Building permits in Fresno, CA

Short answer: In Fresno, permits are issued by City of Fresno Planning & Development, Building & Safety Services; of the 6 common projects we checked, 2 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 3 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Fresno Planning & Development, Building & Safety Services. Applies inside City of Fresno limits; unincorporated areas are handled by Fresno County.

Permit rules in Fresno
Project	Answer	Verified
Deck	Depends on your project No permit for a detached deck up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 in above grade that does not serve the required exit door. Other decks nee…	2026-10-19
Fence	No permit required No building permit for fences up to 7 ft; they must still meet zoning setbacks and corner cut-offs.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Tile, cabinets and counters need no permit. Remodeling or replacing plumbing or electrical work needs one.	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes. Re-roofs need a permit and are a Level 1 (fast review) permit.	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No permit for a one-story shed up to 120 sq ft and 12 ft tall, at least 3 ft from property lines. Larger sheds need a permit.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing plumbing equipment needs a permit; water heaters are a Level 1 (fast review) permit.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.fresno.gov/planning/building-and-safety/building-permit-center/

Other cities in California

All California cities · All cities · Permit guides

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.