If you pull permits across multiple California jurisdictions, you have almost certainly encountered the same confusion: every building department uses different words to describe the same permit states. What one city calls "Approved" another calls "Ready to Issue." What one portal shows as "Corrections" another labels "Plan Check Comments." And RTI — one of the most searched permit terms in California — means something specific that a lot of contractors get wrong.
This glossary covers every major permit status you will encounter across California AHJ portals, in plain language, with what action each one requires from you.
RTI stands for Ready to Issue. It means the permit has completed plan check and been approved, but the physical permit document has not yet been generated. In many California jurisdictions, there is a separation between plan check approval and actual permit issuance — RTI is the stage between those two events.
When a permit shows RTI status, it typically means:
Common mistake: Scheduling installation when a permit shows RTI. RTI is not the same as Issued. Work cannot legally begin until the permit is formally issued. In some jurisdictions RTI permits auto-issue within hours; in others a manual step is required. Check with the specific AHJ before mobilizing your crew on an RTI permit.
The building department has your application but plan check has not started. This is confirmation of receipt only. The clock on plan check review does not meaningfully start here. If a permit sits at this status for more than 3 business days without advancing, contact the department to confirm nothing is missing from the submittal.
A plan checker has been assigned and is actively reviewing your submittal. This is the main processing stage. Duration varies enormously — from 5 business days in some streamlined cities to 21+ business days at LADBS during peak periods. Being "In Plan Check" does not mean approval is imminent.
The plan checker has completed their review and found items that must be addressed before the permit can be approved. A correction notice is issued listing the specific items. This is the status where delays most frequently compound — every day a correction notice sits unread is a day of unnecessary delay in your response window.
You have responded to the corrections and the application is back in review. Second plan checks are typically faster than initial review but are not guaranteed to be in all jurisdictions.
Plan check is complete and the project is approved. In some jurisdictions this is the final status before issuance and happens automatically. In others, "Approved" is a distinct stage from "Issued" and fees must be paid or a manual step taken before the permit is generated.
See above. Plan check is approved but the permit document has not yet been generated. Fees typically need to be confirmed or paid at this stage. Work cannot begin at RTI.
The permit has been formally issued. This is the status you need before work can legally begin. Mobilize your crew from this status, not from Approved or RTI.
A final inspection has been requested and is scheduled. This is post-installation — the permit is issued and work is complete, waiting for the inspector to sign off.
The final inspection has passed and the permit is closed out. The project is complete from a permitting standpoint.
The permit has been placed on administrative hold. This can happen for many reasons: missing documentation, unpaid fees, a lien on the property, a compliance issue with a prior permit at the address, or a stop-work order. A suspended permit is not moving forward until the hold is resolved. Catching this status the day it appears rather than three days later is the difference between a fast resolution and a week of delay.
The permit has passed its validity window. Most California permits expire after 180 days of inactivity (no inspections or progress). Renewing an expired permit typically requires a fee and may require updated plans.
The application was rejected outright — not merely requiring corrections, but not approvable as submitted. This is uncommon for standard residential solar and electrical but does happen for projects with zoning conflicts, easement issues, or sites with unresolved prior violations.
InstaPermit monitors every California AHJ portal and shows you a normalized status for every permit. No more guessing what "In Process" means in one city vs. another.
California has over 500 independent building departments, each with its own permit management software. LADBS uses a different system from the City of San Diego, which uses a different system from Anaheim, which is different from Rancho Cucamonga. Each system has its own status labels that evolved independently.
The practical result: a contractor who pulls permits across 8 California cities is dealing with 8 different status vocabularies. "Active" in one city means a permit is issued and work can proceed. "Active" in another city means it is in plan check. The only way to manage this without errors is either deep familiarity with each jurisdiction's specific terminology, or a monitoring system that normalizes statuses across portals.