Kings County, CA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

In unincorporated Kings County, the county building official administers and enforces the building ordinance and requires permits for covered work in the unincorporated territory of the county.

Department

Kings County Community Development Agency, Building Division

Address

1400 W. Lacey Blvd., Bldg. #6, Hanford, CA 93230

Phone

(559) 852-2670

Email

kcgc.building@co.kings.ca.us

Website

https://www.countyofkingsca.gov/departments/community-development-agency

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Kings County and review zoning, site, and utility constraints through the county Community Development Agency and Development Code resources before preparing plans.
2. Create an account in the Kings County Online Permits Center. The portal says registered users can submit permit applications, submit plans, view corrections, and view permits ready to issue, but the account must be verified by the Building Department.
3. Prepare a digital PDF plan package. Kings County's plan requirements say construction permit applicants must submit a PDF file of plans and associated documentation through the Online Permit Center, with plans drawn to scale and detailed enough to show compliance with Title 24.
4. Include the required supporting information. The county's plan requirements call for a site plan, floor plan, elevations, building section, foundation plan, framing plans, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy forms, green code checklist, and fire sprinkler or structural engineering documents if applicable.
5. Submit the permit application digitally through the Online Permit Center. The county states it has shifted from paper permit applications to only digital applications for building and planning permits.
6. Respond to corrections if the Building Division requests revisions. The portal says registered users can view corrections online.
7. Pay permit and plan check fees when invoiced and obtain permit issuance before starting work. The fee schedule says permit and plan check charges are assessed per the California Building Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, and related county fees.
8. Request inspections through the Online Permit Center as construction progresses and keep the project available for inspection.

Source: Kings County Community Development Agency, Building Division

General Requirements

Kings County Code Chapter 5 says no person may erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, wire, or engage in plumbing on any building or structure in the unincorporated territory of the county without first obtaining the required building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit from the building official.

Required Documents

• Owner contact information
• Project address and APN
• Site plan
• Floor plan
• Exterior elevations
• Building section
• Foundation plan
• Wall bracing plan
• Floor and roof framing plans
• Plumbing plan
• Mechanical plan
• Electrical plan
• Energy calculations
• HVAC sizing calculations
• Green code checklist
• Fire sprinkler or structural engineering documents when applicable

Permit validity

The county's publicly posted ordinance expressly provides a 180-day expiration and limited extension process for relocation permits. For ordinary building permits, the county sources reviewed do not publish a separate local expiration summary, so applicants should confirm the currently enforced expiration and extension rules with the Building Division under the code cycle in effect for the permit.

Building code

The permit portal states, "As of January 1, 2026 all submittals shall comply with the new 2025 building codes." The 2026 county fee schedule also states building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and plan check fees are assessed per the CBC, CEC, CMC, and CPC.

Owner-builder

The portal registration page states that a property owner, representative of the property owner, property manager, or anyone else who can legally pull a permit in Kings County may register to obtain permits. No separate owner-builder disclosure form was located in the county sources reviewed.

Contractor requirements

The permit portal requires licensed California contractors to enter and verify their contractor license number during registration if they are registering as contractors. The county also links the California State Contractors License Board from the permit portal.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Building permit base fee is assessed per CBC, plus a $160 planning fee shown on the 2026 Community Development Agency fee schedule; the county does not publish a simple countywide minimum dollar amount for all building permits on the fee sheet reviewed.

Plan check fee

Per CBC

Permit fee formula

Building permit, electrical permit, mechanical permit, plumbing permit, and plan check fees are assessed per the applicable California code schedule; additional county flat fees apply for items such as planning review and zoning conformance.

Penalty (no permit)

The 2026 fee schedule states permits following a notice of violation or stop work notice are charged double fees.

Payment note

The permit portal states registered users can submit and pay for permits online after account verification by the Building Department.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Work exempt under the uniform codes adopted by Kings County's building ordinance
• Work located primarily in a public way
• Public utility towers and poles
• Mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in Chapter 5
• Flood control or irrigation structures
• Irrigation pipes
• Irrigation wells
• Certain farm-use buildings and structures on parcels of 10 acres or more in AG-20, AG-40, Exclusive Agricultural, and Limited Agricultural-10 zones, including buildings to house birds, poultry, or livestock, animal shade structures, hay sheds, granaries, silos, fences, and seasonal agricultural sales buildings under 400 square feet, if they are not for human habitation, not public use, not attached to a dwelling, and not for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work connected to domestic utility systems

Important: The county ordinance says these are in addition to exemptions in the adopted uniform codes. For the agricultural exemption, the owner must apply to the building official before construction, pay the processing fee set by board resolution, and obtain a written determination that the work is exempt.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Kings County inspection request (online)
• (559) 852-2670 (phone)
• kcgc.building@co.kings.ca.us (email)

Inspection hours

Community Development Agency office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: The county's public sources reviewed here do not publish a standardized inspection card sequence. In practice, inspections typically follow the approved scope and proceed through applicable foundation, underfloor, rough trade, framing, insulation, and final stages, with additional specialty inspections as required.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The permit portal states, "As of January 1, 2026 all submittals shall comply with the new 2025 building codes." The 2026 county fee schedule also states building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and plan check fees are assessed per the CBC, CEC, CMC, and CPC.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Community Development Agency page
• Building ordinance page
• Online Permit Center
• Documents and forms
• Plan requirements PDF
• Site plan instructions PDF
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• California hub: California Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Kings County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Kings County, CA?

Kings County Code Chapter 5 says no person may erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert, demolish, wire, or engage in plumbing on any building or structure in the unincorporated territory of the county without first obtaining the required building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permit from the building official.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Kings County, CA?

The minimum permit fee is Building permit base fee is assessed per CBC, plus a $160 planning fee shown on the 2026 Community Development Agency fee schedule; the county does not publish a simple countywide minimum dollar amount for all building permits on the fee sheet reviewed.. Fees are calculated as: Building permit, electrical permit, mechanical permit, plumbing permit, and plan check fees are assessed per the applicable California code schedule; additional county flat fees apply for items such as planning review and zoning conformance.. Plan check fee: Per CBC.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Kings County, CA?

1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Kings County and review zoning, site, and utility constraints through the county Community Development Agency and Development Code resources before preparing plans. 2. Create an account in the Kings County Online Permits Center. The portal says registered users can submit permit applications, submit plans, view corrections, and view permits ready to issue, but the account must be verified by the Building Department. 3. Prepare a digital PDF plan package. Kings County's plan requirements say construction permit applicants must submit a PDF file of plans and associated documentation through the Online Permit Center, with plans drawn to scale and detailed enough to show compliance with Title 24. 4. Include the required supporting information. The county's plan requirements call for a site plan, floor plan, elevations, building section, foundation plan, framing plans, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy forms, green code checklist, and fire sprinkler or structural engineering documents if applicable. 5. Submit the permit application digitally through the Online Permit Center. The county states it has shifted from paper permit applications to only digital applications for building and planning permits. 6. Respond to corrections if the Building Division requests revisions. The portal says registered users can view corrections online. 7. Pay permit and plan check fees when invoiced and obtain permit issuance before starting work. The fee schedule says permit and plan check charges are assessed per the California Building Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, and related county fees. 8. Request inspections through the Online Permit Center as construction progresses and keep the project available for inspection.

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Kings County, CA?

The following work is generally exempt: Work exempt under the uniform codes adopted by Kings County's building ordinance; Work located primarily in a public way; Public utility towers and poles; Mechanical equipment not specifically regulated in Chapter 5; Flood control or irrigation structures; Irrigation pipes; Irrigation wells; Certain farm-use buildings and structures on parcels of 10 acres or more in AG-20, AG-40, Exclusive Agricultural, and Limited Agricultural-10 zones, including buildings to house birds, poultry, or livestock, animal shade structures, hay sheds, granaries, silos, fences, and seasonal agricultural sales buildings under 400 square feet, if they are not for human habitation, not public use, not attached to a dwelling, and not for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work connected to domestic utility systems. Note: The county ordinance says these are in addition to exemptions in the adopted uniform codes. For the agricultural exemption, the owner must apply to the building official before construction, pay the processing fee set by board resolution, and obtain a written determination that the work is exempt.

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Kings County, CA?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Kings County inspection request, (559) 852-2670, kcgc.building@co.kings.ca.us.