Modesto, CA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City of Modesto permits. Projects in unincorporated Stanislaus County are handled by the county planning and building department at 1010 10th Street, Suite 3400.

Department

Building Safety Division, City of Modesto (Community and Economic Development)

Address

1010 10th Street, Suite 3100, Modesto, CA 95354

Phone

209-577-5232; 209-577-5200

Website

https://www.modestogov.com/1281/Building-Permits

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Prepare the project submittal package, including plans, engineering, and required spreadsheets or calculations depending on project type.
2. Submit plans online through eTRAKiT or in person.
3. Building Safety reviews for completeness and identifies any additional permit requirements during plan review.
4. Pay plan review and permit fees when plans are approved or accepted.
5. Permit is issued when fees are paid.
6. Request inspections before covering up work.
7. Complete final inspection to close out the project.

Source: Building Safety Division, City of Modesto (Community and Economic Development)

General Requirements

City pages state permits are required for most construction requiring building plans to ensure code compliance and life-safety compliance.

Required Documents

• Architectural, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and civil plans as applicable
• Title 24 energy forms
• Truss and structural calculations where applicable
• Hazardous materials form and supporting maps or approvals where applicable
• Specialized project requirements such as complete ADU plans and calculations before review

Building code

References California Building Code, California Electrical Code, and related California Building Standards Commission content.

Owner-builder

Modesto posts owner-builder guidance explaining owner as worker, owner as contractor, and owner as employer responsibilities and risk before pulling a permit.

Contractor requirements

City guidance strongly recommends use of California-licensed contractors and subcontractors. County-level guidance states permits are for property owners or licensed contractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$242.00

Plan check fee

Plan review (non-structural): $233 per hour at permit issuance. Plan review (structural): $255 per hour at permit issuance.

Permit fee formula

Fee schedule is split by permit class, square footage, permit type, and whether permit or deposit is required. Example residential remodels and additions are flat-tiered rather than fully valuation-based.

Reinspection fee

$216 per hour prior to final

Payment note

City imposes a 2.4% service fee for credit-card transactions for most online or in-person card payments.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached storage sheds 120 square feet or less
• Fences 7 feet or less in height

Important: Planning setbacks still apply, and some fence or shed exceptions still require planning or building coordination. Other items such as decks, electrical work, and utility upgrades may still require permit review based on permit class.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• eTRAKiT (online)
• Building Safety counter (in-person)

Inspection hours

Phone hours Monday-Friday 7:30 AM-5:00 PM; office hours 8:30 AM-4:30 PM. Expedited appointment windows are 9:30 AM-3:00 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: Inspections are done ground-up in a defined order. Electrical and wiring inspection must be completed before drywall, and work cannot proceed to the next stage without passing required inspections.

Additional Resources

• Building code: References California Building Code, California Electrical Code, and related California Building Standards Commission content.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• Expedited permits
• Accessory dwelling units
• Building Safety fee schedule PDF
• License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Other cities in Stanislaus County