Sacramento Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from the City of Sacramento Community Development Department and City Clerk; sources are listed at the end.

If your home is inside Sacramento city limits, building permits come from the City of Sacramento Community Development Department, and almost all of them are requested online through the city’s public permit portal. You can also use the portal to look up a property’s permit history, which is the quickest way to find out whether past work on a house was permitted before you sell it.

Sacramento building permits at a glance

Who issues permits	City of Sacramento Community Development Department, Building Division (inside city limits)
Unincorporated areas	Sacramento County Community Development, a separate agency
How to apply	Almost all permits are submitted online through the public permit portal
Public counter	300 Richards Blvd, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95811. Appointments Tuesday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Permit history, 1982 to today	Online Permit Search through Community Development
Permit cards before 1982	City Clerk’s Online Records Library
Building plans	The city has no plans from before 1955
Fees	Paid online or at the public counter

Who issues building permits in Sacramento: the city or the county?

It depends on where the house sits. The City of Sacramento and Sacramento County are separate jurisdictions. A home inside city limits gets its permits from the city’s Community Development Department. A home in an unincorporated area, with a Sacramento mailing address but outside the city, goes to Sacramento County’s Community Development Department instead.

Mailing addresses do not settle this. Many homes with a “Sacramento” address are in unincorporated areas, so check the jurisdiction before you apply or search for records, because each agency keeps its own files. If you are unsure, the county’s tax bill and the city’s property lookup tools show which agency covers the parcel.

How do I get a building permit in Sacramento?

Start online. The city says almost all permits must be submitted through its public permit portal, and a basic user account is all you need to begin. The Community Development Department lists the service that fits each type of project, from minor permits that need no plan review to larger projects that go through plan review.

1. Confirm the jurisdiction. City limits or unincorporated county, as above.
2. Pick the permit type. Water heaters, re-roofs, electrical panel changes and similar work are commonly minor permits. Additions, structural changes and new units need plan review.
3. Create a portal account and submit. Upload the application and any plans, then pay fees online.
4. Book inspections. The permit is not finished until the final inspection passes.

If you prefer to talk to someone, the public counter at 300 Richards Boulevard handles planning questions and minor permits by appointment, Tuesday through Thursday. Check the city’s appointment page before you go, because the counter has closed for department meetings on some days.

How do I look up the permit history on a Sacramento house?

Search by address. The city’s FAQ tells owners to log in to the public permit portal to search a property’s permit history. The records are split by date:

• 1982 to today: permit cards are in Community Development’s Online Permit Search.
• Early 1900s to 1982: scanned permit cards are in the City Clerk’s Online Records Library.
• Building plans: the city keeps plans for permitted projects, but has none from before 1955.

Read the history for three things: permits that were opened and never finalized, work you know was done but that has no permit, and permits that show a final inspection. A permit without a final is called an open permit, and it is the one buyers and their lenders ask about.

What happens to permits when you sell a house in Sacramento?

Permit problems surface in the sale in two ways. First, a buyer’s inspector or agent may notice an addition, converted garage or other change that does not match the records.

Second, in California sellers generally have to disclose known problems on the transfer disclosure statement, and that includes work you know was done without a permit. Hiding it risks a dispute after closing, so most sellers deal with it up front.

On a traditional listing the usual choices are to finish the open permit, apply for a permit after the fact for work already done, cut the price, or have the buyer take on the problem. Each costs money and time, and after-the-fact permits can require opening walls for inspection. Lenders and appraisers also tend to be cautious about unpermitted living space, which can narrow your buyer pool.

How to sell a house in Sacramento with unpermitted work or open permits

You can sell a house in Sacramento that has unpermitted work or an open permit. The question is who takes on the problem, you or the buyer, and the price reflects that.

1. Pull the permit history first. Know what the city shows before you talk to any buyer.
2. Write down what you know. Who did the work, when, and whether you have receipts or plans.
3. Compare your options. Fixing it yourself, selling with a price credit, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who prices the risk in.
4. Disclose honestly. A cash offer does not change what you must disclose, but it removes the repair and inspection steps that cause delays.

We buy Sacramento houses as they are, which means no permit clean-up, repairs or showings. Read how selling a house as-is in Sacramento works, or see our Sacramento cash-offer process step by step. If the house has been cited for violations, our Sacramento code enforcement guide covers what happens next.

Estimate your transfer tax when you sell

Permit costs are only one part of what it costs to sell. Use this calculator for the transfer tax that is due when the deed is recorded.

For the full property tax picture, including due dates and what happens when taxes are unpaid, read our Sacramento property tax guide.

Not sure what your permit history means for a sale? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Sacramento building permits FAQ

Can I sell a house in Sacramento with an open permit?

Yes. An open permit does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one because buyers and lenders ask for it to be finalized. A cash buyer can purchase the house with the permit still open.

Where can I see old building permits for a Sacramento address?

Permits from 1982 to today are in the city’s Online Permit Search, and older permit cards are in the City Clerk’s Online Records Library. The city has no building plans from before 1955.

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater or roof in Sacramento?

Often yes, as a minor permit, but requirements depend on the work. Check the city’s minor permit list or ask the Community Development public counter before starting.

Is the City of Sacramento permit office different from the county’s?

Yes. The city handles homes inside city limits and the county handles unincorporated areas. They are separate agencies with separate records.

How do I sell a house in Sacramento with unpermitted additions?

Disclose the work, then choose between permitting it, discounting the price, or selling as-is to a cash buyer who accounts for the risk in the offer.

Sources

• City of Sacramento: Permit Services
• City of Sacramento: Permit Services FAQs
• City of Sacramento Clerk: Building Records
• City of Sacramento: Contact Community Development

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules and hours change; confirm requirements with the City of Sacramento Community Development Department.