Tehama County, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Tehama County only
- Enforcing agency
- Tehama County Building Official
- Noncompliance notice
- Recorded after 30 days unpermitted
- Not covered
- Red Bluff, Corning, City of Tehama
Summary
Tehama County requires a permit before building, altering, or demolishing most structures in the unincorporated area; unpermitted work triggers a recorded notice of noncompliance against the property.
Except as specified in subsection B of this section, no building, structure or building service equipment regulated by this code and the technical codes shall be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted or demolished unless a separate, appropriate permit for each building, structure or building service equipment has first been obtained from the building official.2.In those cases where there has been a failure to secure the required permit or permits, the building official, acting thirty days after notifying by mail, the owner of the property, of the requirement for permits, shall record a notice of noncompliance with the county recorder. The notice shall identify the property and set forth the fact that the building, structure or work does not have the required permit or permits and is in violation of county codes and that the owner has been so notified. This shall be done in addition to any other legal remedy that the department may employ. When a permit has been obtained for the building, structure or work the building official shall record with the county recorder and provide to the property owner of record, a notice of cancellation certifying that a permit has been issued and that the notice of noncompliance has been rescinded. This shall be done at the permittee's expense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23).
Full Breakdown
In the unincorporated area of Tehama County, no building, structure, or building service equipment may be erected, altered, repaired, moved, or demolished without a separate permit from the building official, except items specifically exempted (sheds, low fences, retaining walls, etc.). If an owner skips the permit, the building official can, after 30 days' mailed notice, record a notice of noncompliance against the property with the county recorder, a lien-like cloud on title that isn't cleared until the permit is obtained and a notice of cancellation is recorded. This applies only in unincorporated Tehama County, Red Bluff, Corning, and the City of Tehama enforce their own building codes.
Violations & Fines
Building without a permit is a code violation; the building official can order stop-work, and after 30 days' notice, records a notice of noncompliance with the county recorder against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tehama County's building permit rule apply inside Red Bluff?
What happens if I build without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tehama County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tehama County to another location·View the California building safety overview
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