Fresno building permits
Building permits in Fresno are issued by the City of Fresno Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Services Division1. You can apply and request inspections online through aca-prod.accela.com2.
On this page
- Building department contacts
- Building codes in force in Fresno
- Fresno building permit fees
- How to get a building permit in Fresno
- Permit expiration and extensions
- Inspections in Fresno
- Building without a permit in Fresno
- Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- California rules that also apply in Fresno
- Sources
Building department contacts
City of Fresno Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Services Division1
Building permits
- Website
- fresno.gov3
- Apply online
- aca-prod.accela.com2
- Phone
- (559) 621-80844
- [email protected]4
- Address
- 2600 Fresno Street, Third Floor, Room 3043, Fresno, CA 93721-36041
- Hours
- Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm4
- Inspections
- Accela Citizen Access (online, 24/7)4
City of Fresno Planning & Development Department (Planning)5
Zoning and planning
- Website
- fresno.gov5
- [email protected]6
- Address
- 2600 Fresno Street, Room 3043, Fresno, California 93721-36045
To look up permits already issued for an address (useful before you buy, or to check a contractor's work), use the city's official permit search: aca-prod.accela.com4.
Building codes in force in Fresno
These are the model codes Fresno enforces, with the edition and the date it took effect. Plans are reviewed and work is inspected against them. For the state framework, see California building codes.
| Code | Title as adopted | Model edition | Effective | Adopted by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Building Code (IBC) | 2025 California Building Code7 | 20247 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| International Residential Code (IRC) | 2025 California Residential Code7 | 20247 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | 2025 California Electrical Code7 | 20237 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC) | 2025 California Mechanical Code7 | 20247 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) | 2025 California Plumbing Code7 | 20247 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| State code | 2025 California Energy Code7 | 20257 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| State code | 2025 California Green Building Standards Code7 | 20257 | 7 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-40 (adopted September 25, 2025)7 |
| International Fire Code (IFC) | 2025 California Fire Code8 | 20248 | 8 | Fresno City Council, Bill B-39 (adopted September 25, 2025)8 |
Fresno building permit fees
Fees come from the City of Fresno Master Fee Schedule (Planning & Development - Building Fees)9, effective 9.
How valuation is set. Square-foot base plan check and inspection fee tables (not valuation)9.
Each line is worded as in Fresno’s schedule; formulas are not added up into a total (how permit fees work).
| Fee | Type | As the schedule states it |
|---|---|---|
| Blended hourly rate (building services not listed) | Plan review | For all building services not listed in the building sections or for services determined by the City Building Official to be beyond the regular effort established in this fee schedule, a $149.07^ blended hourly rate applies.9 |
| Permit Issuance - All projects (administrative base fee, MPE stand-alone) | Flat fee | Permit Issuance - All projects 27.089 |
| Simple M,P,E single or combination permits | Flat fee | SIMPLE M,P,E SINGLE OR COMBINATION PERMITS 111.509 |
| Water Heater (simple plumbing item) | Flat fee | Water Heater 111.509 |
| Residential swimming pools (simple electrical item) | Flat fee | Residential swimming Pools 111.509 |
| Deck / Patio (non-engineered) | Flat fee | Deck / Patio (non-engineered) 238.02 266.839 |
| Deck / Patio (engineered) | Flat fee | Deck / Patio (engineered) 670.22 266.839 |
| Demolition - Residential | Flat fee | Demolition - Residential 102.72 192.929 |
| Fence or Wall (wood, chain link, wrought iron) >6 feet in height, 1st 100 l.f. | Flat fee | >6 feet in height, 1st 100 l.f. 238.02 177.899 |
| Fence or Freestanding Wall (masonry / garden), City Standard, 1st 100 l.f. | Flat fee | City Standard, 1st 100 l.f. 170.37 192.929 |
| Residential Remodel | Per square foot | first 500 s.f. 227.99 489.839 |
| Photovoltaic Systems - Residential, first 15kW | Flat fee | First 15kW 170.37 162.859 |
| Re-roofing - Composition, no tear off | Flat fee | Composition - no tear off 102.72 58.879 |
| Re-roofing - Other roofs (first 10 squares) | Flat fee | Other roofs (first 10 squares) 102.72 103.989 |
| Retaining Wall (concrete or masonry), first 50 lf | Flat fee | First 50 lf 238.02 192.929 |
| Swimming Pool / Spa - Residential | Flat fee | Swimming Pool / Spa - Residential 102.72 385.859 |
| Stucco / Siding Applications - each | Flat fee | Stucco / Siding Applications - each 33.82 222.999 |
| California Building Standards Commission Permit Surcharge | State surcharge | 1 - 25,000 1.009 |
| General Plan and Related Document Update and Maintenance surcharge | Percent of the permit fee | Surcharge on all Building Permits 12.83%9 |
| Technology - Entitlement Processing System Update surcharge | Technology surcharge | Surcharge on all Building Permits 23.79^9 |
| Workers' Compensation Insurance Verification | Flat fee | Per transaction 33.84^9 |
| Reinspection other than entitled calls | Re-inspection | Reinspection other than entitled calls / per trip 100.21^9 |
| Premature inspection (work not ready) | Re-inspection | Premature inspection all (work not ready) / per trip 67.65^9 |
| Building permit renewal of expired permit | – | Building permit renewal of expired permit Standard fee 25% Minimum 67.65^9 |
| Consulting/Inspection Services - other than regular business hours | After-hours inspection | Hour, 1-hour minimum 207.96 hr*^9 |
How to get a building permit in Fresno
- Apply online through Accela Citizen Access (ACA)4
- Completeness review before plan check4
- Pay plan check fees invoiced at submittal before routing4
- Plan review by Building and Safety and other departments4
- Revise plans per correction list4
- Pay all permit fees; permit issued with approved plans4
- Schedule inspections through ACA4
- Apply online
- Yes4
- Over-the-counter permits
- Same day express permits for Electrical, Mechanical, & Plumbing (in person)4
Permit expiration and extensions
Inspections in Fresno
The inspection Fresno’s published material names. Do not cover work until it has passed (how inspections work).
- Inspections scheduled through Accela Citizen Access4
- How to schedule
- Online via ACA, 24/74
- Re-inspection fee
- Reinspection other than entitled calls / per trip 100.21^9
- After the final inspection
- Certificate of Occupancy fee listed for multifamily/commercial only9
Building without a permit in Fresno
| Consequence | Applies to | As the city states it |
|---|---|---|
| Higher permit fee | Working without required permit9 | Working without required permit / per permit fee 4 times (max.)9 |
For how unpermitted work is usually legalized, see how to legalize unpermitted work.
Doing the work yourself (owner-builder)
- Homeowner may pull a building permit
- Yes11
- Sale or rental limits
- Structure not intended to be and will not be offered for sale within one year after completion11
- Affidavit or declaration
- Yes11
California's statewide owner-builder and licensing rules are on the California permit guide.
California rules that also apply in Fresno
- Deadlines for permit decisions and inspections in California
- Contractor licensing in California
- Selling a home with unpermitted work in California
- Private plan review and inspections in California
Sources
- New Residential Plan Check Submittal ChecklistCity of Fresno, Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Services DivisionLast updated July 2023Checked November 6, 2026
- Citizen Access (redirect notice)City of Fresno, Planning and Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- City of FresnoCity of FresnoChecked November 7, 2026
- Building & Safety ProcessCity of Fresno, Planning and Development Department, Building & Safety DivisionChecked November 7, 2026
- Submittal Requirements for Single Family Residential Projects (G28)City of Fresno, Planning & Development DepartmentChecked November 7, 2026
- Event Permit ApplicationCity of Fresno, Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Services DivisionRevised June 18, 2026Checked November 6, 2026
- ID 25-1252, Bill B-40: Adoption and Amendment of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Standards Code (staff…City of Fresno, City Council (staff report by Planning & Development Department)Adopted September 25, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- ID 25-1251, Bill B-39: Adopting the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments (staff report)City of Fresno, City Council (staff report by Fire Department)Adopted September 25, 2025Checked November 6, 2026
- City of Fresno Master Fee Schedule - Planning & Development Fees (effective 07/01/2026)City of Fresno, Planning and Development DepartmentEffective July 1, 2026Checked November 7, 2026
- Building Permit Center – City of FresnoCity of Fresno, Planning and Development Department, Building & Safety Services DivisionChecked November 6, 2026
- Patio Permit Application (page 1: permit application declarations)City of Fresno, Planning and Development Department, Building and Safety Services DivisionLast updated September 2, 2014Checked November 7, 2026