Building Permits in Fresno

Fresno requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work that affects structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Fresno Planning & Development Department — Building and Safety Services Division, which administers plan review, field inspections, and code enforcement.

Fresno enforces the 2022 California Building Standards Code (Title 24) — a statewide mandatory code that includes the California Building Code (CBC), California Residential Code (CRC), California Plumbing Code (CPC), California Mechanical Code (CMC), California Electrical Code (CEC), California Energy Code (CEnC, Part 6), and CALGreen (Part 11). Local amendments are adopted where state law permits.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Fresno building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures including ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) and JADUs (Junior ADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above the threshold height
• Solar photovoltaic and battery storage system installations
• Demolition of any habitable structure

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact Building and Safety Services before starting work.

Fresno Online Permit Center — Citizen Access Portal

The Fresno Online Permit Center (citizenaccess.fresno.gov) is the city's Accela-based Citizen Access Portal for permit applications, plan review, fee payment, and inspection scheduling. Through the portal you can:

• Create a personal or contractor account
• Submit residential and commercial permit applications
• Upload plans for electronic plan review
• Respond to plan check correction comments without an in-person visit
• Pay permit fees online
• Request and track inspection status

The portal is available 24/7. In-person service for over-the-counter permits and walk-in assistance is also available at the Development & Resource Management Department offices.

Permit Costs

Fresno permit fees are established in the official Planning & Development Fee Schedule published by the city. Fees are typically calculated based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation
• Plan check fee — typically a percentage of the building permit fee
• State surcharge — California mandates a Building Standards Administration Special Revolving Fund (BSASRF) surcharge on all permits
• Impact fees — for new construction or added square footage (transportation, parks, sewer, water)
• Utility and trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
• CALGreen / energy compliance fees — for Title 24 energy compliance documentation

Do not rely on third-party estimates. Always verify current amounts using the Fresno Planning & Development Fee Schedule linked in the sources above.

Typical Timeline

California 60-day ADU rule: Under California Government Code § 65852.2, Fresno must complete ministerial review of a complete ADU or JADU permit application within 60 calendar days. If the city does not act within 60 days, the permit is deemed approved by operation of law.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Verify your parcel's zoning district, overlays, and setbacks using the Fresno zoning map and Municipal Code
2. Plans: Prepare drawings and Title 24 energy compliance documentation; a licensed California architect or engineer stamp is required for most non-trivial work
3. Submit via Citizen Access Portal: Upload documents and pay initial fees at citizenaccess.fresno.gov
4. Plan review: Building and Safety reviews for compliance with 2022 Title 24 codes (CBC, CRC, CPC, CMC, CEC, CEnC, CALGreen) and local amendments
5. Corrections: Respond to plan check comments and resubmit revised documents through the portal
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees and download or receive the approved permit
7. Post permit: Display the permit on-site; ensure approved plans are available for inspectors
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through the portal
9. Final: Pass final inspection and, where required, receive a Certificate of Occupancy

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Foundation / footings
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation (Title 24 energy compliance)
• Drywall
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule inspections through the Fresno Online Permit Center (citizenaccess.fresno.gov) or by contacting the Building and Safety Services Division directly.

California Title 24 — Energy and CALGreen Requirements

Unlike states using the International Building Code without a statewide energy overlay, California's Title 24 imposes specific requirements that affect nearly every permit:

• California Energy Code (Part 6): All new construction and additions must meet prescriptive or performance energy compliance standards. A Title 24 energy compliance report from a certified HERS (Home Energy Rating System) rater or energy analyst is typically required.
• CALGreen (Part 11): The California Green Building Standards Code mandates construction waste diversion, indoor air quality measures, and water-efficiency standards on most new buildings and additions.
• HERS Verification: Many energy measures require third-party field verification by a certified HERS rater during construction.

Include Title 24 compliance documentation in your permit submittal to avoid plan check corrections.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't comply with the 2022 California Building Standards Code (CBC, CRC, CPC, CMC, CEC, CEnC, or CALGreen) or Fresno local amendments
• Missing Title 24 energy compliance report or HERS verification forms
• Missing structural calculations or California-licensed design-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, use classification)
• Missing CALGreen mandatory measures documentation
• Incomplete site plan (grading, drainage, utility connections)
• For ADUs: missing state-required ministerial findings or incorrect setback calculations under state ADU law

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Fresno Building and Safety Services Division and the Fresno Online Permit Center before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Building and Safety Division, Citizen Access Portal, Fresno Municipal Code, California Title 24, and the city fee schedule.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Fresno and State of California sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Fresno Planning & Development Department — Building and Safety Services Division before submitting plans or starting construction.