Fresno County, California Building Permit Guide

Building permits for unincorporated Fresno County are issued by the Building and Safety Team of the Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services. Its offices are in Annex “A” and “B” of the Fresno County Plaza, 2220 Tulare Street (corner of Tulare and “M” streets), Fresno. Phone hours are Monday-Thursday 8:00 am-5:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am-12:30 pm; the lobby counter is open Monday-Thursday 9:00 am-5:00 pm and Friday 8:30 am-12:30 pm, and the offices close every Friday from 12:30 pm. Applications and plans go in through the County’s Citizens Portal; solar permits can use SolarAPP+.

This guide covers unincorporated Fresno County; the City of Fresno has its own office, listed below. The County’s fee schedule file is named for 2023-24 but lists fees by fiscal year through FY 2027-28; figures here are the FY 2026-27 ones.

What requires a building permit in Fresno County?

• Residential alterations such as water heaters, windows and re-roofs need CF1R energy forms with the application; a re-roof also needs the Re-roof Certification Form before the permit is issued.
• Fire district approval: projects may need separate approval from the fire protection district for the parcel, such as the Fresno County Fire Protection and Planning Department.
• Road work: encroachment in County roads is permitted by the Road Maintenance and Operations Division, using the Road Encroachment Application.

California builds on one statewide code, Title 24, whose 2025 edition took effect on 1 January 2026; the editions in effect when the application is submitted apply, and cities and counties may adopt local amendments only with findings filed with the state (new residential amendments are largely frozen until June 2031). Title 24 and local amendments

Who handles permitting in Fresno County?

Septic systems and wells in Fresno County

Septic: septic systems (OWTS) are overseen by the Department of Public Works and Planning under the Local Agency Management Plan in Chapter 15.20 of the county code, not by Environmental Health. Septic questions go to Public Works and Planning, Building Permits, at (559) 600-4560.

Wells: well permits come from Environmental Health. Drillers must give 48 hours’ notice before installing the annular seal, which must be at least 20 feet deep, and file the well log within 30 days of completion. The County permits well installation, but the local Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) regulates well use and may take extra review time on some well types, so applicants may want to send the GSA the permit at the same time.

Fresno County permit costs and fees

Under Ordinance 24-005, building fees rose 3% on 07/01/2026. Permits are priced from a construction valuation table in the Master Schedule of Fees:

• Minimum building permit charge: $166.28 in FY 2026-27 ($171.57 in FY 2027-28).
• Valuation of $100,001 to $500,000: $1,279.98 for the first $100,000.00, plus $5.63 for each additional $1,000.00 (FY 2026-27).

How to get a building permit in Fresno County

A building permit carries a validity period and can expire if work does not start or stalls between inspections; confirm the expiry with the Fresno County Building and Safety Team on phased or delayed work. Permit validity in California

Inspections in Fresno County

Inspections must be called in by 2:30 pm the business day before the requested day; the 24-hour request line is (559) 600-4131. Not all areas are served daily. For example:

• Coalinga, Huron and Cantua Creek: M/W/F
• Firebaugh, Mendota and Dos Palos: T/TH
• Big Creek, Huntington Lake and Lakeshore: M/W/TH

The green paper inspection card must stay at the job site for inspector sign-offs. At final inspection, a digital checklist of sign-offs is emailed to the applicant, and inspection results (for inspections after 06/25/2025) are shown in the Citizens Portal to listed applicants.

Building permits in the City of Fresno

The City of Fresno issues its own permits through Building and Safety in the Planning and Development Department, 2600 Fresno Street, Room 3043 (City Hall, 3rd floor), phone 559.621.8277; Building Permits 559.621.8084, Inspection Services 559.621.8116. The City takes applications, inspection scheduling and fee payments through its Accela Citizen Access portal, offers same-day express permits for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, and books in-person appointments through QLess, Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-4:00 PM.

Official Fresno County permitting resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• Fresno County Building and Safety
• Master Schedule of Fees (PDF)
• Environmental Health land use program
• Well permitting program
• Road Maintenance and Operations
• City of Fresno Building and Safety

Frequently asked questions

Who permits septic systems in Fresno County?

The Department of Public Works and Planning, under the Local Agency Management Plan in Chapter 15.20 of the county code; call Building Permits at (559) 600-4560. Wells are permitted by Environmental Health.

Are inspections available every day in Coalinga?

No. Coalinga, Huron and Cantua Creek are served M/W/F.

What forms does a re-roof need?

CF1R energy forms with the application, plus the Re-roof Certification Form before the permit is issued.

Simplify Fresno County permitting with Alliance Permitting

• Confirm whether the parcel is in the County’s area or inside a city, and which County offices must sign off
• Prepare the application, plans and forms in the format the County portal accepts
• Track plan review, pay fees and book inspections within the County’s cut-off times

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in California. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Fresno County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.