Colusa, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa

Street address

425 Webster Street, Colusa, CA 95932

Phone

(530) 458-4941 ext. 3103 / 3113

planning@cityofcolusa.com

Coverage

Applies within the incorporated City of Colusa only. Colusa County maintains separate permit authority for unincorporated areas.

Online portal

Building Permit Application PDF

PDF application form with department contact submittal

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Colusa

City materials state building permits are required for all construction, including building alterations or additions, equipment installations, and plumbing or electrical work.

Note: No city-specific public handout listing work exempt from permit was located in the reviewed City of Colusa materials. Do not assume state-default permit exemptions apply unchanged within city limits; verify proposed exempt work directly with the City Planning & Building Department before proceeding.

Required documents

Building permit application
Job-site address
Parcel number
Owner contact information
Detailed work description
Project square footage
Project valuation
Contractor information
Contractor license, class, and expiration
City business license information
Workers' compensation carrier and policy information
Architect license information if applicable
Plot plans and floor plans for demolition or occupancy permits where applicable

Building code: City materials state inspections are for compliance with the California Building Code, Plumbing Code, Electrical Code, Energy and Green Standards, ADA regulations, historic building codes, and local ordinances. A current city ordinance page specifying the exact adopted edition was not located in the reviewed public materials.
Permit validity: The FY 2025-26 city fee schedule includes a Permit Extension Fee, indicating extensions are available, but the public city materials reviewed do not state the default expiration period.
Contractor requirements: The city application requires contractor license, class, expiration, workers' compensation information, and city business license information. City business toolkit materials also indicate city business licensing and inspections are part of operating in city limits.

Source: Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Commercial building permit review takes about six weeks initially, with added time if plans need corrections or changes.

01

Confirm zoning and any site plan review needs with the Planning Division before submittal, especially if the project changes site layout, exterior conditions, or business use.
02

Prepare the building permit application with job-site address, APN, owner information, project description, square footage, valuation, and contractor or architect license information.
03

Submit the application and plans to the City Planning & Building Department using the city's published phone or email contacts; no city-run self-service online portal was located in the reviewed materials.
04

City staff performs the initial review. The city says commercial building permit review takes about six weeks initially, with added time if plans need corrections or changes.
05

After approval, keep the permit and plans available for inspection and coordinate required inspections with the department by phone or email.

Typical processing time: Commercial building permit review takes about six weeks initially, with added time if plans need corrections or changes.

Source: Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Colusa building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

The schedule lists a $70 Building Permit Application Fee and a $70 Permit Extension Fee. The lowest clearly listed building permit line items are $95 for Electrical Service Change-out and $95 for Water Heater or Fire Place Insert Change-out.

Plan check fee

The FY 2025-26 schedule states plan check is generally 65% of the building fee, collected at application.

Permit fee formula

The city toolkit says commercial building permits generally cost 4% to 6% of total project valuation. The FY 2025-26 fee schedule otherwise uses a mix of flat fees, square-foot rates, and add-on application and plan-check fees depending on permit type.

Reinspection fee

The reviewed city fee materials say excessive resubmittals or reinspections may be billed at the established hourly rate with a 1-hour minimum.

The fee schedule indicates application fees are required with application and plan check is taken at application where applicable. No separate online payment workflow was identified in the city materials reviewed.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

(530) 458-4941 ext. 3103 / 3113 (phone)
planning@cityofcolusa.com; buildinginspections@cityofcolusa.com (email)

Inspection hours: Most city offices operate Monday through Thursday and are closed Fridays and holidays.

Typical sequence: The public application form indicates inspection checkpoints may include concrete or block, framing, roofing, interior-only work, and electrical or plumbing, depending on scope.

Source: Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Colusa permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Colusa, CA? ▸

City materials state building permits are required for all construction, including building alterations or additions, equipment installations, and plumbing or electrical work.

02 How much does a building permit cost in Colusa, CA? ▸

Building permit fees in Colusa, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is The schedule lists a $70 Building Permit Application Fee and a $70 Permit Extension Fee. The lowest clearly listed building permit line items are $95 for Electrical Service Change-out and $95 for Water Heater or Fire Place Insert Change-out.. Fees are calculated as: The city toolkit says commercial building permits generally cost 4% to 6% of total project valuation. The FY 2025-26 fee schedule otherwise uses a mix of flat fees, square-foot rates, and add-on application and plan-check fees depending on permit type.. Plan check fee: The FY 2025-26 schedule states plan check is generally 65% of the building fee, collected at application..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Colusa, CA? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Colusa, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm zoning and any site plan review needs with the Planning Division before submittal, especially if the project changes site layout, exterior conditions, or business use. 2. Prepare the building permit application with job-site address, APN, owner information, project description, square footage, valuation, and contractor or architect license information. 3. Submit the application and plans to the City Planning & Building Department using the city's published phone or email contacts; no city-run self-service online portal was located in the reviewed materials. 4. City staff performs the initial review. The city says commercial building permit review takes about six weeks initially, with added time if plans need corrections or changes. 5. After approval, keep the permit and plans available for inspection and coordinate required inspections with the department by phone or email.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Colusa, CA? ▸

Building permit processing times in Colusa, CA typically run Commercial building permit review takes about six weeks initially, with added time if plans need corrections or changes.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Colusa, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Colusa, CA via: (530) 458-4941 ext. 3103 / 3113, planning@cityofcolusa.com; buildinginspections@cityofcolusa.com.

last verified April 2026 source Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa ↗ entry id permits/california/colusa/colusa-city

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Planning & Building Department, City of Colusa before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Colusa

Other jurisdictions in Colusa County.