County Building Permits

Tehama County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Tehama County, California. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

California Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

All properties within the unincorporated areas of Tehama County. Incorporated cities maintain separate permit authority inside city limits.

Department: County of Tehama - Building and Safety Department
Address: 444 Oak Street, Room H, Tehama County Courthouse Annex, Red Bluff, CA 96080
Phone: (530) 527-7002
Email: building@tehama.gov
Website: https://www.tehama.gov/government/departments/building-and-safety/

Online Permit Portal

Open ViewPoint Cloud Permit Portal

Platform: ViewPoint Cloud • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person

Additional resources:

Application Process

Start the project with required planning or plot-plan review as needed, then apply online through the permit portal.
For house projects, prepare the approved plot plan, complete building plans, energy calculations, soils report, and any flood or structural documentation before submittal.
Provide all other required items to the Building Department before permit issuance.
Permit applications are valid for 180 days from issuance date unless reissued.
Contact the office if the work has special requirements such as fire, plumbing, electrical, slope, flood, or use-permit issues.

Source: County of Tehama - Building and Safety Department

General Requirements

County guidance indicates new construction and additions generally require permits, and house projects should be treated as permit-required unless clarified by the Building Department.

Required Documents

Approved plot plan
Complete set of building plans
Energy calculations
Truss calculations if applicable
SFR modified soils test
Structural calculations if applicable
Solar plans and Manual J report
Flood elevation certificate if applicable

Permit validity: 180 days.
Building code: 2025 California Building Code as referenced by the department, with adoption through the county ordinance cycle including Ordinance #2150.
Owner-builder: Tehama County requires owner-builder verification. The owner is the party of record if applying as owner-builder. County guidance also states that hiring workers outside the immediate family for labor and materials over $600 can trigger employer obligations such as taxes and workers' compensation.
Contractor requirements: Contractors must be state licensed and bonded and must include license numbers on permit applications.

Fees

Permit fee formula: Tehama County provides a Residential Home Estimated Permit Cost Worksheet form, but the public HTML pages reviewed do not expose the formula.
Reinspection fee: Cancellation through the inspection line may incur a missed-inspection fee; cancel through the office line to avoid that charge.
Payment note: Fee amounts are controlled by county ordinance and fee pages and should be confirmed directly with the Building Department before filing.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Limited agricultural-exempt building conditions are documented in the county AG Exemption policy when all criteria are met.

Important: The agricultural exemption is narrow and does not automatically waive all permits or inspections for every scope. Standard permits and inspections are still required for some systems and for certain electrical and plumbing work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

ViewPoint Cloud Permit Portal (online)
(530) 527-7002 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Request next-business-day inspection by 4:00 PM online or 4:30 PM by phone.
Inspection hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM; lunch 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM; closed federal holidays
Time windows: Check daily inspection status by phone starting around 7:30 AM. Be onsite by 8:00 AM and have someone present.

Typical inspection sequence: Request inspection with the permit number, inspection type, needed date, site address, and contact phone. Final inspection requires all prior required clearances and standard scope-specific sequencing.

Additional Resources

Building code: 2025 California Building Code as referenced by the department, with adoption through the county ordinance cycle including Ordinance #2150.
Verify contractor license: CSLB License Lookup
Zoning information: View zoning info
Owner-builder rules: View rules
Directions
Codes and Ordinances
Building Forms
Building Permit Application
AG Exemption Requirements
License lookup guide: California Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: California Homeowner-Contractor Agreement

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the County of Tehama - Building and Safety Department before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Unincorporated Tehama County can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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