Building permits in Sacramento, CA

Short answer: In Sacramento, permits are issued by City of Sacramento Community Development Department, Building Division; of the 6 common projects we checked, 3 always need a permit, 1 do not, and 2 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Sacramento Community Development Department, Building Division. Applies inside City of Sacramento limits; unincorporated areas are handled by Sacramento County. Online minor permits are for California-licensed contractors.

Permit rules in Sacramento
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, but all fencing needs Planning Division approval under the wall, fence and gate rules.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Permit required Yes. Non-structural kitchen and bathroom remodels need a building permit (submitted by email with a remodel questionnaire); tile, cabinets a…	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Permit required Yes. Re-roofing needs a minor permit (no plans; inspected in the field).	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No permit for a one-story detached structure up to 120 sq ft. Larger sheds need a permit.	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Water heaters need a minor permit (no plans; inspected in the field).	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.cityofsacramento.gov/community-development/building/permit-services/required-permits

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.