Fresno, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within Fresno city limits. Projects in unincorporated Fresno County are handled by Fresno County Public Works and Planning, not the City.

Department

City of Fresno Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Division

Address

2600 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721

Phone

Building permits: (559) 621-8082 or (559) 621-8084; general city line: 311 or (559) 621-2489

Email

DARM.building@fresno.gov , accelasupport@fresno.gov

Website

https://www.fresno.gov/planning/building-and-safety/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm project scope and zoning constraints. The City groups projects into four review levels based on complexity, and some simple projects can be approved the same day through the online ACA portal.
2. Submit the application online through ACA, or schedule an in-person appointment at City Hall Room 3043 if needed. New permit applications receive a completeness review before they are accepted for plan check.
3. Upload plans and supporting documents that clearly show the scope of work. For simple work, the City may accept a Permit Affidavit Form with itemized fixture/equipment information instead of full plan sheets.
4. If the submittal is incomplete, staff will issue an "Additional Information is Required" status and the applicant must upload corrections before routing.
5. Pay plan check fees when invoiced. The City's brochure says plan check fees invoiced at submittal must be paid before plans are routed for review.
6. After all reviews are approved, pay remaining permit fees. The permit is then issued and stamped approved plans become available.
7. Schedule required inspections through ACA or Inspection Services/Voice Permits, complete corrections if needed, and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Project-dependent. City-published review targets are about 2 to 3 business days for Level 1 projects, up to 14 business days for Level 2, up to 21 business days for Level 3, and up to 28 business days for Level 4.

Source: City of Fresno Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Division

General Requirements

A permit is required to build, construct, remodel, repair, demolish, remove, or move a house, building, or structure. The Building Permit Center also states that any owner or authorized agent intending to construct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change occupancy of a building or structure, or to install/alter/replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, must obtain the required permit.

Required Documents

• At minimum, an application plus plans clearly detailing the scope of work, or for some simpler work a Permit Affidavit Form with itemized fixture/equipment information. Depending on scope, the City also requires plot/site plans, zone clearance/planning review items, and historic/special district verification before routing.

Permit validity

Permits become invalid unless work starts within 180 days after issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement. An approved inspection resets the running expiration period to 180 days from that inspection. The Building Official may grant one written extension of up to 180 days if requested before expiration. If a permit has no activity for one year or more, it becomes null and void and new permits are required at full fees. If a permit expires, it may be renewed/reactivated for 25% of the original permit fee, unless code changes require a new permit.

Building code

The City's current permit process is based on the California Building Standards Code. The City formally implemented the 2022 California Building Standards Code effective January 1, 2023, and an official February 2026 City document states the 2025 California Building Code became effective January 1, 2026, after City Council adoption activity in September 2025. Based on that official City update, current Fresno permit review is using the 2025 California code cycle as of March 21, 2026.

Owner-builder

The City uses the California CSLB owner-builder pamphlet. An owner-builder assumes full responsibility for all phases of the project, may become an employer if using unlicensed workers, and is responsible for permits, inspections, corrections, and payment issues. For home improvements, the property generally must be the owner's principal residence; for new single-family construction, sale limits and licensed-subcontractor rules apply.

Contractor requirements

The City's owner-builder pamphlet states that anyone who contracts for or bids on construction work valued at $500 or more in labor and materials must be licensed by the California Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Contractors must list license numbers in advertisements.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

No single universal minimum building permit fee is clearly published for all project types in the master schedule. The schedule does publish an administrative permit issuance fee of $25.83 for all projects, and then applies project-specific permit/inspection tables.

Plan check fee

Varies by project. Examples published by the City include single-family offsite improvement plan check at $167.25 per plan, other-use offsite improvement plan check at $370.35 per plan, and foundation permits for multifamily/commercial at 25% of permit fee with a $97.96 minimum. For many projects, plan check/inspection fees are taken from the City's variable fee schedules.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Fees are project-type specific and can be valuation-based or table-based. The master schedule also applies a 12.83% General Plan/document update surcharge on all building permits.

Reinspection fee

Premature inspection (work not ready) $64.51 per trip; reinspection other than entitled calls $95.57 per trip; working without required permit up to 4 times permit fee.

Penalty (no permit)

Premature inspection (work not ready) $64.51 per trip; reinspection other than entitled calls $95.57 per trip; working without required permit up to 4 times permit fee.

Payment note

Plan check fees invoiced at submittal must be paid before the plans are routed for review. All permit fees must be paid before permit issuance and access to approved stamped plans.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures such as small sheds or playhouses for one- and two-family dwellings if floor area does not exceed 120 square feet, height does not exceed 12 feet, and location/setback rules are met
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet in height unless supporting surcharge or hazardous liquids
• Platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, tile work, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated above-ground pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancy that are less than 24 inches deep and not more than 5,000 gallons
• Shade cloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes, excluding service systems
• Swings and other playground equipment accessory to detached one- and two-family dwellings
• Window awnings in Group R-3 and U occupancies meeting projection/support limits
• Non-fixed and movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Decks not exceeding 200 square feet that are not more than 30 inches above grade, are not attached to a dwelling, and do not serve the required exit door

Important: Exemptions still depend on zoning/setback/location rules and other code conditions. The City's single-family page adds special placement and anchoring conditions for small exempt accessory structures.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Permit portal (online)
• (559) 621-8116 (phone)

Time windows

The City publishes Building and Safety Division business hours as Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. It does not clearly publish fixed field-inspection windows on the main inspection page.

Typical inspection sequence: After permit issuance, applicants schedule required inspections as construction progresses; approved inspections keep the permit active, corrections must be resolved and reinspected as needed, and final approval closes out the permit.

Additional Resources

• Building code: The City's current permit process is based on the California Building Standards Code. The City formally implemented the 2022 California Building Standards Code effective January 1, 2023, and an official February 2026 City document states the 2025 California Building Code became effective January 1, 2026, after City Council adoption activity in September 2025. Based on that official City update, current Fresno permit review is using the 2025 California code cycle as of March 21, 2026.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Permit Center
• Building Services and Reports / inspections
• Single-family permit FAQ and exemption list
• City Building and Safety brochure
• Owner-builder pamphlet
• 2022 code implementation bulletin
• Official City document noting 2025 California Building Code effective January 1, 2026
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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