Redding Building Permits Guide for Homeowners and Sellers

Last updated November 13, 2026. Reviewed by the Cash Home Buyers CA team. Information comes from City of Redding Development Services pages; sources are listed at the end.

In Redding, most building permits are applied for in person at the Permit Center at City Hall, while a short list of simple residential permits can be filed online. If you are selling a Redding house that has had a remodel, an addition, a converted garage or a replaced water heater, the permit history matters to buyers, appraisers and lenders.

This guide summarizes how the city’s permit process works, what it does not require a permit for, and what to do when work was done without one.

Redding building permits at a glance

When does a Redding house need a building permit?

The city says permits exist to keep minimum safety and performance standards for buildings. In general, a permit is required for new structures, improvements, replacements and repairs to structures, and alterations to mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire and other building systems. The California Building Code exempts some small projects, but the city notes that an exempt item may still need approval from Planning, Fire, Public Works or another agency.

Examples the city lists as not needing a building permit include a one-story detached shed of 120 square feet or less, a fence not over seven feet and not within 10 feet of a public right-of-way (though most fences are limited to six feet by the zoning code), a retaining wall not over four feet, and cosmetic work such as painting, tiling, carpeting, cabinets and countertops.

Minor plumbing repairs such as clearing a stoppage are exempt, but replacing a concealed pipe is treated as new work and needs a permit. Several exempt items still need Planning review, so ask before you build.

How to apply for a permit in Redding

1. Decide the permit type. Check the city’s exemptions, then see whether your project is one of the online permit types or needs the in-person process.
2. Gather plans. California law does not require an architect or engineer for wood-frame single-family homes of up to two stories and a basement, for multiple dwellings of no more than four units of that type, or for garages and similar structures, though the building official can ask for professional plans in rare cases.
3. Get a fee estimate if the project is large. Some basic permits carry flat fees, such as $186.89 for a residential HVAC changeout, $155.39 for a water heater replacement and $450 for residential solar of 15 kW or less. Other permits are priced by project valuation.
4. Submit and pay. For in-person permits, bring the application, documents and payment to the Permit Center at City Hall. For online permits, create an account in the city’s permit portal first.
5. Plan review. Plans are reviewed before a permit is issued, and review time depends on the size, complexity and completeness of the submittal. Your plans examiner emails you when the plan is approved.
6. Pick up the permit. You can pay when you pick up the approved plan, or ask the Permit Center for an invoice and pay online.

Inspections and the Certificate of Occupancy

Your permit card lists the inspections the project needs and how to schedule them, by phone or through the city’s online portal. Redding’s building inspectors work Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Same-day requests are not accepted, AM or PM choices are only preferences, and the city generally tries to offer next-day inspections.

A qualified person should be on site with the approved plans and the permit card, because a re-inspection fee can apply if the site is not ready or the paperwork is missing. After-hours inspections carry a two-hour minimum charge and need five working days’ notice.

Before the city can issue a Certificate of Occupancy, the project must pass all final inspections, the final documents must be in, and all fees must be paid. For single-family new construction, a request submitted by 10 AM can typically be issued the same business day if the documents are in order. Larger projects take longer.

Unpermitted work, expired permits and what the city says

Redding’s code enforcement division lists unpermitted construction among the common violations. Its handout says any construction, including new work, additions, conversions, remodeling, alterations and demolition, must be covered by a building permit regardless of when it happened or who did it.

Work not covered has to be legalized to stay or removed after a permit is obtained, and engineered plans are often required. The same handout includes construction that began under a permit that has since expired.

See our Redding code enforcement guide for how cases start and what penalties the city describes.

For a seller this means an old garage conversion, an enclosed patio or a bathroom added without a permit can surface when a buyer pulls records or an inspector walks the house. California sellers generally must disclose known unpermitted work, so read our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work.

If the unpermitted structure is a backyard or garage unit, our Redding zoning and ADU guide covers the city’s path to legalize it.

How an open permit affects selling a Redding house

An open or expired permit tells a buyer the work was never signed off. A lender may want it closed before funding, and an appraiser may discount work that was never finalized. Fixing it can mean inspections, corrections and fees, and on older work it can mean opening walls. That is why many sellers compare the cost and timeline of closing a permit with selling the house as it stands.

How to sell a Redding house with open or unpermitted work

1. List what was done. Write down the work, the year and who did it, and gather any receipts or plans.
2. Ask the city. Contact the Permit Center to find out whether permits were issued and whether any are still open.
3. Price the fix. Get a contractor estimate and a fee estimate from the city, then compare with selling as-is.
4. Choose your path. Close the permit and list, list with a repair credit, or sell as-is to a cash buyer.
5. Disclose. A cash offer does not remove disclosure duties, but it removes inspection and financing delays.

We buy Redding houses as they are, permits and all. Read how selling a house as-is in Redding works, or see our Redding cash-offer process.

Not sure what is open on your house? Call (424) 435-2326 or request a cash offer. There is no cost and no obligation.

Redding building permits FAQ

Can I get a Redding building permit online?

Only some types. The city lists residential mechanical, water heater replacement, solar PV, pre-approved solar and EV charger permits, plus a few commercial types. Everything else is filed in person at the Permit Center.

How long does a Redding permit take?

The city does not publish a fixed time. Plans are reviewed before issuance, and the timeline varies with project size, complexity and how complete your plans are.

Do I need an architect for a Redding remodel?

Not for wood-frame single-family homes up to two stories and a basement, or small multi-unit buildings of that type, under California law. The building official can still ask for professional plans.

Can I sell a Redding house with an open permit?

Yes. An open or unpermitted item does not legally stop a sale, but it can slow a traditional one. A cash buyer can purchase the house as-is.

Sources

• City of Redding: Development Services FAQs
• City of Redding: Inspection Services
• City of Redding: Building
• City of Redding: Common Municipal Code Violations

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Permit rules and fees change; confirm requirements with the City of Redding Permit Center.