Building permits in Sacramento, California
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Sacramento, 5 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 2 official sources
Verified against official sources- Project types verified
- 10
- in Sacramento
City of Sacramento Community Development Department Building Division
- 300 Richards Blvd., 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95811
- Phone: 916-808-5318
- Email: ezpermit@cityofsacramento.org
- Official permit page
- Permit portal
- Official fee schedule
Look up a permit in Sacramento
Sacramento permit records are public, and you can check a property's permit history online.
What needs a permit in Sacramento
Of the 10 common home projects we have verified in Sacramento, 5 need a permit outright and 5 depend on size or scope. Click any project for the full rule, fee, and how to apply.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck Permit | It depends | uncovered deck 30 inches or more above grade requires a building permit | ...building permit per CDD-0245 (rev 07-12-2026), printed minimum $75 permit plus $32... |
| Electrical Permit | Permit required | Any size | Flat $105 permit fee for one-trade minor electrical work such as a panel change-out... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | fence over 7 feet in height requires a building permit | ...building permit per CDD-0245 (rev 07-12-2026), printed minimum $75 permit plus $32... |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | Flat $175 permit fee for HVAC change-outs and new installations plus a 10% technology... |
| Patio Permit | It depends | covered patios and patio covers require a building permit; at-grade sidewalks and driveways are exempt, as are unattached decks up to 200 sq ft and no more than 30 inches above grade | Patio covers are valued at $34.50 per square foot per CDD-0245's construction valuation... |
| Plumbing Permit | Permit required | Any size | Flat $105 permit fee for one-trade minor plumbing work such as sewer repair, re-plumbing... |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...(rev 07-12-2026) using contract value or ICC valuation whichever is higher, $75... |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | roof replacement involving structural framing or sheathing changes requires a permit; replacing only the roof covering may be exempt | Flat $175 permit fee for re-roofs plus a 10% technology surcharge, per CDD-0245 (rev... |
| Shed Permit | It depends | detached storage shed under 120 sq ft without electrical or plumbing does not require a permit | Valuation-based building permit per CDD-0245 (rev 07-12-2026), $75 minimum permit plus... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...permit per CDD-0245 (rev 07-12-2026) using contract or equipment value, $75 minimum... |
Planning a project in Sacramento?
Hire it out
Sponsored
Licensed contractors usually pull the permit as part of the job. Comparing a few local quotes before you commit is the useful next step.
Compare local contractor quotes on Angi
Sponsored link. PermitNotebook may earn a fee if you request quotes through it. Partners never influence our permit data.
Planning several things at once? Check your whole project
Schedule an inspection in Sacramento
Permitted work is not finished until it passes inspection. City of Sacramento building inspections page with scheduling information.
Schedule or request a Sacramento inspection
When the portal will not take the date you need, the office still books by phone: 916-808-5318.
Checked . If the office has changed its process, report it.
Sacramento permit fees compared with nearby California localities
| California locality | Deck Permit | HVAC Permit | Electrical Permit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sacramento | ...per CDD-0245 (rev 07-12-2026), printed minimum $75... | Flat $175 permit fee for HVAC change-outs and new... | Flat $105 permit fee for one-trade minor electrical work... |
| Alameda County | ...A building permit fee table (for example, '$381.46... | ...Permit 18% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... | ...Permit 20% of Building Permit Fees, $140.00... |
| Contra Costa County | No deck-specific flat fee is published | ...Schedule S-002 D.6, "Mechanical Permit (Other) $75.00... | ...Schedule S-002 C.6, "Electrical Permit (Other) $75.00... |
| Fresno County | No flat deck permit fee is published | ...Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Issuing each permit... | ...Code Fees, FY 2026-27: Issuing permits $42.77... |
Each cell is the opening clause of that California jurisdiction's own fee schedule; the full wording and source sit on each permit page.
Sacramento permit questions, answered from the data
- Do you need a permit in Sacramento?
- For most projects, yes. Of the 10 permit types we have verified for Sacramento, 5 always require a permit (for example an electrical permit), 5 depend on size or scope (a deck permit, for instance). Each Sacramento permit type's page states the exact rule and its source.
- How much does a permit cost in Sacramento?
- Sacramento publishes a fee for 10 of the 10 permit types we cover, each quoted on its page from the jurisdiction's own schedule (linked on every page that carries one). Fees are set by City of Sacramento Community Development Department Building Division; we do not estimate or mark them up.
- Where do you apply for a permit in Sacramento?
- City of Sacramento Community Development Department Building Division issues permits in Sacramento, with an online portal for applications, plan uploads and status checks, and takes questions at 916-808-5318. The Sacramento official page and portal are linked in the office section above.
How the Sacramento pages were verified. 10 permit types, 3 distinct official sources, most recently checked . Every rule is read from City of Sacramento Community Development Department Building Division or the applicable code and cited on its page; anything we could not confirm for Sacramento is marked rather than estimated. How we verify.
Permitting activity in Sacramento
In 2025, Sacramento authorized permits for 2,297 new residential housing units (1,012 single-family, 1,285 in multi-family buildings), valued at $541M , up from 2,043 the year before. That works out to about 4.5 permits per 1,000 residents. It is a useful gauge of how busy the local permit office is.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025 annual data · population 512,838.
About Sacramento
Sacramento has about 210,621 housing units. The median home is valued at $484,600, against a median household income of $83,753. About 51% of homes are owner-occupied, and the typical home was built around 1976. Older housing stock usually means more renovation, electrical, and plumbing permits.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2023 5-year.