Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Fresno County?

Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how Fresno County applies this before you apply.

California / Fresno County

Plumbing Permit in Fresno County, California

Permit required

Yes, a permit is required

Before altering, repairing or adding plumbing, gas piping or a septic system in unincorporated Fresno County

Confirmed on official page Verified 15 Aug 2026

Issued byDepartment of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety

By Mario Bailey, verified against official sources

Quick answer

Fresno County issues plumbing permits under Title 15 Chapter 15.20, which adopts the California Plumbing Code and the IAPMO installation standards by reference and adds county amendments, including a rule that gas service to a residence discontinued for a year or longer can only be restored after a pressure test performed under permit. Section 2512 of the Master Schedule of Fees prices plumbing work line by line, with separate charges for drain and waste lines, gas piping, gas appliances, septic changes and backflow devices. Private sewage disposal follows the Fresno County Local Agency Management Program, which replaces Appendix H of the state plumbing code. This applies to unincorporated Fresno County only, not to the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis or the county's other incorporated cities.

Who is pulling this permit?

Apply yourself

Apply on the Fresno County permit portal

Hire it out

When a permit is usually needed

Before altering, repairing or adding plumbing, gas piping or a septic system in unincorporated Fresno County

What a plumbing permit costs in Fresno County

Line itemAmountApplies to

plumbing permitBy formulaSection 2512 Plumbing Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47 each; Gas appliance or vent $42.77 each; Gas piping system other than on-site mains, first 5 outlets $32.64 per system and $6.19 each additional outlet; Change in existing septic tanks by the addition of drain fields or seepage pits or to replace septic tanks $101.86 each installation; minimum plumbing permit fee $65.84 each. New construction or complete remodel of a dwelling up to 3 bathrooms is charged per dwelling unit: $201.47 for one bathroom, $268.43 for two, $295.45 for three, plus $32.64 per additional bathroom fixture.

Fee schedule in forceOfficial scheduleRead 15 Aug 2026. Fees are the jurisdiction’s; we do not mark them up or estimate them.

How Fresno County compares in California

No California jurisdiction we have verified sets a size threshold for this permit, so what actually differs between them is the fee.

Jurisdiction	Permit needed?	Typical fee
Alameda County	Permit required	...permit scope, 'Plumbing Permit 17% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00...
Contra Costa County	Permit required	Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00...
Fresno Countythis page	Permit required	...2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47...
Los Angeles	Permit required	...per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and...
Los Angeles County	Permit required	...the Los Angeles Code, Ord. No. 2013-0050), effective July 1, 2026: $41.35...
Orange County	Permit required	Plumbing Permit Application Flat Fee: $363 for FY 2024-25, $383 for FY...
Riverside County	Permit required	Residential Plumbing (BPL-RPLU): $274.30 fixed fee, per Appendix A to...

How to apply in Fresno County

In Fresno County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit.

What most plumbing permit applications include:

For Fresno County, a permit is required before any owner or authorized agent constructs, alters, repairs, removes, converts, or replaces a plumbing system regulated by the code (IRC R105.1).
For Fresno County, the application must identify and describe the work, describe the site, state the intended use and occupancy, and be signed by the applicant or an authorized agent (IRC R105.3).
Two or more sets of construction documents must accompany the application, drawn with enough clarity to show the location, nature, and extent of the proposed plumbing work and how it will conform to code (IRC R106.1, R106.1.1).
Minor plumbing repairs, such as clearing a stoppage or removing and resetting a water closet without rearranging pipes or fixtures, are exempt from permit (IRC R105.2).
Once issued, a permit is only valid for a limited window, commonly 180 days, and becomes invalid if the work is not started or is abandoned within that time, though extensions can be requested (IRC R105.3.2, R105.5).

General submittal guidance from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapter 1 Scope and Administration, Sections R105 Permits and R106 Construction Documents. Source. Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety sets the exact checklist for Fresno County.

Where to apply in Fresno County:

Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety

2220 Tulare Street, Suite A, Fresno, CA 93721 (Development Services and Capital Projects Division; the offices are in Annex A and Annex B of the Fresno County Plaza at Tulare and M streets)
Phone: 559-600-4570 (plan check and permit information); 559-600-4560 (building inspection); 559-600-4131 (24 hour inspection request line)
Email: PlanCheckBuildingCode2@fresnocountyca.gov

Plumbing Permit in Fresno County compared with nearby California localities

Locality	Permit needed?	Threshold	What each California schedule says	Verified
Fresno County	Permit required	Any size	...Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47...	15 Aug 2026
Alameda County	Permit required	Any size	...of a building permit scope, 'Plumbing Permit 17% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00...	15 Aug 2026
Contra Costa County	Permit required	Any size	Land Development Fee Schedule S-002 E.6, "Plumbing Permit (Other) $75.00 minimum."...	15 Aug 2026
Los Angeles	Permit required	Any size	Itemized per fixture per LADBS Fee Sch.5 (7/2017), for example a toilet at $23 and a...	17 Jun 2026
Los Angeles County	Permit required	Any size	...28 of the Los Angeles Code, Ord. No. 2013-0050), effective July 1, 2026: $41.35 for...	15 Aug 2026

Inspections and closing out your permit

In Fresno County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.

In Fresno County: piping and equipment placed under a slab or floor must be in place and inspected before any concrete is poured or floor sheathing is installed over it (IRC R109.1.1.1).
In Fresno County: rough plumbing, along with the mechanical, gas, and electrical rough-in, must be inspected prior to covering or concealment and before fixtures or appliances are set (IRC R109.1.2).
In Fresno County: rough drain, waste, and vent (DWV) piping is tested with water, air, or (for plastic piping) a vacuum, and must show no evidence of leakage before it is closed in (IRC P2503.5.1).
In Fresno County: the water-distribution piping is tested and must hold tight under the system's working pressure, or under a 50 psi air test for non-plastic piping, before it is concealed (IRC P2503.7).
In Fresno County: the framing inspection cannot proceed until the plumbing rough inspection, along with the mechanical and electrical rough inspections, has been approved (IRC R109.1.4).
In Fresno County: at the final drainage test, each fixture is filled and then drained, and its traps and fixture connections must prove watertight by visual inspection (IRC P2503.5.2).
In Fresno County: final inspection is made after all work required by the permit is complete, and includes confirming backflow protection, such as vacuum breakers on hose bibbs, is installed (IRC R109.1.6, P2902.4.3).

Schedule each inspection in advance and pass the final before you use the work or close the permit. Request inspections through the Fresno County permit portal or by phone at 559-600-4570 (plan check and permit information); 559-600-4560 (building inspection); 559-600-4131 (24 hour inspection request line).

Inspection sequence from 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), Section R109 Inspections and Section P2503 Inspection and Tests. Source. An open permit left un-inspected can surface later in a title search or home sale.

Your Plumbing Permit checklist for Fresno County

Confirm the requirement. Yes, a permit is required. Usually needed: Before altering, repairing or adding plumbing, gas piping or a septic system in unincorporated Fresno County.
Budget the fee. Section 2512 Plumbing Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47 each; Gas appliance or vent $42.77 each; Gas piping system other than on-site mains, first 5 outlets $32.64 per system and $6.19 each additional outlet; Change in existing septic tanks by the addition of drain fields or seepage pits or to replace septic tanks $101.86 each installation; minimum plumbing permit fee $65.84 each. New construction or complete remodel of a dwelling up to 3 bathrooms is charged per dwelling unit: $201.47 for one bathroom, $268.43 for two, $295.45 for three, plus $32.64 per additional bathroom fixture. Official fee schedule.
Apply. In Fresno County, you apply for a residential plumbing permit at your local building department by filing an application that describes the scope of work and site, along with construction documents, before any regulated plumbing installation, alteration, or repair begins. Minor repairs that do not touch piping or fixtures are generally exempt, and once issued the permit only stays valid if work is started within its time limit. Start at the Fresno County permit portal.
Keep the office details handy. Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety. Phone: 559-600-4570 (plan check and permit information); 559-600-4560 (building inspection); 559-600-4131 (24 hour inspection request line). Address: 2220 Tulare Street, Suite A, Fresno, CA 93721 (Development Services and Capital Projects Division; the offices are in Annex A and Annex B of the Fresno County Plaza at Tulare and M streets).
Plan for inspections. In Fresno County, plumbing inspections are timed to whatever is about to hide the pipe: underground and under-slab piping is checked before concrete covers it, rough-in piping is pressure or water tested before walls close up, and a final inspection checks every fixture and backflow protection once the work is complete.

Compiled from the official sources on this page. Last checked 15 Aug 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a plumbing permit in Fresno County?: Fresno County issues plumbing permits under Title 15 Chapter 15.20, which adopts the California Plumbing Code and the IAPMO installation standards by reference and adds county amendments, including a rule that gas service to a residence discontinued for a year or longer can only be restored after a pressure test performed under permit. Section 2512 of the Master Schedule of Fees prices plumbing work line by line, with separate charges for drain and waste lines, gas piping, gas appliances, septic changes and backflow devices. Private sewage disposal follows the Fresno County Local Agency Management Program, which replaces Appendix H of the state plumbing code. This applies to unincorporated Fresno County only, not to the City of Fresno, the City of Clovis or the county's other incorporated cities. Always confirm with the Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety before starting.
How much does a plumbing permit cost in Fresno County?: Section 2512 Plumbing Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Alteration, repair or addition of a drain or waste line $80.47 each; Gas appliance or vent $42.77 each; Gas piping system other than on-site mains, first 5 outlets $32.64 per system and $6.19 each additional outlet; Change in existing septic tanks by the addition of drain fields or seepage pits or to replace septic tanks $101.86 each installation; minimum plumbing permit fee $65.84 each. New construction or complete remodel of a dwelling up to 3 bathrooms is charged per dwelling unit: $201.47 for one bathroom, $268.43 for two, $295.45 for three, plus $32.64 per additional bathroom fixture. See the official fee schedule for current amounts.
Where do you apply for a plumbing permit in Fresno County?: You can apply through the Fresno County permit portal or contact the Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety directly. The links are listed on this page.
Can a homeowner pull a plumbing permit themselves in Fresno County?: Under California law (Business & Professions Code 7044(a)-(b); Business & Professions Code 7031.5): California exempts an owner from contractor licensing under section 7044 when they personally perform all the work on their own property, or any work they do not perform themselves is done by their own employees paid only wages, and none of the improvements are intended or offered for sale. It also exempts an owner who directly contracts with licensed contractors for each trade, as long as no more than four of the single-family residential structures involved are intended or offered for sale in a calendar year; this route does not apply if the owner instead contracts with a general contractor for the construction. A homeowner may also improve their own principal residence without a license, as long as the work is done before any sale, they have actually resided there for the 12 months before completion, and they have not used this exemption on more than two structures more than once in any three-year period. Selling a self-built structure within one year of completion creates a rebuttable presumption that it was built for sale, which defeats the exemption, and selling five or more structures within a year makes that presumption conclusive. Separately, every city or county that requires a permit must also require the applicant to file a signed statement giving their contractor license number or the basis of their claimed exemption; a false or missing statement carries a civil penalty of up to $500. Confirm how Fresno County applies this before you apply.

From the Library

What else needs a permit in Fresno County

Every other permit type we have verified for this jurisdiction, with the rule that applies here.

Project	Permit needed?	Threshold	Typical fee
Deck Permit	Permit required	Any size	No flat deck permit fee is published
Electrical Permit	Permit required	Any size	Section 2511 Electrical Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Issuing permits $42.77 each
Fence Permit	It depends	Fences not over 7 feet high are on the county's published list of work exempt from a building permit	The Master Schedule of Fees publishes no flat fence permit fee
HVAC Permit	Permit required	Any size	Section 2510 Mechanical Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Issuing each permit $42.77
Patio Permit	Permit required	Any size	No flat patio permit fee is published
Pool Permit	It depends	Prefabricated pools accessory to a Group R-3 occupancy are exempt from a building permit only when they are less than 24 inches deep, hold not more than 5,000 gallons, and are installed entirely above ground	...structural, plumbing and electrical', FY 2026-27: In ground Pool or Spa...
Roof Replacement Permit	Permit required	Any size	Single family residential: $201.47 per structure for FY 2026-27
Shed Permit	It depends	One-story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses are exempt from a building permit when the floor area is not greater than 120 square feet	...application, not a building permit: 'The cost for the permit will be $153.44 (a...
Solar Permit	Permit required	Any size	See schedule

Plumbing Permit in other California localities

Everything above, sourced

fresnocountyca.gov: building safetyread 15 Aug 2026

fresnocountyca.gov: title 15 proposed changes 2026read 15 Aug 2026

Code references

National and state model-code sections the general guidance on this page is drawn from. They are not Fresno County documents; the office above sets the local rules.

How this plumbing permit page for Fresno County was verified. 2 official sources: fresnocountyca.gov, fresnocountyca.gov; fee schedule: official document. Last checked 15 Aug 2026 by Mario Bailey, not confirmed with Department of Public Works and Planning, Development Services and Capital Projects Division, Building and Safety. Rules change; confirm before you build. How we verify.

Last checked: 15 Aug 2026Report an error on this page

Compare Plumbing Permit requirements across California localities

Plumbing permit rules nationwide