Clovis, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the City of Clovis city limits. Projects in unincorporated Fresno County are handled by Fresno County, not the City of Clovis.

Department

City of Clovis Building Division

Address

1033 Fifth Street, Clovis, CA 93612

Phone

(559) 324-2390

Email

building@cityofclovis.com

Website

https://cityofclovis.com/planning-and-development/building/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project needs a permit and pull the correct city application/checklist from the Building Division page. Clovis states permits are required to build, construct, remodel, repair, demolish, remove, or move a house, building, or structure, subject to listed exemptions.
2. Prepare the application package. The current residential permit form requires job site information, applicant/owner/contractor details, valuation, scope description, and method of debris handling; Clovis also publishes project-specific submittal checklists and plan requirements on the Building page.
3. Submit through the CSS portal or, where the city allows, in person. The residential application says "Apply Online" through the CSS portal. The Building page also states some permit types, such as photovoltaic permits, may be submitted in person or online depending on workflow.
4. Pay plan review and permit fees as assessed. Clovis Municipal Code section 8.1.01 states permit fees follow city fee tables on file with the Building Official, and plan review fees are due when submittal documents are required.
5. Respond to correction comments if the city requests revisions, then obtain permit issuance before starting work.
6. Schedule inspections after permit issuance. The current 2025 inspection handout directs applicants to schedule through the CSS portal by midnight the day before, then check "Today's Inspections" and call the assigned inspector for available timing.

Source: City of Clovis Building Division

General Requirements

Clovis says a permit is required to build, construct, remodel, repair, demolish, remove, or move any house, building, or structure. The Building Division is created under Title 8 of the Clovis Municipal Code and enforces the current California Building Codes (Title 24).

Required Documents

• At minimum, the city's forms call for a permit application with applicant/owner/contractor information, project valuation, work description, and supporting items as applicable. Clovis publishes project-specific documents such as plot plans, plan checklists, addendum/change forms, fire sprinkler submittal information, reroof procedures, EVSE checklists, waste-management forms, and minimum submittal requirements for remodels, sheds, solar, and single-family work.

Permit validity

Under Clovis Municipal Code section 303.4 as amended, a permit expires if work is not started within 180 days, or if work is suspended, abandoned, or no required inspection is passed within 180 days. Recommencing work after expiration generally requires a new permit; if the lapse is within one year and no plan changes are made, the fee may be one-half of a new permit fee.

Building code

The Building page lists California Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, and Fire Code 2022; Residential Building Code 2022; California Green Code 2022; and California Energy Code 2022. The municipal code states the Building Division enforces the current California Building Codes (Title 24).

Owner-builder

Clovis requires a Notice to Owner-Builder and Owner Builder Disclosure Form. The 2025 notice warns that if work over $500 is performed by someone other than the owner, a CSLB contractor license is required and the licensed contractor should obtain the permit. Owners acting as owner-builders may take on employer obligations, including taxes and workers' compensation, if they hire unlicensed persons.

Contractor requirements

The owner-builder notice says work valued over $500, including labor and materials, performed by someone other than the property owner requires a California contractor license. The residential application also asks for the contractor's license number, and some work such as PV removal/replacement requires proper contractor licenses.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Clovis Municipal Code states the minimum fee is set by Tables B-1, E-1, M-1, P-1, 3-G, and 3-H on file with the Building Official. I did not locate a current public web page that clearly publishes the dollar amount of the minimum fee.

Plan check fee

65 percent of the building permit fee for building work; 25 percent of total permit fee for electrical, mechanical, and plumbing plan review; separate additional plan review fees may apply for incomplete or revised submittals.

Permit fee formula

Permit fees are set by the city's adopted fee tables. Plan review for building work is 65 percent of the building permit fee when submittal documents are required. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing plan review fees are 25 percent of the respective permit fee. Clovis also publishes valuation update notices on the Building page.

Reinspection fee

The municipal code publishes investigation fees for unpermitted work. The base investigation fee equals the permit fee, with the minimum tied to the same city fee tables; repeated violations escalate progressively up to ten times the permit fee. The code excerpt reviewed does not separately publish a standard dollar reinspection charge.

Penalty (no permit)

The municipal code publishes investigation fees for unpermitted work. The base investigation fee equals the permit fee, with the minimum tied to the same city fee tables; repeated violations escalate progressively up to ten times the permit fee. The code excerpt reviewed does not separately publish a standard dollar reinspection charge.

Payment note

Clovis routes permit activity through the CSS portal and lists online payments among the portal functions on the Building page.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not exceeding 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high, subject to Planning review for some corner-lot situations
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• 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
• Prefabricated above-grade swimming pools accessory to certain residential occupancies where capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons

Important: The Clovis FAQ separately states permits are still required for many common residential improvements such as remodels or alterations, reroofs, retaining walls, hot water heaters, air conditioners, and swimming pools or spas. Clovis's shed handout also says utilities added to an otherwise exempt shed trigger permit requirements for the utility work and the structure must still comply with code.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Permit portal (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests may be submitted online until midnight the day before.

Inspection hours

Requests may be submitted online until midnight the day before. A.M., P.M., and specific-time requests may be considered but are not guaranteed and depend on inspector workload. Building counter hours shown on the Building page are 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday.

Typical inspection sequence: Clovis Municipal Code section 305.5 requires inspections before covered work is concealed. The code excerpt specifically lists foundation inspections after excavation and reinforcing steel are complete and before concrete placement, among other required inspections as work progresses.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The Building page lists California Building, Plumbing, Electrical, Mechanical, and Fire Code 2022; Residential Building Code 2022; California Green Code 2022; and California Energy Code 2022. The municipal code states the Building Division enforces the current California Building Codes (Title 24).
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building
• Selfservice
• Clovis
• Notice To Owner Builder 2025
• Shed Requirements 2022
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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