASQA Alquist-Priolo and seismic hazard zones, NPDES/CASQA stormwater BMPs, and encroachment permits
Local grading ordinances County/city grading permits, erosion control, and cut/fill limits
FEMA NFIP / local floodplain Flood-zone compliance and elevation coordination where the site is mapped

Structural building code

California has among the nation’s most demanding seismic requirements. PE-stamped structural calculations are expected for most commercial work and for many residential additions, hillside homes, and ADUs.

Code / Standard Application
IBC Chapter 16 Structural design requirements — loads, materials, and systems
ASCE 7 Minimum design loads: dead, live, wind, snow, rain, seismic, and flood
ACI 318 Structural concrete design and detailing
AISC 360 Structural steel buildings
NDS (AWC) Wood construction — sawn lumber, glulam, shear walls, and diaphragms
CBC Seismic (Ch. 16 & 17) Seismic Design Category, special inspections, and soft-story or hillside detailing where required

Structural services

Structural engineering for California permits

James Davis personally manages the structural design, calculations, detailing, and drafting. Clients receive a coordinated permit-ready package rather than a review of drawings prepared by others.

  • Custom homes, additions, remodels, and ADUs
  • Foundations, retaining walls, decks, and accessory structures
  • Wood-frame gravity and lateral design
  • Permit-ready structural drawings and calculations
  • Plan-check responses and construction support
View structural services

Coverage

Licensed in 39 U.S. states and 5 Canadian jurisdictions. Remote structural engineering is available for qualifying projects.

Send the project address with your inquiry. JD Building Engineering will confirm sealing format and local AHJ requirements before work is scoped.

Questions

California licensing and permits

Yes. James Davis, PE is licensed in California and prepares permit-ready structural drawings and calculations for qualifying residential and light commercial projects. Sealing format (wet or digital) follows what the AHJ accepts.

Design follows California Building Code (CBC) — Title 24, Part 2, together with the referenced structural standards in the tables on this page and any city or county amendments that apply to the project address. Share the jurisdiction with your inquiry so the correct edition can be confirmed.

Yes. JD Building Engineering provides remote structural engineering for qualifying California projects using digital plan sets, email, and phone. On-site visits are not assumed and are confirmed only when a project requires them.

Typical work includes new homes, additions, remodels, ADUs, foundations, decks, retaining walls, and accessory structures. Light commercial structural work is considered when it fits the practice. The sealed work is structural engineering, with civil support where licensing allows.

Contact

Request a California Engineering Permit Review

Tell us about your California project. JD Building Engineering will review the available information and respond regarding scope, availability, and next steps.

Phone
(815) 277-1087
Email
info@jdbuildingengineering.com
Website
jdbuildingengineering.com

Licensed coverage

Other licensed jurisdictions

James Davis, PE holds licenses across 44 jurisdictions. Open a page for local code context and engineering permit services.

United States

Canada