Merced, CA — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department

Street address

678 W. 18th Street, Merced, CA 95340

Phone

(209) 385-4773

inspectionservicesweb@cityofmerced.gov

Coverage

The City of Merced Building Department handles building permits and inspections for projects within the incorporated City of Merced.

Online portal

Permits, Entitlements, and Licensing Portal

Civic Access / Tyler EnerGov

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Merced

The city states the portal is used for all building permits handled by the Building Department, including plan upload, fee payment, permit issuance, and inspection scheduling. Tenant improvements require plans, review, permit issuance, and final inspection before occupancy. The Building Department page also lists over-the-counter permit types such as electrical, plumbing, mechanical, demolition, insulation, re-roofing, stucco or siding, and window permits.

Note: The reviewed city pages did not publish a city-specific permit exemption handout in accessible text. The city FAQ states cosmetic work such as painting is not considered an alteration project for accessibility-trigger analysis, but that is not the same as a general exemption list. Because the city is enforcing the 2025 California Building Codes for new submittals as of January 1, 2026, confirm with Inspection Services whether standard California code exemptions apply unchanged or with local amendments.

Required documents

Application
Project address
Description of work
Valuation
Owner and applicant contact information
Uploaded attachments
Construction documents
Planning or zoning documents where required
Engineering materials where required
Project-specific checklists for commercial or industrial work, multifamily work, single-family additions, and tenant improvements

Building code: 2025 California Building Codes for submittals on or after January 1, 2026, except submittals that have a master plan in place under the 2022 codes
Owner-builder: The reviewed city pages do not publish a separate owner-builder handout in accessible text. Owner applicants can apply through Civic Access, but city-specific owner-builder affidavit requirements should be confirmed with Inspection Services.
Contractor requirements: Contractors must have a Contractor's City of Merced Business License before applying for a permit. State-licensed contractors working on projects within the city must obtain a city business license before the related building permit is issued.

Source: City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department ↗

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Create a City of Merced Civic Access account before applying. Contractors must have a City of Merced business license before applying for permits.
02

Start the permit in Civic Access, choose the correct permit application type, and enter the site address, work description, valuation, and square footage as applicable.
03

Add applicant and owner contact information, then upload required attachments for construction, planning, zoning, and engineering review.
04

Submit the application. City staff verifies whether the submittal is complete and may request additional documents.
05

Pay plan review and permit invoices when billed. Formal processing does not begin until required payment has been received.
06

Respond to correction comments and obtain permit issuance after approvals and fee payment.
07

Schedule inspections through Civic Access. Older issued permits may require staff assistance before online scheduling is available.

Source: City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Merced building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Plan check fee

Assessed when applicable. The city's online application guide says the city typically sends an invoice for plan review fees or building permit fees after staff review, and in some cases plan review will not begin until plan review fees are paid.

Permit fee formula

Varies by permit type and project; the reviewed city pages did not publish the building fee table in accessible text.

Building permit and plan review fees payable to the city can be paid online. Online credit card transactions are subject to a 3.15% service fee or $2.00 minimum, whichever is greater. Third-party plan review, engineering facility, water deposits, and impact fees are paid by check in person or by mail as directed by staff.

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

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Civic Access (online)
(209) 385-4773 (phone)
inspectionservicesweb@cityofmerced.gov (email)

Inspection hours: Building Department office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, excluding city holidays.

Typical sequence: The reviewed city pages do not publish a city-specific inspection card sequence in accessible text. Inspections generally follow the approved scope and trade stages, and final inspection is required before occupancy for tenant improvement work.

The current building pages state the city no longer has an active IVR for calling in inspections for issued building permits under the new system.

Source: City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Merced permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Merced, CA are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. Fees are calculated as: Varies by permit type and project; the reviewed city pages did not publish the building fee table in accessible text.. Plan check fee: Assessed when applicable. The city's online application guide says the city typically sends an invoice for plan review fees or building permit fees after staff review, and in some cases plan review will not begin until plan review fees are paid..

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

To apply for a building permit in Merced, CA, follow these steps: 1. Create a City of Merced Civic Access account before applying. Contractors must have a City of Merced business license before applying for permits. 2. Start the permit in Civic Access, choose the correct permit application type, and enter the site address, work description, valuation, and square footage as applicable. 3. Add applicant and owner contact information, then upload required attachments for construction, planning, zoning, and engineering review. 4. Submit the application. City staff verifies whether the submittal is complete and may request additional documents. 5. Pay plan review and permit invoices when billed. Formal processing does not begin until required payment has been received. 6. Respond to correction comments and obtain permit issuance after approvals and fee payment. 7. Schedule inspections through Civic Access. Older issued permits may require staff assistance before online scheduling is available.

04 How do I schedule a building inspection in Merced, CA? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Merced, CA via: Civic Access, (209) 385-4773, inspectionservicesweb@cityofmerced.gov.

last verified April 2026 source City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department ↗ entry id permits/california/merced/merced-city

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with City of Merced Inspection Services Division / Building Department before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Merced

Other jurisdictions in Merced County.