Hanford 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 Hanford Community Development pages and the city’s residential regulations handout; sources are listed at the end.

In Hanford, the Building Division performs plan reviews, issues building permits and inspects construction inside city limits, and the city tells residents that converting a garage, shed or other building into living space without a permit is unsafe and illegal. If you are selling a Hanford house that has had a re-roof, a room addition, a new water heater or a converted garage, the permit history matters to buyers, appraisers and lenders. This guide summarizes what the city publishes and what it means for a sale.

Hanford building permits at a glance

Which repairs and projects need a Hanford permit?

The city’s residential handout lists the most common repairs and construction that require a permit, and tells owners to contact the Building Division before starting. They are:

• Re-roofing
• All room additions
• Replacement water heaters
• New patio roofs
• All electrical repairs except replacing fixtures, receptacles or switches
• Replacement of non-portable heaters and air conditioners
• New sewer or water lines
• Sheds, storage buildings and accessory structures over 120 square feet

For smaller sheds the city allows placement in a rear or side yard if the walls are three feet from the rear and side property lines and the roof eaves are two feet away, with a maximum plate height of seven feet, a maximum roof ridge height of 10 feet and a maximum floor area of 120 square feet.

Structures over 120 square feet must meet all setbacks and obtain a building permit. Each 120-square-foot structure must be separated from others by at least 10 feet.

Remodeling and garage conversions

The city tells owners not to divide a home into more than one residential unit, and to get approval from the Building and Planning Division before remodeling. It says it is unsafe and illegal to convert a garage, shed or other building into living space without a building permit.

It adds that garages cannot be converted unless other covered parking is provided. If you are considering a backyard unit or a converted garage, see our Hanford zoning and ADU guide for the city’s ADU rules.

How to get a permit in Hanford

1. Talk to Planning first. The city says the best first step for any project is to call Planning at (559) 585-2580 to find out what you can do on your property. Zoning questions such as fences, setbacks and use come before building plans.
2. Confirm the permit type. Check the list above or ask the Building Division at (559) 585-2581.
3. Prepare the application and plans. For anything beyond a simple replacement, expect to provide a site plan and construction drawings.
4. Plan review. The Building Division reviews plans for compliance with adopted codes.
5. Pay fees and get the permit. All permit and code compliance fees must be paid and the permit issued before work is legal.
6. Inspections. Schedule each required inspection, including a final inspection.

What happens when work was done without a permit

Hanford’s code compliance FAQ explains how a violation is cleared. If no building permit is required, you stop the illegal activity and call the officer to schedule an inspection. If a permit is required, you contact the officer for the information needed to apply.

Before the violation is cleared, four things must happen: the building permit must be approved, all permit and code compliance fees must be paid, a permit must be issued, and all inspections, including the final, must be scheduled and approved.

In most cases the city says an owner has 15 to 30 days to either abate the violation or apply for permits, depending on severity. See our Hanford code enforcement guide.

The city also says violations run with the property, not the person who created them. A buyer who purchases a house with an unpermitted addition becomes responsible for it. That is why buyers, lenders and appraisers look closely at permit history, and why unpermitted work often leads to price cuts or delays in a traditional sale.

How an open permit affects selling a Hanford 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 space that was never finalized. California sellers generally must disclose known unpermitted work.

Read our guide to selling as-is with unpermitted work and our seller disclosure guide. Fixing an old permit can mean inspections, corrections and fees, and on older work it can mean opening walls.

How to sell a Hanford 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 Building Division to learn whether permits were issued and whether any are still open.
3. Price the fix. Get a contractor estimate and compare it 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 Hanford houses as they are, permits and all. Read how selling a house as-is in Hanford works, or see our Hanford 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.

Hanford building permits FAQ

Do I need a permit to replace a water heater in Hanford?

Yes. The city lists replacement water heaters among common repairs that require a permit.

Does a shed need a permit in Hanford?

Sheds and accessory structures over 120 square feet need a permit. Smaller sheds must still meet setback and height limits.

Can I convert my Hanford garage into a room?

Only with a building permit, and the city says garages cannot be converted unless other covered parking is provided.

Can I sell a Hanford 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 Hanford: Residential regulations handout
• City of Hanford: Code Compliance FAQ
• City of Hanford: Building

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