On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Paradise
The Town states applicants should check with Building before starting a new business, remodeling an existing building, constructing a new building, or moving into a new building. Its business FAQ also states a building permit is required when there is a change in use of an existing space, and plans must be submitted and permit issued before construction or remodeling starts.
Detached accessory structures under 120 square feet, if outside setbacks and separated from other buildings by at least 10 feet
Window awnings on dwelling units projecting no more than 54 inches
Window replacements where the frame or nailing flange and existing weather protection are not altered
Finish flooring, painting, papering, and similar finish work
Decorative interior tile installation
Repair or replacement of toilets and faucets
Replacement of electrical outlets and switches in existing boxes
Replacement of overcurrent devices such as circuit breakers and fuses, except main disconnect replacement
Temporary decorative lighting for dwellings
Limited floor sheathing repair up to 10 square feet
Roof repair, replacement, or overlay of less than 10% and not more than 100 square feet in any 12-month period, Class A only
Fences under 6 feet high, except certain concrete or masonry fences over 48 inches
Retaining walls under 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids
Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below and not required to be accessible
Certain shallow prefabricated above-ground pools
Swings and playground equipment
Portable appliances and listed cord-and-plug appliances
Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height or width ratio limits
Shade cloth agricultural or nursery structures without plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems
Certain approved prefabricated carports up to 480 square feet
Detached decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
- Exempt Detached accessory structures under 120 square feet, if outside setbacks and separated from other buildings by at least 10 feet
- Exempt Window awnings on dwelling units projecting no more than 54 inches
- Exempt Window replacements where the frame or nailing flange and existing weather protection are not altered
- Exempt Finish flooring, painting, papering, and similar finish work
- Exempt Decorative interior tile installation
- Exempt Repair or replacement of toilets and faucets
- Exempt Replacement of electrical outlets and switches in existing boxes
- Exempt Replacement of overcurrent devices such as circuit breakers and fuses, except main disconnect replacement
- Exempt Temporary decorative lighting for dwellings
- Exempt Limited floor sheathing repair up to 10 square feet
- Exempt Roof repair, replacement, or overlay of less than 10% and not more than 100 square feet in any 12-month period, Class A only
- Exempt Fences under 6 feet high, except certain concrete or masonry fences over 48 inches
- Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids
- Exempt Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below and not required to be accessible
- Exempt Certain shallow prefabricated above-ground pools
- Exempt Swings and playground equipment
- Exempt Portable appliances and listed cord-and-plug appliances
- Exempt Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height or width ratio limits
- Exempt Shade cloth agricultural or nursery structures without plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems
- Exempt Certain approved prefabricated carports up to 480 square feet
- Exempt Detached decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving the required exit door
Note: The Town states permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the California Building Standards Code or other laws or ordinances. Town right-of-way work, public sidewalk work, accessibility-triggered work, septic-related changes, and zoning or setback constraints can still require separate approvals.
Required documents
- Completed building permit application
- Signed plan sets
- Structural calculations
- Title 24 energy calculations
- Truss calculations if applicable
- Survey or corner certification
- Grading or BMP form
- WUI documents
- Recycling waste management plan
- Fire sprinkler plans if applicable
- Photovoltaic plans if applicable
- Septic evaluation or clearance if applicable
- Fire flow information
- CALGreen forms if applicable
- Soils or geotechnical reports if applicable
- Building code
- Town 2026 design criteria cite the 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Residential Code, 2025 California Mechanical Code, 2025 California Electrical Code, 2025 California Plumbing Code, 2025 California Energy Code, 2025 California Fire Code, the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, and the Paradise Municipal Code.
- Permit validity
- Paradise's current public handouts do not clearly restate the active expiration rule. Town-uploaded 2022 code-update materials say California law extended building-permit expiration from 180 days to 12 months after issuance; verify current extension and expiration handling with the Building Division before relying on it.
- Owner-builder
- Owner-builders are allowed. The Town's application requires owner written authorization if an agent applies for an over-the-counter permit, and Town handouts contrast owner-builder status with licensed-contractor construction.
- Contractor requirements
- Contractors listed on the application must provide a California contractor license number. Town handouts state licensed contractors must be licensed and bonded through CSLB and carry general liability and workers' compensation insurance.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: No general turnaround time is posted on the current Town permit pages. Town materials say smaller projects may be approved over the counter, and the inspection checklist notes next-business-day inspection service for timely requests.
- 01 Confirm parcel constraints before submittal, including zoning and setbacks, septic capacity or building clearance, special permit zone issues, fire flow, and utility readiness. The Town's rebuild checklist also recommends getting a survey, septic evaluation, PG&E service request, and water service lined up first.
- 02 Prepare the building permit application and plan package. Town application materials list the core submittals as the completed application plus plans, structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, survey or corner certification, grading or BMP form, WUI documentation, recycling plan, and deferred items such as fire sprinklers, truss calculations, or PV plans where allowed.
- 03 Submit through GovWell or to the Building Resiliency Center. Paradise's residential checklist says permit applications can be submitted online at GovWell.
- 04 Town staff reviews for code compliance and may issue corrections or require plan check revisions if plans change after approval.
- 05 Pay fees and satisfy pre-issuance conditions. Town materials note PG&E service application information is required before issuance, and projects using existing septic may need evidence of a passed septic evaluation or repair permit before issuance.
- 06 After permit issuance, schedule inspections through GovWell. Keep approved plans and the job card on site and provide final documentation before final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
Typical processing time: No general turnaround time is posted on the current Town permit pages. Town materials say smaller projects may be approved over the counter, and the inspection checklist notes next-business-day inspection service for timely requests.
Source: Town of Paradise Community Development Department, Building Division / Building Resiliency Center ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Paradise building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
The fee schedule currently linked on the Town site shows a minimum building permit and inspection fee of $60.17 for valuations from $1 to $500. Treat this cautiously because the linked PDF is labeled FY 2018/19.
02
Plan check fee
65% of the building permit fee, with possible added hourly charges for incomplete or revised plans.
03
Permit fee formula
Valuation-based for building permit and inspection fees, with bracketed rates by project valuation.
04
Penalty (no permit)
The current Town building fee page does not clearly publish a standalone building reinspection fee. The Town does publish a $114.94 permit fee estimate request fee. Additional review charges may be billed hourly where plans are incomplete or revised.
The Town says fee estimate requests are submitted to the Building Resiliency Center. Current septic and GovWell materials state invoices are emailed after completeness review and can be paid online in GovWell; building pages indicate online permit activity is now handled through GovWell.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- GovWell (online)
- (530) 413-5114 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- The inspection checklist states requests submitted before 12:00 a.m. can be inspected the next working day.
- Inspection hours
- The Building Resiliency Center public counter hours posted on Town pages are Monday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., closed 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Typical sequence: Town single-family inspection materials list utility underground, electrical service, foundation, underfloor, slab, exterior shear wall, roof sheathing, rough framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fire 5-way, combo drywall or exterior lath or gas test, and final inspection.
A Town inspection checklist PDF still references legacy scheduling by phone and an older Citizen Access portal, so current practice appears to be GovWell.
Source: Town of Paradise Community Development Department, Building Division / Building Resiliency Center ↗
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Paradise permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Paradise, CA? ▸
The Town states applicants should check with Building before starting a new business, remodeling an existing building, constructing a new building, or moving into a new building. Its business FAQ also states a building permit is required when there is a change in use of an existing space, and plans must be submitted and permit issued before construction or remodeling starts.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Paradise, CA? ▸
Building permit fees in Paradise, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is The fee schedule currently linked on the Town site shows a minimum building permit and inspection fee of $60.17 for valuations from $1 to $500. Treat this cautiously because the linked PDF is labeled FY 2018/19.. Fees are calculated as: Valuation-based for building permit and inspection fees, with bracketed rates by project valuation.. Plan check fee: 65% of the building permit fee, with possible added hourly charges for incomplete or revised plans..
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Paradise, CA? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Paradise, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm parcel constraints before submittal, including zoning and setbacks, septic capacity or building clearance, special permit zone issues, fire flow, and utility readiness. The Town's rebuild checklist also recommends getting a survey, septic evaluation, PG&E service request, and water service lined up first. 2. Prepare the building permit application and plan package. Town application materials list the core submittals as the completed application plus plans, structural calculations, Title 24 energy documents, survey or corner certification, grading or BMP form, WUI documentation, recycling plan, and deferred items such as fire sprinklers, truss calculations, or PV plans where allowed. 3. Submit through GovWell or to the Building Resiliency Center. Paradise's residential checklist says permit applications can be submitted online at GovWell. 4. Town staff reviews for code compliance and may issue corrections or require plan check revisions if plans change after approval. 5. Pay fees and satisfy pre-issuance conditions. Town materials note PG&E service application information is required before issuance, and projects using existing septic may need evidence of a passed septic evaluation or repair permit before issuance. 6. After permit issuance, schedule inspections through GovWell. Keep approved plans and the job card on site and provide final documentation before final inspection and certificate of occupancy.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Paradise, CA? ▸
Building permit processing times in Paradise, CA typically run No general turnaround time is posted on the current Town permit pages. Town materials say smaller projects may be approved over the counter, and the inspection checklist notes next-business-day inspection service for timely requests.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Paradise, CA? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Paradise, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Detached accessory structures under 120 square feet, if outside setbacks and separated from other buildings by at least 10 feet; Window awnings on dwelling units projecting no more than 54 inches; Window replacements where the frame or nailing flange and existing weather protection are not altered; Finish flooring, painting, papering, and similar finish work; Decorative interior tile installation; Repair or replacement of toilets and faucets; Replacement of electrical outlets and switches in existing boxes; Replacement of overcurrent devices such as circuit breakers and fuses, except main disconnect replacement; Temporary decorative lighting for dwellings; Limited floor sheathing repair up to 10 square feet; Roof repair, replacement, or overlay of less than 10% and not more than 100 square feet in any 12-month period, Class A only; Fences under 6 feet high, except certain concrete or masonry fences over 48 inches; Retaining walls under 4 feet unless supporting surcharge or impounding certain liquids; Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below and not required to be accessible; Certain shallow prefabricated above-ground pools; Swings and playground equipment; Portable appliances and listed cord-and-plug appliances; Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height or width ratio limits; Shade cloth agricultural or nursery structures without plumbing, mechanical, or electrical systems; Certain approved prefabricated carports up to 480 square feet; Detached decks not exceeding 200 square feet, not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving the required exit door. Note: The Town states permit exemptions do not authorize work that violates the California Building Standards Code or other laws or ordinances. Town right-of-way work, public sidewalk work, accessibility-triggered work, septic-related changes, and zoning or setback constraints can still require separate approvals. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Paradise, CA? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Paradise, CA via: GovWell, (530) 413-5114. The inspection checklist states requests submitted before 12:00 a.m. can be inspected the next working day..
last verified April 2026
source Town of Paradise Community Development Department, Building Division / Building Resiliency Center ↗
entry id permits/california/butte/paradise
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Town of Paradise Community Development Department, Building Division / Building Resiliency Center before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.