Mendocino County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

The Building Division administers building permits in the unincorporated areas of Mendocino County; the county site also notes it serves Fort Bragg and Point Arena, but unincorporated areas rely on the county Building Division.

Department

Mendocino County Planning and Building Services, Building Division

Address

Ukiah Office, 860 North Bush Street, Ukiah, CA 95482; Fort Bragg Office, 752 South Franklin St, Fort Bragg, CA 95437

Phone

Ukiah (707) 234-6650; Fort Bragg (707) 964-5379

Email

pbs@mendocinocounty.gov

Website

https://www.mendocinocounty.gov/departments/planning-building-services/building-division

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project needs a permit under Mendocino County Code section 18.08.010 and the county's listed CBC/CRC exemptions.
2. Prepare a complete Building Permit Application Form. For over-the-counter permits, submit the application and one 8 1/2 x 11 inch plot/site plan.
3. For other projects, submit the same items plus plans and any project-specific supporting documents, such as Title 24 energy forms, engineering calculations, erosion/sediment plans, Cal Fire approval, or district approvals if applicable.
4. Submit the application either in person at the Ukiah or Fort Bragg office or online through eTRAKiT. Online applicants need an eTRAKiT account.
5. Respond to correction notices or upload revisions/rechecks in eTRAKiT and separately notify the department by phone or email after uploading revisions.
6. Wait for staff notice that the permit is approved and ready to issue; work cannot begin until issuance.
7. After issuance, schedule inspections by phone or through eTRAKiT, complete required inspections, and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: The department states current plan check takes 6-8 weeks. The eTRAKiT portal also states staff review online applications within 5 working days and contact the applicant with questions if needed.

Source: Mendocino County Planning and Building Services, Building Division

General Requirements

Unless exempted, a permit is required before erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, improving, occupying, removing, converting, or demolishing a building or structure in the unincorporated area of the county.

Required Documents

• Building Permit Application Form
• Site/plot plan for over-the-counter permits
• Plans for non-over-the-counter permits
• Title 24 energy compliance for conditioned space if applicable
• Engineering calculations with wet signature if applicable
• Erosion and sediment plans for projects disturbing less than one acre
• Applicable outside approvals such as fire, air quality, recycling, deed, sewer, water, Brooktrails, or Cal Fire materials

Permit validity

The first inspection must be scheduled within 1 year after permit issuance. After that, an approved inspection is required within 180 days of the previous inspection until final approval. A written 180-day extension request may be submitted before expiration; expired permits require reinstatement fees.

Building code

Mendocino County's county code page states Ordinance 4553 adopted the 2025 editions of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations effective under county law, including the California Administrative Code, Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Wildland-Urban Interface, Historical Building, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Referenced Standards codes, with local amendments to Title 18.

Owner-builder

The county accepts permit applications from the property owner as an owner-builder, a California licensed and bonded contractor, or an authorized agent for either.

Contractor requirements

Contractors submitting permit applications must be licensed and bonded through the State of California.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$183 minimum permit or demolition fee, plus applicable add-on fees

Plan check fee

Plan review fee is 75% of the building permit fee; if the county administers the California Fire Code, plan review fee is 100% of the building permit fee. Additional plan review is staff time times weighted rate.

Permit fee formula

Primary building permit fees are valuation-based under the county master fee schedule. Examples shown in the June 21, 2025 Planning and Building Services fee schedule include $23.67 for valuation from $1-$500, scaling upward by valuation tier; issuance fee is $110; records management, education, general plan maintenance, building standards, SMIP, and other add-on fees also apply. The county notes eTRAKiT application fees are only part of the total permit cost and other departments may add fees.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee $86. Reinstatement or extension fee $177 plus $86 for each remaining inspection on a reinstated issued permit.

Penalty (no permit)

Violation/penalty fee is pursuant to Mendocino County Code section 18.08.030 at 1X, 2X, or 3X.

Payment note

The county states permit applications, permit issuance, and payments are unavailable after 4:30 p.m. It also states corrected fees and any balance due must be collected at permit issuance, and incomplete applications are returned.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective June 21, 2025).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures up to 120 square feet, except storm shelters
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet high unless supporting a surcharge
• Water tanks on grade up to 5,000 gallons with height-to-width ratio not exceeding 2 to 1
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep
• Swings and playground equipment
• Window awnings projecting no more than 54 inches and not requiring additional support
• Detached decks up to 200 square feet that are not more than 30 inches above grade, not attached to a dwelling, and do not serve the required exit door
• Minor listed electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing repairs described on the county Building Division page

Important: The county relies on CBC section 105.2 and California Residential Code exemptions. The page notes some otherwise exempt small accessory structures may still be regulated by section 710A. Work that falls outside the listed exemption details still requires permits.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Mendocino County eTRAKiT (online)
• Ukiah automated inspection line: (707) 234-6650 (phone)
• Fort Bragg automated inspection line: (707) 961-2677 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

3:00 p.m. the day before for phone requests.

Inspection hours

Inspection requests by phone are accepted during and after office hours.

Time windows

Morning or afternoon windows can only be verified by calling between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on the inspection day or checking the website after 5:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: County inspectors perform at least one inspection on every issued permit, with additional inspections during project stages as needed, and final approval is required to complete the permit.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Mendocino County's county code page states Ordinance 4553 adopted the 2025 editions of Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations effective under county law, including the California Administrative Code, Building, Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Wildland-Urban Interface, Historical Building, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building Standards, and Referenced Standards codes, with local amendments to Title 18.
• Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Planning and Building Services main page
• Planning Division
• Regulations and ordinances
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement