Gustine, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division

Street address

352 Fifth Street, Gustine, CA 95322

Phone

(209) 854-6471; (209) 854-9415

Coverage

The Building Department processes building permits for all construction within Gustine city limits. Merced County does not issue city permits inside Gustine.

Online portal

Symbium solar permits

Symbium for qualifying solar projects only

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Gustine

Gustine says it processes permits for all construction within city limits and instructs applicants to assume a permit is required if in doubt. The city specifically requires a building permit for qualifying solar PV systems up to 10 kW.

Scope of work

Permit?

Most fences do not require building permits, though not all fences are exempt

Exempt

Common California residential exemptions generally include very small detached accessory structures

Exempt

Some low fences and low retaining walls without surcharge

Exempt

Sidewalks and driveways

Exempt

Finish work such as painting and cabinets

Exempt

Shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, certain awnings, and some detached low decks

Exempt

Exempt Most fences do not require building permits, though not all fences are exempt
Exempt Common California residential exemptions generally include very small detached accessory structures
Exempt Some low fences and low retaining walls without surcharge
Exempt Sidewalks and driveways
Exempt Finish work such as painting and cabinets
Exempt Shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, certain awnings, and some detached low decks

Note: Gustine explicitly says to assume a permit is required if in doubt. Even work that is permit exempt must still comply with applicable zoning, setback, floodplain, fire-safety, utility, and building-code requirements. Verify all claimed exemptions with Gustine before relying on them.

Required documents

Building permit application
Owner and contractor information
Job address and APN
Project square footage and valuation
License information
Grading, reroof, sign, owner-builder, or planning forms as applicable
For small solar PV: eligibility checklist, electrical plan or standard plan, roof plan with fire-safety layout, and structural criteria or engineer-stamped structural drawings or calculations when required

Building code: City materials cite the 2022 California Building Code during the 2024-2032 Housing Element cycle, while the 2025 California Building Standards Code became effective statewide on January 1, 2026. Confirm the current code cycle applied at intake with the city.
Permit validity: The city application includes an expiration field, but the city pages reviewed do not publish a current local expiration rule. Confirm expiration terms on permit issuance documents before starting work.
Owner-builder: The application includes an owner-builder declaration, and the city also publishes separate owner-builder acknowledgment and state-law notice forms.
Contractor requirements: The city application requires contractor license number and class and includes a licensed contractor declaration under penalty of perjury. Contractors using Symbium must have an active contractor's license for solar installation and a current City of Gustine business license.

Source: City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Typical building permits take about 1-2 weeks overall; the city's Housing Element also lists review timelines of 1-24 working days for first review, 1-15 working days for second review, and 1-10 working days for a third review if needed.

01

Confirm scope with the Building Department. Gustine instructs applicants to assume a permit is required if they are unsure.
02

Complete the city building permit application with job address, APN, project square footage, valuation, owner and contractor information, and planning approval fields if applicable.
03

Submit to the Building Department in person. For the city's solar bulletin, applications may also be submitted electronically or by fax.
04

Pay permit, plan review, and any related city or state fees.
05

Receive the permit, keep the permit and approved plans on site, complete inspections, and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Typical building permits take about 1-2 weeks overall; the city's Housing Element also lists review timelines of 1-24 working days for first review, 1-15 working days for second review, and 1-10 working days for a third review if needed.

Source: City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Gustine building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$177 for valuation-based building permits from $1 to $4,000; stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are each $88

Plan check fee

Typically 75% of the building permit fee when applicable, plus 5% of the building permit fee for energy review when applicable.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Common permit types have flat fees, while new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, residential remodels, and combined MEP permits use a valuation-based formula. The Building Official may reset valuation if understated.

Trade permit fee

$88 each for stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits

Reinspection fee

$88 per inspection beginning with the third inspection; missed inspection fee is $88

Penalty (no permit)

2x permit fee for work done without permits; excess plan review from the third review onward is $172 per hour

Additional fees may apply for planning review, technology fees, and pass-through state fees. The city's online solar page states Gustine does not currently accept online payment for city fees and instead emails the amount due before issuance.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

(209) 854-9415 (phone)

Inspection hours: A city notice states public Building Department hours are Monday-Thursday, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The Building Division page also asks applicants to include a phone number for afternoon contact Monday through Thursday.

Typical sequence: The city does not publish a general all-project inspection sequence on the reviewed pages. For streamlined solar permits, the published sequence is permit issuance, installation, then on-site inspection before final approval. Other projects are scope dependent.

Source: City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Gustine permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Gustine, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $177 for valuation-based building permits from $1 to $4,000; stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are each $88. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. Common permit types have flat fees, while new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, residential remodels, and combined MEP permits use a valuation-based formula. The Building Official may reset valuation if understated.. Plan check fee: Typically 75% of the building permit fee when applicable, plus 5% of the building permit fee for energy review when applicable..

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

To apply for a building permit in Gustine, CA, follow these steps: 1. Confirm scope with the Building Department. Gustine instructs applicants to assume a permit is required if they are unsure. 2. Complete the city building permit application with job address, APN, project square footage, valuation, owner and contractor information, and planning approval fields if applicable. 3. Submit to the Building Department in person. For the city's solar bulletin, applications may also be submitted electronically or by fax. 4. Pay permit, plan review, and any related city or state fees. 5. Receive the permit, keep the permit and approved plans on site, complete inspections, and obtain final approval.

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

Building permit processing times in Gustine, CA typically run Typical building permits take about 1-2 weeks overall; the city's Housing Element also lists review timelines of 1-24 working days for first review, 1-15 working days for second review, and 1-10 working days for a third review if needed.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Gustine, CA? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Gustine, CA. The following work is generally exempt: Most fences do not require building permits, though not all fences are exempt; Common California residential exemptions generally include very small detached accessory structures; Some low fences and low retaining walls without surcharge; Sidewalks and driveways; Finish work such as painting and cabinets; Shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, certain awnings, and some detached low decks. Note: Gustine explicitly says to assume a permit is required if in doubt. Even work that is permit exempt must still comply with applicable zoning, setback, floodplain, fire-safety, utility, and building-code requirements. Verify all claimed exemptions with Gustine before relying on them. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Gustine, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Gustine, CA via: (209) 854-9415.

last verified April 2026 source City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division ↗ entry id permits/california/merced/gustine

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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Gustine

Other jurisdictions in Merced County.