Gustine, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

The Building Department processes building permits for all construction within Gustine city limits. Merced County does not issue city permits inside Gustine.

Department

City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division

Address

352 Fifth Street, Gustine, CA 95322

Phone

(209) 854-6471; (209) 854-9415

Website

https://gustineca.municipalone.com/pView.aspx?catid=649&id=16182&print=1

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm scope with the Building Department. Gustine instructs applicants to assume a permit is required if they are unsure.
2. Complete the city building permit application with job address, APN, project square footage, valuation, owner and contractor information, and planning approval fields if applicable.
3. Submit to the Building Department in person. For the city's solar bulletin, applications may also be submitted electronically or by fax.
4. Pay permit, plan review, and any related city or state fees.
5. Receive the permit, keep the permit and approved plans on site, complete inspections, and obtain final approval.

Typical processing time: Typical building permits take about 1-2 weeks overall; the city's Housing Element also lists review timelines of 1-24 working days for first review, 1-15 working days for second review, and 1-10 working days for a third review if needed.

Source: City of Gustine Building Department, within Community Development / Building Division

General Requirements

Gustine says it processes permits for all construction within city limits and instructs applicants to assume a permit is required if in doubt. The city specifically requires a building permit for qualifying solar PV systems up to 10 kW.

Required Documents

• Building permit application
• Owner and contractor information
• Job address and APN
• Project square footage and valuation
• License information
• Grading, reroof, sign, owner-builder, or planning forms as applicable
• For small solar PV: eligibility checklist, electrical plan or standard plan, roof plan with fire-safety layout, and structural criteria or engineer-stamped structural drawings or calculations when required

Permit validity

The city application includes an expiration field, but the city pages reviewed do not publish a current local expiration rule. Confirm expiration terms on permit issuance documents before starting work.

Building code

City materials cite the 2022 California Building Code during the 2024-2032 Housing Element cycle, while the 2025 California Building Standards Code became effective statewide on January 1, 2026. Confirm the current code cycle applied at intake with the city.

Owner-builder

The application includes an owner-builder declaration, and the city also publishes separate owner-builder acknowledgment and state-law notice forms.

Contractor requirements

The city application requires contractor license number and class and includes a licensed contractor declaration under penalty of perjury. Contractors using Symbium must have an active contractor's license for solar installation and a current City of Gustine business license.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$177 for valuation-based building permits from $1 to $4,000; stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are each $88

Plan check fee

Typically 75% of the building permit fee when applicable, plus 5% of the building permit fee for energy review when applicable.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Common permit types have flat fees, while new buildings, additions, tenant improvements, residential remodels, and combined MEP permits use a valuation-based formula. The Building Official may reset valuation if understated.

Trade permit fee

$88 each for stand-alone mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits

Reinspection fee

$88 per inspection beginning with the third inspection; missed inspection fee is $88

Penalty (no permit)

2x permit fee for work done without permits; excess plan review from the third review onward is $172 per hour

Payment note

Additional fees may apply for planning review, technology fees, and pass-through state fees. The city's online solar page states Gustine does not currently accept online payment for city fees and instead emails the amount due before issuance.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Most fences do not require building permits, though not all fences are exempt
• Common California residential exemptions generally include very small detached accessory structures
• Some low fences and low retaining walls without surcharge
• Sidewalks and driveways
• Finish work such as painting and cabinets
• Shallow prefabricated pools, playground equipment, certain awnings, and some detached low decks

Important: Gustine explicitly says to assume a permit is required if in doubt. Even work that is permit exempt must still comply with applicable zoning, setback, floodplain, fire-safety, utility, and building-code requirements. Verify all claimed exemptions with Gustine before relying on them.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• (209) 854-9415 (phone)

Inspection hours

A city notice states public Building Department hours are Monday-Thursday, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. The Building Division page also asks applicants to include a phone number for afternoon contact Monday through Thursday.

Typical inspection sequence: The city does not publish a general all-project inspection sequence on the reviewed pages. For streamlined solar permits, the published sequence is permit issuance, installation, then on-site inspection before final approval. Other projects are scope dependent.

Additional Resources

• Building code: City materials cite the 2022 California Building Code during the 2024-2032 Housing Element cycle, while the 2025 California Building Standards Code became effective statewide on January 1, 2026. Confirm the current code cycle applied at intake with the city.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Document Center: Building and Planning Forms
• Building permit application
• Planning application
• Master Schedule of User and Regulatory Fees
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Merced County