Chico, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The City of Chico handles building and planning services within incorporated Chico city limits; Butte County handles unincorporated areas.

Department

City of Chico Community Development Department, Building Division

Address

411 Main Street, Chico, CA 95928

Phone

(530) 879-6700

Email

buildingdocs@chicoca.gov

Website

https://chicoca.gov/Departments/Community-Development/Building-Division/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project scope, permit type, and zoning. Chico publishes permit types available online through eTRAKiT, and zoning and development standards are administered through the Planning Division and Title 19 of the municipal code.
2. Create a free eTRAKiT account. First-time contractors must have a valid City of Chico business license number and California contractor license number, and must call the Building Division to be set up.
3. Submit the permit application and digital documents. Chico states that applications, plans, and documents are to be submitted in digital format; first-time submittals must include the permit application.
4. Include the required project information and plans. Chico asks for the work description, project address, legal owner contact information, valuation, and construction or occupancy type; plans, specifications, and structural calculations may also be required depending on scope.
5. Wait for review and staff follow-up. Simple work such as reroofs, water heaters, window replacements, and termite repair may be over the counter; for most projects, the City says plan review can usually be completed within about 3 weeks of submittal.
6. Pay fees, obtain permit issuance, then schedule inspections through eTRAKiT or by phone. Final approval is required to complete the permit.

Typical processing time: Over the counter for some simple permits; about 3 weeks for most projects requiring review.

Source: City of Chico Community Development Department, Building Division

General Requirements

A basic building permit is required for erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, improvement, moving, removal, conversion, or demolition of buildings or structures in the city. Separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are required for installation, alteration, repair, replacement, or remodeling of those systems unless an exemption applies.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Description of work
• Project address
• Legal owner name, address, and phone
• Valuation
• Construction type and occupancy type
• Digital plan set and supporting documents
• Structural calculations where required
• Contractor license and City business license information for contractors
• Workers' compensation information if employees are used
• Owner-builder statement for owner-builders

Permit validity

Chico Municipal Code Section 16.10.180 currently states a permit expires if work does not start within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 consecutive days after starting. The Building Official may grant one extension up to 180 days on request. If a permit expires after work has started, renewal is 50% of the building permit fee if there are no plan changes and the suspension has not exceeded 1 year.

Building code

Chico's municipal code supplement current through Ordinance No. 2619, adopted January 6, 2026, reflects adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards code set in Title 16R, including current California building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy, green building, fire, and wildland-urban interface standards.

Owner-builder

Property owners may obtain permits for work on owner-occupied single-family or duplex buildings. If the owner hires workers, workers' compensation requirements may apply, and an owner-builder statement is required before permit issuance.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must hold a current City of Chico business license and current California contractor license. If employees are used, workers' compensation carrier and policy information must be supplied.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single universal minimum building permit fee is separately stated in the posted master schedule. Posted minimums tied to building review include Energy Plan Check Fees of $233 for up to 2 residential units, a plan maintenance fee minimum of $8, and a state residential surcharge minimum of $0.50.

Plan check fee

Consolidated new-construction tables combine plan check and inspection fees. Separate posted items include Preliminary Plan Check Inspection Fees of $350, Plan Maintenance Fee equal to 2% of the building permit fee with an $8 minimum and $350 maximum, and Energy Plan Check Fees with a $233 minimum for up to 2 residential units.

Permit fee formula

New construction uses consolidated building and plan check fee tables in Exhibit 1; residential and commercial alterations, remodels, and additions use Exhibits 2 and 3; some items are hourly or percentage-based; state surcharges are valuation-based.

Reinspection fee

Construction-Reinspection Fee is $233 with a 1/2 hour minimum, and the schedule says it covers costs incurred in responding to more than two requests to inspect the same work item.

Payment note

eTRAKiT allows online fee payment. The Building FAQ says fees may be paid in cash, personal check, money order, or credit card (Visa or Mastercard). Financial transactions are not accepted after 4:00 p.m. at the Building Division counter.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures such as tool sheds, storage sheds, and playhouses with projected roof area not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 6 feet high
• Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding flammable liquids
• Grade-supported water tanks up to 500 gallons with height-to-width ratio not over 2:1
• Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Certain limited window awnings
• Certain above-grade prefabricated swimming pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies up to 5,000 gallons
• Certain ground-mounted satellite dish antennas serving a single-family dwelling
• Portable electrical equipment not permanently connected to supply, replacement of lamps and fuses, and minor electrical repair work
• Portable heating, ventilating, or cooling units, certain closed piping within heating or cooling equipment, unchanged replacement components, and unit refrigerating systems
• Minor plumbing leak repairs and drain or pipe cleaning that do not require rearrangement or replacement of valves, pipes, traps, or fixtures

Important: Chico's code also references broader exemptions already built into the adopted standards under Chapter 16.06. Exemptions do not override zoning, fire, utility, or other applicable approvals, and permits are still required when work exceeds the stated limits or involves structural support, system rearrangement, or other code-triggering conditions.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• eTRAKiT (online)
• (530) 879-6700 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Inspections may be scheduled online until 3:00 p.m. the workday before the requested inspection date; cancellations may be made online until 7:00 a.m. the day of inspection. Weekend requests submitted over the weekend can be scheduled for Tuesday at the earliest.

Time windows

Inspectors do not call to set a specific arrival time, so someone 18 or older must be on site during the requested time period.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical posted sequences move from erosion control, footing, foundation, slab, and underground utilities to rough frame, rough electrical, rough mechanical, rough plumbing, then insulation, lath, gypsum, and finals. The municipal code separately identifies foundation, frame, lath or wallboard, and final inspection stages, with final fire inspection required for applicable occupancies.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Chico's municipal code supplement current through Ordinance No. 2619, adopted January 6, 2026, reflects adoption of the 2025 California Building Standards code set in Title 16R, including current California building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, energy, green building, fire, and wildland-urban interface standards.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Chico Municipal Code
• Chico GIS Map
• Building Permit Information
• Building FAQs
• Inspections
• Contact the Building Division
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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