Rohnert Park, CA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permitting authority
- Building Official (fire code: Fire Code Official)
- Fee refund window
- 180 days of payment
- Fee adjustment window
- 30 days of payment
- Maximum penalty
- $1,000 fine and/or 6 months jail
- Exempt work
- Fences 7 feet or less
- Appeals body
- Board of Appeals, council-appointed
Summary
Rohnert Park requires a permit application to the building official for all work under Chapters 15.04 through 15.34, except fire code work handled by the fire code official, before construction, alteration, repair or demolition begins. The city council sets permit fees by resolution, and only limited work such as fences under 7 feet is exempt.
A.All applications for permits required by Chapters 15.04 through 15.34, with the exception of Chapter 15.28, shall be made to the building official in any form and detail, including any required plans, established by the building official. ... C.The city council may establish fees, by resolution, for permit applications. ... (2) Fences not over 7 feet (2134 mm) high or fences totaling 8 feet in height consisting of solid 6 foot section with 2 foot of lattice on top.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 51 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
28, be submitted to the building official in the form and detail the building official establishes, including any required plans; fire code permits go to the fire code official instead. The city council sets permit fees by resolution. 2 to exempt only limited work from a permit: fences not over 7 feet high, or 8 feet total when built as a solid 6-foot section topped with 2 feet of lattice. Everything else, additions, alterations, repairs and new construction, needs a permit. 040 let an applicant recover 100% of a fee paid in error, 90% of an unused plan review fee, or 90% of a building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical permit fee if withdrawn before any inspection, provided the refund request is filed within 180 days of payment.
050. 070 creates a city council-appointed board of appeals to hear disputes over the building official's or fire marshal's permit decisions, with its own fee schedule set by council resolution and written decisions issued to the appellant.
Violations & Fines
Working without a required permit, or in violation of approved plans or a building official's order, is a misdemeanor under Section 15.04.060, punishable by a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail, though the citing officer may instead charge it as an infraction capped at the Government Code Section 36900 maximum. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense, and completing work without a permit also triggers additional plan review and inspection fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Rohnert Park?
How do I get a building permit fee refunded?
What happens if I build without a permit?
Can I appeal a building official's decision?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rohnert Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Rohnert Park to another location·View the California building safety overview
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How other cities in Sonoma County handle building permits.