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PermitBase

Building Permit in Modesto, California

The City of Modesto issues building permits through the Building Safety Division, located in Suite 3100 at 1010 10th Street. The division publishes separate phone and counter hours.

Verified 2026-09-18 · Source

When you need this permit

  • NOT PUBLISHED as a checklist on the pages read for this record.

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

    Fee schedule

    Permit feesNo fee figures were printed on the artefacts read, so none are recorded.
    NOT PUBLISHED on the pages read for this record.

    Review timeline

    Plan review
    Not published — contact the department

    How long did your Building Permit permit actually take in Modesto?

    Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

    Inspection process

      Tips

      • THE PHONE LINE AND THE COUNTER KEEP DIFFERENT HOURS. Modesto publishes phone hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., so there is an hour at the start of the day and half an hour at the end when a question can be answered by phone but nothing can be done at the counter.
      • THE STREET ADDRESS AND THE MAILING ADDRESS ARE DIFFERENT. Deliveries and visits go to 1010 10th Street, Suite 3100, Modesto, CA 95354; post goes to P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA 95353. Sending a submittal to the street address by post, or to the PO box by courier, is an easy way to lose a week.

      Frequently asked questions

      Modesto requires a building permit for: NOT PUBLISHED as a checklist on the pages read for this record.. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Modesto Building Safety Division at 209-577-5232 before starting work.

      Modesto does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Modesto Building Safety Division at 209-577-5232 for current turnaround.

      Apply through City of Modesto Building Safety Division at 1010 10th Street, Suite 3100, Modesto, CA 95354. Phone: 209-577-5232, email: NOT PUBLISHED on the pages read for this record.. Office hours: Monday through Friday. Phone: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Office: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. THE TWO DIFFER - the phone line opens an hour before the counter and closes half an hour after it.. Official information: https://www.modestogov.com/564/Building-Safety-Division.

      The California Building Standards Code, Title 24. California sets this statewide rather than city by city: Health and Safety Code section 18938 provides that standards adopted into the California Building Standards Code shall apply to all occupancies throughout the state.

      Yes. The division publishes phone hours of 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. against office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, so the phone line is staffed an hour before the counter opens and half an hour after it closes.

      The mailing address is P.O. Box 642, Modesto, CA 95353, which is different from the street address at 1010 10th Street, Suite 3100, Modesto, CA 95354. Use the PO box for post and the street address for visits or couriered deliveries.

      The Building Safety Division is at 1010 10th Street, Suite 3100, Modesto, CA 95354, reachable on 209-577-5232.

      Generally no, during the current statewide window. Health and Safety Code section 17958 provides that a city or county shall not make changes applicable to residential units during that period unless one of six listed conditions is met, such as home hardening or emergency standards.

      Sources & verification

      Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-18.

      Codes & ordinances

      Department & other records

      Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Modesto building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

      Modesto's permit history isn't searchable here yet

      This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Modesto yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.

      Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Modesto lands. Privacy.

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