General building work permit checklist — Modesto, California
Assembled from Modesto’s own published permit rules. Every line below is quoted from a city document and linked to it. Nothing here is generated, estimated, or inferred from another jurisdiction.
Do you need a permit?
Modesto requires a permit for general building work.
Modesto's Building Safety Division says the city requires permits so construction can be checked against life-safety requirements and the building codes, and it publishes only two amended-looking carve-outs in its own FAQ (detached storage sheds of 120 sq ft or less, and fences 7 ft or under). Those match the state exemptions in CBC/CRC 105.2 as adopted, so for everything else - additions, structural alterations, garages, decks over 30 in. above grade, retaining walls over 4 ft - the state exemption list is what governs and a permit is required.
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Sources
- building — permit rules ↗verified August 2026
Other permits Modesto publishes rules for
Listed because the city publishes a separate rule for each type — not because this project necessarily triggers one. Whether it does depends on your scope of work.
- Deck permit checklist
- Fence permit checklist
- Shed permit checklist
- Water heater permit checklist
- Re-roof permit checklist
- Retaining wall permit checklist
- Electrical work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Modesto before you build.