Parlier, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Applies within Parlier city limits. Parlier's 2024 housing-element appendix states the City has adopted the Fresno County Code by reference, and Fresno County Title 15 in turn adopts the 2022 California Building Standards Code with minor amendments.

Department

City of Parlier Community Development Department / Building Inspection

Address

1100 East Parlier Avenue, Parlier, CA 93648

Phone

Community Development 559-646-3545 Ext. 242; Building Inspection 559-847-7928

Email

CDevelopment@parlier.ca.us

Website

https://parlier.ca.us/157/Community-Development

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm project scope with Parlier Community Development / Building Inspection, especially if the work could trigger site-plan review, CUP review, or special zoning review.
2. Complete the City's building permit application form. The published form asks for project address, scope of work, estimated cost, owner/applicant contact information, contractor information, workers' compensation policy, and designer information.
3. Submit plans for review. Under Fresno County Title 15, which Parlier says it adopts by reference, two complete plan sets drawn to scale are required, including a site plan and the applicable grading, structural, architectural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical sheets.
4. Pay applicable fees. Parlier publicly posts planning fees and development impact fees, but it does not publish a separate line-by-line general building permit fee sheet on the Community Development page.
5. After approval, obtain the permit and schedule inspections with Building Inspection at 559-847-7928. For eligible rooftop solar and storage systems, contractors may use SolarAPP+, which generates an inspection checklist and job card after approval.
6. Complete all required inspections and obtain final approval before occupancy/use.

Typical processing time: Parlier's 2024 housing-element appendix says residential developments not requiring subdivision of land can be approved within 90 days. The same appendix lists typical processing times of about 14 days for a single-family 1-unit project, 45 days for single-family 2-4 units, 120 days for single-family 5+ units, 45 days for multifamily 2-3 units, and 90 days for multifamily 4+ units.

Source: City of Parlier Community Development Department / Building Inspection

General Requirements

Parlier does not publish its own standalone FAQ, but because the City states it adopted Fresno County Code by reference, permits are generally required for erection, construction, enlargement, alteration, repair, moving, improvement, demolition, or conversion of a building or structure unless specifically exempt.

Required Documents

• City building permit application
• project address and scope
• estimated valuation
• owner/applicant contact information
• contractor name, license number, workers' compensation information
• designer information and license if applicable
• and plan submittal documents. Fresno County Title 15 requires two complete plan sets drawn to scale including a site plan plus applicable grading, structural, architectural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical plans.

Permit validity

Under Fresno County Title 15, permits expire if work is not commenced within 12 months from issuance or within 6 months after the last approved inspection. Written extensions may be granted up to 2 years from original issuance, with additional extensions at the Building Official's discretion. Plan review expires if the building permit is not issued within 12 months after initial plan review completion, with a possible 1-year extension.

Building code

Parlier's 2024 housing-element appendix says the City adopted the Fresno County Code by reference, and Fresno County Title 15 adopts the 2022 California Building Code and related 2022 California Building Standards Code sections by reference, with minor amendments.

Owner-builder

The City's application form allows the property owner to be the applicant. Fresno County's published exemption guidance also requires either an owner-builder disclosure or a valid contractor license number for certain exempt-accessory-structure applications.

Contractor requirements

The City form requests contractor license information and workers' compensation policy details. SolarAPP+ is limited to licensed contractors.

Fees

Plan check fee

Not posted separately on the City Community Development page. The housing-element appendix groups plan check and building permit charges together in prototype examples.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. The City posts flat/deposit planning fees and separate development impact fees. General building-permit fees appear to be based on the applicable fee schedule and project scope; the publicly posted city page does not include a standalone building-fee table.

Reinspection fee

Fresno County Title 15 says work started without required permits is subject to a violation fee equal to twice the regular permit amount for the work started without permits. Reissued expired permits require one-half of the original fee if reinstated within 6 months, plus at least a one-hour Special Service Fee.

Penalty (no permit)

Fresno County Title 15 says work started without required permits is subject to a violation fee equal to twice the regular permit amount for the work started without permits. Reissued expired permits require one-half of the original fee if reinstated within 6 months, plus at least a one-hour Special Service Fee.

Payment note

The City's police fee page states "Only Cash Accepted," but no project-specific payment instructions were located for Community Development/building permits, so payment method should be confirmed with Parlier before submittal.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures used as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses not over 120 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge or impounding certain liquids
• Water tanks on grade not over 5,000 gallons meeting the height-to-width ratio limit
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement/story below and not part of an accessible route
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Temporary motion-picture, television, and theater stage sets/scenery
• Certain above-ground prefabricated pools accessory to Group R-3 occupancies that are less than 24 inches deep and not greater 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
• Certain residential window awnings and nonfixed/movable fixtures, cases, racks, counters, and partitions under the code limits
• Fresno County Title 15 also adds exemptions for certain small flagpoles/antennas, certain ground-mounted satellite dishes, transportable gypsum and fertilizer tanks for agricultural use, and some detached one-story Group U accessory structures up to 240 square feet floor/column area and 380 square feet roof area subject to stated limits

Important: These exemptions are drawn from Fresno County's adopted code/FAQ because Parlier states it adopted Fresno County Code by reference. Even exempt work must still comply with zoning and code requirements, and separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, grading, encroachment, or fire approvals may still be required depending on scope.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 559-847-7928 (phone)

Inspection hours

Not publicly posted on the City Community Development page.

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by scope. The City does not publish a general residential inspection checklist on its site. For SolarAPP+ projects, the platform generates the inspection checklist upon approval.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Parlier's 2024 housing-element appendix says the City adopted the Fresno County Code by reference, and Fresno County Title 15 adopts the 2022 California Building Code and related 2022 California Building Standards Code sections by reference, with minor amendments.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Community Development page
• Fresno County Title 15 building code/administration PDF
• Parlier housing-element appendix (fees, processing times, code adoption summary)
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Fresno County