Fresno, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit/plan-review fees set by
- Master Fee Resolution
- Extra review-time fee triggered by
- complex/changed plans (§109.5)
- Utility hookup barred until
- code compliance confirmed (§112.1)
- Electrical meter required operational
- before final electrical inspection
- Temporary power allowed with
- security agreement + possible deposit
- Appeals go to
- Building Standards Appeals Board
Summary
Every Fresno building permit fee is set by the City's Master Fee Resolution, with an added charge when plans are unusually complex or get changed enough to need extra review time. Municipal Code § 11-102 also blocks utility hookups, and any temporary construction power, until the Building Official signs off.
109.2 Schedule of Fees. All fees assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Fresno Building Code shall be set forth in the City of Fresno Master Fee Resolution. 112.1 Connection of Service Utilities. Utility connections shall not be permitted until compliance with the provisions of the Fresno Municipal Code as set herein. Electrical Meter: Electrical meters shall be required to be in place and operational prior to final electrical inspection to facilitate testing and acceptance of the entire system. Installation of devices, fixtures, and wiring shall be completed and in working order for testing purposes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 54).
Full Breakdown
2 so that every fee charged under the Fresno Building Code, plan review, permit issuance, and related charges, is set out in the City of Fresno Master Fee Resolution rather than the code itself. 5 adds a mechanism for extra charges: if plans are unusually complex, incomplete, or get changed so the Department needs more plan-review time than the base fee assumed, the City can charge an additional fee under the Master Fee Resolution's special-services-request provision, except that for commercial projects with multiple buildings sharing identical footprints and floor plans, the Building Official sets the review fee to match actual circumstances and reasonable Department costs.
1 bars any utility connection until the project complies with the Fresno Municipal Code, and specifically requires the electrical meter to be installed and operational before the final electrical inspection, with all wiring, devices, and fixtures complete and working for testing. 0 of the California Plumbing Code; early occupancy under a Temporary Certificate additionally requires the owner to sign a security agreement and, unless waived by the Building Official, post a deposit sized to guarantee the unfinished work gets completed.
Violations & Fines
Connecting utility service, or occupying a building, before the Building Official has authorized it under §§ 112.1-112.2 is a code violation, and § 114.4.1 makes any violation of the Fresno Building Code a misdemeanor. Fee disputes and denials of a special-services fee request can be appealed to the Building Standards Appeals Board under § 113, following the same appeal path as other Building Official determinations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find Fresno's building permit fee amounts?
Can Fresno charge more than the base permit fee for my project?
Can I turn on utilities at my Fresno job site before final inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fresno
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Fresno County handle building permits.