Electrical 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 electrical work.
No published local exemption; the state electrical exemptions in the adopted code apply (portable appliances and equipment, listed cord-and-plug equipment, and repair or replacement of fixed motors or appliances of the same type and rating). Note that in Modesto electrical work that is part of a dwelling, addition or remodel is not separately permitted at all - the residential building fees expressly include mechanical, plumbing and electrical.
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Sources
- electrical — 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
- General building work permit checklist
BuildSpec is a reference, not the authority having jurisdiction. Confirm requirements with Modesto before you build.