Overview
Use the City of Sacramento Building Division for property within its jurisdiction, not the County or West Sacramento. The City offers online minor permits for licensed contractors and an EZ Permit submission route for owners and contractors. Work needing plans must use the appropriate plan-review service.
Authority
City Community Development Building Division
Minor application
Online licensed-contractor route or EZ Permit submission
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Panels, circuits and residential rewiring
Sacramento Building DivisionApplicable Code
2025 California electrical requirements and applicable City amendments for new applications.
License Requirement
CSLB electrical classification or authorized scope; owners use the City owner-builder verification rather than contractor-only online access.
License Fee
CSLB electrical classification schedule
CEUs
Verify the regulated state credential’s renewal rules
Permit Fee
City’s undated live average-cost page lists panel change-out, circuit work and residential rewiring at $95 each. These are averages, not confirmed post-July-2026 invoice rates.
Plan Review Time
Use Minor Permits for listed eligible work; utility-requested safety inspections have their own instructions.
Common Pitfalls
- City and County electrical permit services are different jurisdictions.
- An issued electrical permit still needs the required inspection and acceptance.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Identify scope
Confirm City jurisdiction and minor vs plan-review eligibility
Prepare bundle
Application, contractor/owner verification and scope documents
Submit
Use Public Permit Portal or the City’s EZ Permit instructions
Clear review
Answer comments and coordinate required agency approvals
Issue and inspect
Pay assessed charges; inspect before concealing work
Obtain finals
Confirm City acceptance and any fire/occupancy approval
Permit fees and worked estimates
The City forms page announces building/planning fee changes effective July 12, 2026. Its live minor-permit average-cost page separately lists $95 electrical-panel and $225 HVAC figures without an effective date. Use those as published planning averages only and obtain a current assessment.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Panels, circuits and residential rewiring | City’s undated live average-cost page lists panel change-out, circuit work and residential rewiring at $95 each. These are averages, not confirmed post-July-2026 invoice rates. | CSLB electrical classification schedule |
| Water heaters, repiping and gas repairs | Undated City published averages: non-solar water heater $95, repipe $95, gas-line repair/replacement $95. Verify the current assessment after the July 2026 changes. | CSLB plumbing classification schedule |
| Residential HVAC replacement and installation | Undated City average-cost page lists HVAC change-out/new unit at $225. It is an illustrative published average; current invoice and other scope charges control. | CSLB mechanical specialty schedule |
| Fire protection, access and water supply | Fire plan-review fees are administered separately; City Building Fees lists Fire plan review contact (916) 808-1634. | State classification and required system credentials |
| Building, remodel and agency coordination | City publishes undated averages of $365 kitchen and $325 bathroom remodels for its stated minor scopes; confirm eligibility and current fees, plus any separate agency charges. | CSLB building classification schedule |
Submission checklist
Homeowner responsibilities
The City requires owners using the owner-builder route to read, initial and sign its verification form. A contractor’s online minor-permit capability is not blanket owner access. Owner-builder status does not remove required construction standards, inspections or obligations for hired workers.
Codes and amendments
The City code page says new plan-review and permit applications from January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2025 California Building Standards Codes and applicable City amendments. Confirm the project’s application date and discipline requirements rather than borrowing the County code.
Inspections and closeout
City inspection guidance requires inspection before work is covered or concealed. The project is not approved until City inspection staff accept it. Coordinate Fire inspections and required occupancy approval where applicable, and retain the accepted final records.