Home Improvement Permits in California: What Requires a Permit and How to Get One | Expert Guide

Building permits might seem like bureaucratic red tape, but they exist for one critical reason: to ensure construction work is safe and meets California's building codes. Skipping permits to save time or money is one of the costliest mistakes a homeowner can make. This guide covers everything you need to know about permits for home improvement projects in California.

What Is a Building Permit?

A building permit is official approval from your local building department to proceed with a construction project. It ensures the planned work complies with current building codes, zoning regulations, and safety standards. The permit process includes:

1. Application — Submit plans and project details 2. Plan Review — The building department reviews for code compliance 3. Permit Issuance — Approval to begin work 4. Inspections — Building inspectors verify work at key stages 5. Final Approval — Certificate of completion or occupancy

Why Permits Matter

Safety Building codes are written in response to failures, fires, collapses, and injuries. They represent hard-won knowledge about what works and what doesn't. Permits ensure your project benefits from this collective wisdom.

Insurance Protection Your homeowner's insurance policy likely includes clauses about building code compliance. Work done without permits may not be covered. If unpermitted electrical work causes a fire, your insurance company may deny the claim.

Resale Value When you sell your home, the buyer's inspector will look for evidence of unpermitted work. Unpermitted additions, bathrooms, or major modifications can: - Kill a sale entirely - Reduce your home's appraised value - Require expensive retroactive permitting - Create title and disclosure issues

Legal Protection Permitted work that passes inspection provides legal documentation that the work met code at the time of construction. This protects you in disputes and liability claims.

Projects That REQUIRE a Permit

Always Requires a Permit

**Structural Work**

Room additions (any size)
Garage conversions
Load-bearing wall removal or modification
Foundation repair or modification
Deck construction (attached or elevated)
Patio covers and pergolas (attached to the house)
Retaining walls over 4 feet high

**Electrical Work**

New circuits or sub-panels
Electrical panel upgrades (100A to 200A)
Rewiring
Adding outlets or switches in new locations
EV charger installation (hard-wired)
Solar panel installation
Hot tub or pool electrical connections

**Plumbing Work**

Adding or relocating plumbing fixtures
Water heater replacement (yes, even a like-for-like swap)
Repiping (replacing water supply or drain lines)
Gas line installation or modification
Sewer line replacement
Adding a bathroom or kitchen
Water softener installation (in some jurisdictions)

**HVAC Work**

Furnace or AC replacement
New duct installation or major modification
Adding or removing HVAC zones
Mini-split system installation
Whole-house fan installation

**Roofing**

Complete roof replacement (re-roofing)
Adding skylights or solar tubes
Structural roof modifications

**Windows and Doors**

Changing window or door sizes (altering the structural opening)
Adding new windows or doors
Note: Like-for-like window replacement (same size opening) may not require a permit in some jurisdictions, but California's Title 24 energy compliance may still apply

**Major Renovations**

Kitchen remodel (when involving plumbing, electrical, or structural changes)
Bathroom remodel (almost always involves plumbing and electrical)
Basement finishing
Attic conversion

**Exterior**

New fencing over 6 feet high
Swimming pool or spa installation
Significant grading or earthwork
Demolition of structures
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)

Typically Does NOT Require a Permit

Interior and exterior painting
Wallpaper installation
Carpet, laminate, or vinyl flooring installation
Cabinet replacement (in the same footprint)
Countertop replacement (no plumbing changes)
Fencing under 6 feet
Minor drywall repair
Replacing faucets and fixtures (no new plumbing)
Installing shelving
Landscaping (no significant grading)
Re-staining or sealing a deck
Replacing like-for-like appliances (except water heaters and HVAC)

Important: Requirements vary by jurisdiction. Sacramento city, Sacramento county, Roseville, Folsom, Elk Grove, and other areas may have different specific requirements. When in doubt, call your local building department — they'll tell you whether a permit is needed. It's a quick phone call that can save enormous headaches.

How to Get a Permit in Sacramento

Step 1: Determine Your Jurisdiction

Your permit application goes to the building department that has jurisdiction over your property:

**City of Sacramento** — Community Development Department
**Sacramento County** — Department of Building and Safety
**Roseville** — Development Services Department
**Folsom, Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, etc.** — Each has its own building department

Step 2: Prepare Your Application

Most permit applications require:

**Project description** — What work will be performed
**Plans/drawings** — For major projects, you'll need detailed construction drawings (often prepared by an architect or designer)
**Site plan** — Showing the property and location of work
**Specifications** — Materials, methods, and code compliance details
**Title 24 energy calculations** — For projects affecting the building envelope (windows, insulation, HVAC)

For simple projects (water heater replacement, electrical panel upgrade), the application may be straightforward with minimal documentation. For additions and major remodels, professional plans are usually required.

Step 3: Submit and Pay Fees

Submit your application to the appropriate building department. Many Sacramento-area jurisdictions now accept online submissions. Fees vary by project type and value:

**Simple permits** (water heater, minor electrical): $100–$300
**Kitchen/bathroom remodel**: $500–$2,000
**Room addition**: $2,000–$5,000+
**New ADU**: $5,000–$15,000+
**Plan check fees**: Additional 65-80% of the permit fee

Step 4: Plan Review

The building department reviews your plans for code compliance. This can take:

**Over-the-counter** (simple projects): Same day
**Standard review**: 2-6 weeks
**Complex projects**: 4-12 weeks

You may receive correction notices requiring plan modifications before approval.

Step 5: Permit Issuance

Once approved, you receive your permit. Important requirements:

**Post the permit** visibly at the job site (usually on a window or door)
**Keep approved plans on site** for inspector reference
**Schedule inspections** at required stages

Step 6: Inspections

Inspections verify that work complies with approved plans and current codes. Common inspection stages:

For a bathroom remodel: 1. Rough plumbing inspection (before closing walls) 2. Rough electrical inspection 3. Framing inspection (if structural changes) 4. Insulation inspection 5. Final inspection

For a roof replacement: 1. Underlayment/sheathing inspection 2. Final inspection

For electrical work: 1. Rough electrical inspection 2. Final inspection

Schedule inspections in advance. The inspector will either approve the work, require corrections, or fail the inspection (requiring you to fix issues and re-schedule).

Step 7: Final Sign-Off

When all inspections pass, the permit is "finaled" — officially closed as complete and code-compliant. Keep this documentation for your records. It's valuable when selling your home.

What Happens Without Permits?

During Construction

If a building inspector discovers unpermitted work in progress:

**Stop work order** — All work must cease immediately
**Fines** — Typically double or triple the normal permit fee
**Required retroactive permitting** — You must apply for permits after the fact
**Required corrections** — Work may need to be opened up for inspection, potentially requiring demolition

After Completion

If unpermitted work is discovered later (during a sale, insurance claim, or renovation):

**Reduced property value** — Appraisers and buyers discount unpermitted work
**Retroactive permitting** — Expensive and may require opening up finished work
**Demolition** — In worst cases, unpermitted work must be removed entirely
**Insurance denial** — Claims related to unpermitted work may be denied
**Sale complications** — Disclosure requirements, buyer concerns, lender issues

Real Cost Example

A homeowner skips a $500 permit for a bathroom remodel. Three years later, during a home sale:

Home inspector notes the remodel appears unpermitted
Buyer demands a $15,000 price reduction
Or: seller must pay $5,000+ to obtain retroactive permits and make corrections
Closing is delayed by weeks

That $500 "savings" cost $5,000–$15,000. This scenario plays out constantly in Sacramento real estate transactions.

Your Contractor Should Handle Permits

For any project requiring a permit, your licensed contractor should:

Determine which permits are needed
Prepare or arrange for plans and documentation
Submit the application and pay fees (which are passed through to you)
Schedule and attend all required inspections
Ensure all work passes inspection
Obtain final sign-off

If a contractor suggests skipping permits or asks you to pull the permit yourself, find a different contractor. A contractor who avoids permits is either unlicensed, planning to cut corners, or both.

Sacramento-Specific Tips

**Online portals** — Sacramento city and county both offer online permit applications and tracking
**Express permits** — Some simple projects qualify for same-day express permits
**ADU permits** — California law streamlines ADU permitting; fees may be reduced or waived
**Solar permits** — Streamlined solar permitting is available in most Sacramento jurisdictions
**Title 24** — California's energy code (Title 24) applies to most renovation projects affecting the building envelope

Resources

[City of Sacramento Building Permits](https://www.cityofsacramento.org/Community-Development/Building)
[Sacramento County Building Permits](https://building.saccounty.gov/)
[CSLB — Verify a License](https://www.cslb.ca.gov)
[Our Contractor Search](/search/) — Find licensed contractors for your permitted project