Mendota, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within the incorporated City of Mendota, Fresno County. Unincorporated Fresno County work is handled by Fresno County, not the City.

Department

City of Mendota Building & Planning / Building Department

Address

643 Quince Street, Mendota, CA 93640

Phone

(559) 655-3291 main line; (559) 655-4298 Building & Planning

Email

buildingdepartment@cityofmendota.com , planning contact listed as cristian@cityofmendota.com

Website

https://www.cityofmendota.com/building-and-planning/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project also needs planning review. The City states minor site plan review is commonly required for residential projects before permit issuance, with staff review by the Planning Department.
2. Download the correct city form from Public Documents, such as the Building Permit Application, reroof permit, fence permit, or other trade-specific form.
3. Submit the application with project details, valuation, owner and contractor information, and plans. For non-SolarAPP residential solar, the City instructs applicants to submit 3 sets of plans with the Building Permit Application by mail or in person. For SolarAPP-eligible residential PV, contractors submit through SolarAPP+, then email the approval package to buildingdepartment@cityofmendota.com to obtain a city permit number.
4. The City/Building Official performs plan check and calculates permit fees. The 2024 Fresno multi-jurisdiction housing element appendix reports an estimated Mendota building permit processing time of 2-3 weeks, assuming a complete submittal and minimal revisions.
5. After permit issuance, schedule required inspections during construction.
6. Obtain final inspection approval before occupancy/use.

Typical processing time: Building permit about 2-3 weeks; minor site plan review about 4-6 weeks where applicable.

Source: City of Mendota Building & Planning / Building Department

General Requirements

Mendota's posted building permit application and adopted Title 24 codes indicate a permit is required before constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy of a building or structure, and before installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems.

Required Documents

• At minimum, the city's application asks for work description, square footage, project valuation, site/location details, APN/lot information, owner and contractor information, contractor license/class, workers' compensation declaration, construction lender information if applicable, and owner-builder declaration if applicable. Plans are required where applicable
• for non-SolarAPP solar, the City specifically requires 3 plan sets.

Permit validity

Mendota adopted the 2022 California codes in 2023. Under the 2022 California Residential Code / California Building Standards Law, permit expiration changed from 180 days to 12 months if work is not commenced, with written extensions available for up to 180 days each on a showing of justifiable cause. This is an inference from the state code Mendota adopted; the City does not appear to post a separate local expiration handout.

Building code

Ordinance No. 23-02 updated Mendota Title 15 to adopt the 2022 California Building Code and associated trade codes, including the 2022 California Residential, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire, Administrative, Energy, Referenced Standards, and Green Building codes.

Owner-builder

The posted building permit application includes an owner-builder declaration. The owner may either contract with licensed contractors, combine that approach with partial self-performance, or personally perform the work with employees paid as wages, but the structure is then stated as not intended or offered for sale.

Contractor requirements

The city's form requires contractor name, license number, and license class. SolarAPP+ is limited to licensed contractors only.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$65 minimum, based on an hourly rate of $65 with a one-hour minimum unless otherwise indicated.

Plan check fee

New commercial/industrial/office/multifamily and tenant improvements 95% of building permit fee; single-family dwellings 65%; single-family dwellings with master plans 100%; residential remodels 25%.

Permit fee formula

New construction is valuation-based. Examples from the posted schedule: $1-$500 valuation = $65; $500.01-$2,000 = $23.50 for first $500 plus $3.05 per additional $100; $2,000.01-$25,000 = $69.25 for first $2,000 plus $14 per additional $1,000; $1,000,000.01 and up = $5,608.75 for first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 per additional $1,000. Residential additions, remodels, reroofing, patios, and similar repairs are based on the greater of the written contract estimate or 50% of building valuation derived from square footage using the latest ICC Building Standards Journal.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee is $65/hour with a $100 minimum. Inspections outside normal business hours are $65/hour with a 2-hour minimum. Additional plan review caused by changes/additions/revisions is $65/hour with a half-hour minimum. The building permit application also includes line items for plan check deposit, SB 1473, and red tag fee.

Penalty (no permit)

Reinspection fee is $65/hour with a $100 minimum. Inspections outside normal business hours are $65/hour with a 2-hour minimum. Additional plan review caused by changes/additions/revisions is $65/hour with a half-hour minimum. The building permit application also includes line items for plan check deposit, SB 1473, and red tag fee.

Payment note

The fee schedule says hourly items may be billed at total hourly cost to the City if greater, including supervision/overhead/benefits, and consultants may be used as needed. The City does not appear to post online card/ACH payment instructions for permit fees.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Because Mendota adopted the 2022 California Building/Residential Codes and has not posted a separate local exemption list, the standard California permit exemptions appear to apply unless another city ordinance or zoning rule separately requires review
• Common building exemptions under the adopted California codes include one-story detached accessory structures not exceeding 120 square feet; fences and walls not over 7 feet high; retaining walls not over 4 feet measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of wall unless supporting surcharge/impounding Class I, II, or III-A liquids; platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over a basement/story below; painting, papering, tiling, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, and similar finish work; prefabricated pools under 24 inches deep; certain window awnings for Group R-3/U occupancies; and playground equipment for one- and two-family dwellings
• Common trade exemptions under the adopted California codes also include minor repair work such as stopping leaks, clearing plumbing stoppages, portable heating/cooling appliances, and limited ordinary electrical maintenance such as lamp replacement or plugging approved portable equipment into permanently installed receptacles

Important: Exemption from permit does not authorize work that violates zoning, setback, fire, floodplain, accessibility, utility easement, or other code requirements. Separate planning/site plan, encroachment, or utility approvals may still be required.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Permit portal (online)
• (559) 655-3291 (phone)

Time windows

For SolarAPP scheduling, the City asks whether the inspection is wanted in the morning or afternoon. City Hall hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm. No narrower inspection window was posted.

Typical inspection sequence: The City's Required Inspections handout lists plumbing underground, foundation/setback, concrete slab or under-floor, roof deck and shear sheathing, frame, lath or gypsum board, wall insulation, gypsum board, and final inspection. The Building Official may require additional inspections.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Ordinance No. 23-02 updated Mendota Title 15 to adopt the 2022 California Building Code and associated trade codes, including the 2022 California Residential, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Fire, Administrative, Energy, Referenced Standards, and Green Building codes.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Required inspections handout
• Public documents/forms hub
• Other useful links: SolarAPP instructions
• Other useful links: 2023 building code adoption ordinance (agenda packet)
• Other useful links: Required inspections handout
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

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