Modoc County, CA - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Modoc County's Building and Safety page states the department applies uniform building standards within the unincorporated area of the County, so it is the permit authority for unincorporated Modoc County.

Department

County of Modoc Building and Safety Department

Address

203 W. 4th Street, Alturas, CA 96101

Phone

(530) 233-6406

Email

scottward@co.modoc.ca.us

Website

https://www.co.modoc.ca.us/departments/building_and_safety/index.php

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the site constraints first. Modoc County requires a site or plot plan for projects that change a property's footprint, and the checklist says planning review needs a clear scaled plot plan with APN, property lines, access, utilities, setbacks, and grading information.
2. Prepare the permit application package. The county building permit application says all applicable sections must be completed or the application will not be accepted, and the workflow chart says submittals are checked for APN, address, signatures, and three plan sets.
3. Include the required plans and supporting documents. The county's residential plan checklist calls for signed plans, typically three plan sets, and project-specific materials such as floor plans, elevations, foundation and framing plans, energy documents, WUI notes where applicable, engineering or soils reports when required, and deferred submittals such as fire sprinklers or photovoltaics if applicable.
4. Submit through the Modoc County iWorQ Building and Safety portal. The portal directs applicants to fill out all applicable fields and upload required documents before submission.
5. Complete planning and outside-agency review if required. The workflow chart says the site or plot plan must be approved by Planning before issuance and that the Building Official determines whether the project must be routed to Environmental Health, CalFire, or Public Works. If planning review is required, the workflow chart says the county collects a $55 planning review fee.
6. Respond to plan review and wait for issuance notice. The workflow chart says the Building Official reviews plans, calculates fees, stamps approved plans, and the administrative assistant notifies the applicant by phone and email when the permit is ready to issue.
7. Pay issuance fees and receive permit documents. The workflow chart says staff takes payment, prints permit and inspection cards, and gives the applicant the job copy of approved plans plus a permit and inspection card.
8. Request inspections during construction and obtain final approval. The workflow chart says the administrative assistant schedules inspections and the Building Official updates inspection results in iWorQ until final.

Typical processing time: Modoc County does not publish a standard building-permit turnaround time in the public materials reviewed. Its road encroachment form says encroachment permits typically take 7 to 14 days, but that is not a stated processing time for general building permits.

Source: County of Modoc Building and Safety Department

General Requirements

Modoc County's published policy manual states, citing California Building Code Section 105.1, that a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

Required Documents

• Completed building permit application
• APN and project address or location
• Project description and valuation
• Owner or contractor declaration
• Workers' compensation declaration
• Lender information if applicable
• Site or plot plan where required
• Plan sets and supporting documents required by project scope
• Signed plans
• Elevations
• Foundation and framing plans
• Electrical and plumbing layouts
• Energy documents
• WUI ignition-resistant construction notes for applicable new residences
• CALGreen forms when required
• Engineering or soils reports when required
• Wet-stamped truss or engineered documents where applicable

Permit validity

Modoc County Ordinance No. 221-J amends the county code so a permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 1 year after issuance and an inspection approval is not obtained, or if after the first approved inspection the work does not receive another approved inspection within each 365-day period. The ordinance also says permit applications are deemed abandoned 1 year after filing unless pursued in good faith. Written extensions may be granted for periods of up to 365 days each, and expired permits may be reinstated if they have been expired less than 5 years or otherwise have a vested interest as determined by the Building Official.

Building code

Modoc County Ordinance No. 221-J adopts the 2022 California Building Standards Code package, including the 2022 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Fire Code, Existing Building Code, CALGreen, and Referenced Standards Code, with local amendments. Modoc County's New Information page also posts a 2025 Title 24 CA Code Changes summary dated December 11, 2025, but no newer county ordinance was located on the official site adopting a later local code cycle, so applicants should confirm with Building and Safety what code cycle is being enforced for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026.

Owner-builder

The county's building permit application requires either a licensed-contractor declaration or an owner-builder declaration. The owner-builder section states the applicant must certify the legal basis for exemption from CSLB licensure and acknowledges limits on selling a structure built as an owner-builder. County LDRD materials also define owner-built housing and state sale, lease, or rental of owner-built structures is permitted 1 year after issuance of a certificate of occupancy.

Contractor requirements

The county's permit application requires a California licensed contractor declaration when the permit is issued in the contractor's name. The application cites the Contractors' State License Law and requires the contractor's class and license number. County road-encroachment materials also state work within county right-of-way must be performed by an appropriately licensed contractor unless a statutory owner-builder or small-job exemption applies.

Fees

Plan check fee

The publicly posted materials reviewed here do not publish a standalone plan-check formula for ordinary building permits. The workflow chart states plan review occurs before fees are calculated, and the county collects a $55 planning review fee when planning review is required.

Permit fee formula

Modoc County's publicly posted workflow chart says the Building Official calculates fees after plan review. The posted fee-resolution attachment confirms the county maintains a Building and Safety fee schedule, but the publicly accessible excerpt reviewed here does not include the full general building-permit valuation table.

Reinspection fee

Building permit or application extension fee is $45.80 per request, and expired permit reinstatement fee is $45.80 per request, based on Modoc County's posted forms and Resolution No. 2024-32. The public materials reviewed here do not identify a separate published reinspection fee for ordinary building permits.

Payment note

Modoc County's workflow chart shows payment is taken at permit issuance and staff issues a county receipt. The public materials reviewed here mention receipt and check handling but do not publish online payment instructions or card-processing notes for building permits.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Replacement of broken or damaged glazing within an existing window frame is treated as maintenance work and does not require a building permit under Modoc County Policy No. M-001.
• Replacement glazing installed by removing existing glazing and trim while leaving the existing window or sliding-glass-door frame intact, with no disruption of the existing weather seal, does not require a building permit under Modoc County Policy No. M-001.

Important: Modoc County Policy No. M-001 says a permit is required when replacing an entire window or sliding glass door with frame, when increasing the size of a window opening, or when creating or relocating window openings. Apart from this window and glazing policy, Modoc County did not post a general public handout of all permit-exempt work in the materials reviewed here, so applicants should confirm any claimed exemption directly with Building and Safety before proceeding.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (530) 233-6406 (phone)
• Existing permit search (online)

Scheduling deadline

The county's published LDRD ordinance says inspections must be requested at least 48 hours in advance.

Inspection hours

Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, closed Friday through Sunday

Typical inspection sequence: The county's workflow and LDRD ordinance identify foundation inspection before concrete placement, rough-in or 4-way inspection before closing walls, and final inspection after completion and readiness for occupancy. Additional inspections may be required based on project conditions, concealed work, soil conditions, or project type.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Modoc County Ordinance No. 221-J adopts the 2022 California Building Standards Code package, including the 2022 California Building Code, Residential Code, Electrical Code, Mechanical Code, Plumbing Code, Energy Code, Fire Code, Existing Building Code, CALGreen, and Referenced Standards Code, with local amendments. Modoc County's New Information page also posts a 2025 Title 24 CA Code Changes summary dated December 11, 2025, but no newer county ordinance was located on the official site adopting a later local code cycle, so applicants should confirm with Building and Safety what code cycle is being enforced for applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Zoning ordinance
• Site and plot plan checklist
• Residential plan submittal checklist
• Building applications page
• Planning department page
• Planning portal
• Policies, Procedures, and Forms
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• California hub: California Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Modoc County Building Permit FAQ

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

Modoc County's published policy manual states, citing California Building Code Section 105.1, that a permit is required to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

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

Fees are calculated as: Modoc County's publicly posted workflow chart says the Building Official calculates fees after plan review. The posted fee-resolution attachment confirms the county maintains a Building and Safety fee schedule, but the publicly accessible excerpt reviewed here does not include the full general building-permit valuation table.. Plan check fee: The publicly posted materials reviewed here do not publish a standalone plan-check formula for ordinary building permits. The workflow chart states plan review occurs before fees are calculated, and the county collects a $55 planning review fee when planning review is required..

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

1. Confirm the site constraints first. Modoc County requires a site or plot plan for projects that change a property's footprint, and the checklist says planning review needs a clear scaled plot plan with APN, property lines, access, utilities, setbacks, and grading information. 2. Prepare the permit application package. The county building permit application says all applicable sections must be completed or the application will not be accepted, and the workflow chart says submittals are checked for APN, address, signatures, and three plan sets. 3. Include the required plans and supporting documents. The county's residential plan checklist calls for signed plans, typically three plan sets, and project-specific materials such as floor plans, elevations, foundation and framing plans, energy documents, WUI notes where applicable, engineering or soils reports when required, and deferred submittals such as fire sprinklers or photovoltaics if applicable. 4. Submit through the Modoc County iWorQ Building and Safety portal. The portal directs applicants to fill out all applicable fields and upload required documents before submission. 5. Complete planning and outside-agency review if required. The workflow chart says the site or plot plan must be approved by Planning before issuance and that the Building Official determines whether the project must be routed to Environmental Health, CalFire, or Public Works. If planning review is required, the workflow chart says the county collects a $55 planning review fee. 6. Respond to plan review and wait for issuance notice. The workflow chart says the Building Official reviews plans, calculates fees, stamps approved plans, and the administrative assistant notifies the applicant by phone and email when the permit is ready to issue. 7. Pay issuance fees and receive permit documents. The workflow chart says staff takes payment, prints permit and inspection cards, and gives the applicant the job copy of approved plans plus a permit and inspection card. 8. Request inspections during construction and obtain final approval. The workflow chart says the administrative assistant schedules inspections and the Building Official updates inspection results in iWorQ until final.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Modoc County, CA?

Typical processing time is Modoc County does not publish a standard building-permit turnaround time in the public materials reviewed. Its road encroachment form says encroachment permits typically take 7 to 14 days, but that is not a stated processing time for general building permits..

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

The following work is generally exempt: Replacement of broken or damaged glazing within an existing window frame is treated as maintenance work and does not require a building permit under Modoc County Policy No. M-001.; Replacement glazing installed by removing existing glazing and trim while leaving the existing window or sliding-glass-door frame intact, with no disruption of the existing weather seal, does not require a building permit under Modoc County Policy No. M-001.. Note: Modoc County Policy No. M-001 says a permit is required when replacing an entire window or sliding glass door with frame, when increasing the size of a window opening, or when creating or relocating window openings. Apart from this window and glazing policy, Modoc County did not post a general public handout of all permit-exempt work in the materials reviewed here, so applicants should confirm any claimed exemption directly with Building and Safety before proceeding.

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

Inspections can be scheduled via: (530) 233-6406, Existing permit search. The county's published LDRD ordinance says inspections must be requested at least 48 hours in advance..