Davis Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Davis Building Permits, Inspections & City Services

If you searched for the Davis Building Department, the office you usually need is the City of Davis Building Division, part of Community Development and Sustainability. It handles building permits, plan review, construction inspections, code-related questions, residential resale inspections and related building services for property under City of Davis jurisdiction.

Official information reviewed: October 24, 2026.

Davis Building Division Contact Information

UC Davis states that its Fire Prevention Construction and New Building Program reviews plans and performs inspections for construction and remodel projects under UC Davis scope. Check the UC Davis campus construction program . UC Davis Health also operates a separate Building Department for its Sacramento facilities, so do not confuse that system with ordinary private property in the City of Davis.

What Does the Davis Building Division Handle?

The division is the practical starting point for work such as:

• New residential and commercial construction.
• Home additions and substantial remodeling.
• Structural alterations and repairs.
• Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work requiring permits.
• Electrical service and panel upgrades.
• EV charging equipment.
• Roofing work when a permit is required.
• Solar photovoltaic installations.
• Swimming pools and spas.
• Commercial tenant improvements and changes affecting occupancy or life safety.
• Demolition and other regulated construction.
• Building plan review and required construction inspections.
• Residential resale inspections and multifamily self-certification.
• Building-code and code-enforcement questions.

Not every small repair requires a building permit. However, a building-permit exemption does not automatically remove zoning, setback, historic, fire, flood, utility or other requirements. When the scope is unclear, describe the work precisely and ask the Building Division before construction begins.

How to Apply for a Davis Building Permit in 2026

1. Confirm that the City of Davis is the correct jurisdiction. Use the property address, not just the postal city name. UC Davis-controlled property follows a different process, and work outside incorporated Davis may be under another jurisdiction.
2. Check whether Planning approval is needed before building review. Changes involving use, setbacks, building location, exterior design, site development, accessory structures, historic resources or other zoning issues may need Planning input. Open the City of Davis Planning and Zoning page if your project affects these items.
3. Open the official Building Division page and choose the correct forms. Go to the Davis Building Division . Use the Building Forms area to locate the residential or commercial application and any project-specific checklist or worksheet.
4. Prepare the application and supporting documents. Plans and supporting information depend on the project. A remodel may need a smaller package than a new home, addition or commercial project. Use the checklist below before emailing the City.
5. Email the permit package to the City. Send the application and required documents to OnlinePermits@cityofdavis.org. Include the property address and a clear project description in the message.
6. Wait for intake and plan-review instructions. City staff may request missing information, corrections or additional documents. The City currently states that typical processing times vary between 20 and 35 business days from the date of submittal, with applications reviewed in the order received.
7. Respond completely to correction comments. When revisions are requested, answer each review comment and provide corrected drawings or documents together. Incomplete resubmittals are one of the easiest ways for a permit to take longer than expected.
8. Pay assessed fees and obtain the issued permit. Once the City provides the permit number and payment instructions, pay the required amount using the permitted payment method. Do not treat an emailed application or plan-review approval as permission to begin regulated work; wait until the required permit has actually been issued.

Documents to Prepare Before You Apply

Your exact submittal depends on the project, but preparing the following items before you start can prevent a surprisingly frustrating round of emails.

For a residential project, the City’s published residential permit checklist identifies categories such as plot plans, construction plans, calculations, Title 24 energy documents, applicable electrical calculations, flood documentation and CALGreen material. Always use the current City form for your actual submission because requirements can change with project type and code cycle.

Does My Project Need a Building Permit?

How to Check a Davis Building Permit or Inspection Record

The City maintains an online Building Permits system. It can be useful when you already have a permit, are researching a property, need to review inspection information or want to locate an existing record.

1. Open the City of Davis Building Permits portal .
2. Choose the permit search/select-permit option.
3. Search using the information you have, such as an application number or property address.
4. The system may also allow searching with parcel, subdivision/lot or name information.
5. Open the matching record to review available permit and inspection information.

If you are the applicant and need a current plan-check status, the City’s FAQ directs users to contact the Building Division. Have the application or permit number and property address ready when calling 530-757-5610 or emailing OnlinePermits@cityofdavis.org.

How to Schedule a Davis Building Inspection

Once the permit is issued, inspections are required at the stages listed for the project. Do not cover work that must be inspected before the inspector has had access to it.

Method 1: Automated inspection phone line

1. Call 530-757-5658.
2. Have the permit number ready.
3. Follow the automated instructions.
4. Provide the requested contact information and inspection type.
5. Complete the request before 3:30 p.m. on the prior business day.

Method 2: Text message

1. Text 844-304-4064.
2. Follow the interactive prompts.
3. Use the required inspection scheduling code when requested by the system.
4. Confirm the permit and requested inspection.

Method 3: Email

The City describes email as a fallback/last-resort scheduling method. Send the request to cddweb@cityofdavis.org before the prior-business-day cutoff. Use a subject such as Inspection Request for [Date] and include:

• Permit number.
• Job-site address.
• Type of inspection requested.
• Best contact telephone number.

Published inspection periods

Davis lists inspection windows of approximately 8:00 a.m.–noon and 1:00–3:30 p.m.. You can request morning or afternoon, but the City does not guarantee a specific time.

Make the site ready before the inspector arrives

• Complete the work associated with the requested inspection stage.
• Do not cover walls, framing, wiring, piping or other work that needs to remain visible.
• Post the job-site address where it can be easily seen.
• Keep approved plans and permit documents available at the project.
• Provide safe access to every area that needs inspection.
• For an occupied interior inspection, arrange for an adult to be present.
• Secure dogs and other animals before an exterior inspection.
• When roof or attic access requires a ladder, follow the City’s stated ladder/access requirements.

Davis Building Permit Fees in 2026

There is no single flat price for every Davis building permit. The final amount can depend on project valuation, permit type, plan review, construction scope and other applicable City or agency charges.

The City reviews its fees annually and currently publishes a FY 2026–27 City-Wide Master Fee Schedule . For an accurate project total, use the fee assessment generated for your actual application rather than relying on an old trade-permit chart found elsewhere online.

How payment works after the permit is processed

• The City provides a permit number and the assessed fees during processing.
• When assessed fees are $1,000 or less, the City’s Building page provides an online credit/debit payment option.
• Check payment is also available through City instructions, including mail/drop-box options.
• The Building FAQ states that required building inspections are included in the building permit fee.

Which Building Codes Apply in Davis in 2026?

Davis adopted the 2025 California Building Standards Code with local amendments under Ordinance 2679. This is important in 2026 because users may still find older project sheets referring to the 2022 code cycle.

For a broader explanation of the statewide code cycle, see our 2026 California Building Code and Title 24 guide.

Useful Davis-specific code points

• 365-day permit rule: Davis’ local amendments apply a 365-day period to permit expiration, suspension or abandonment provisions rather than relying on an older shorter interval.
• CALGreen: additions, alterations and remodels that require a permit must comply with applicable green-building requirements as amended locally.
• Tier 1: Davis requires applicable buildings subject to CALGreen to meet Tier 1 measures, with energy efficiency addressed through the City’s energy reach-code provisions.
• EV readiness: Davis local amendments include Level 2 EV-charging wiring requirements for applicable new single-family residential development.
• Energy reach code: certain new mixed-fuel residential buildings have additional performance and electric-readiness requirements beyond the statewide baseline.

Solar Permits and SolarAPP+ in Davis

Davis participates in SolarAPP+ for eligible residential rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. The automated system can perform qualifying code review before the City’s local permit is completed.

1. Confirm that the residential rooftop PV project is eligible for SolarAPP+.
2. Complete the SolarAPP+ submission and automated review.
3. Pay the applicable SolarAPP+ processing charge.
4. Download the approved SolarAPP+ plans.
5. Follow the City of Davis instructions for City fees, plan copies/stamps and permit issuance.
6. After installation, request the required City inspection using the normal Davis inspection process.

Start with the City of Davis SolarAPP+ instructions rather than assuming every solar project qualifies for automated review.

Davis Residential Resale Inspection Program

Davis has a local resale program that is especially important for sellers, buyers, real-estate agents and property managers. It is separate from the ordinary building permit application process.

The City states that the resale application should be filed no later than 15 working days before close of escrow, transfer of title, change in ownership, or the end of an applicable sales-inspection period. After the inspection is complete and requested information is received, the municipal code requires the report to be issued within five working days.

How to start a resale request

1. Locate the current resale application through the City’s Building Division.
2. Complete the property, seller and contact information.
3. Email the application to the Building Division using the contact identified on the current form/page.
4. Wait for the City to assign the resale record and provide payment/scheduling instructions.
5. Make the property available for the required inspection.
6. Review the issued report and complete the required sale/transfer steps.

Because resale charges are set by City resolution and fees can change, verify the live Building Division page before paying, even when you already have an older resale form.

Common Reasons Davis Permit Applications Get Delayed

• Wrong jurisdiction: sending a UC Davis campus project through the ordinary City process.
• Skipping Planning: preparing construction drawings before resolving a zoning or site issue.
• Incomplete project description: writing “remodel” without explaining structural, plumbing, electrical or HVAC work.
• Missing plans or calculations: leaving out a document listed on the applicable City checklist.
• Using an old code cycle: preparing a new 2026 application around outdated 2022-code assumptions.
• Using an old fee chart: budgeting from a prior fiscal year’s schedule.
• Incomplete correction response: fixing one review comment while ignoring others.
• Covering work before inspection: forcing work to be reopened so the inspector can verify it.
• Late inspection request: trying to schedule after the published 3:30 p.m. prior-business-day cutoff.

What to Have Ready Before Contacting the City

You will usually get a more useful answer if you provide:

• Exact street address.
• Assessor’s parcel number if available.
• Short but specific description of proposed work.
• Whether the property is residential or commercial.
• Whether the work changes the building footprint or use.
• Permit/application number if one already exists.
• Owner, contractor or owner-builder status.
• Photos, sketches or plans when they are needed to explain the question.

Official Davis Permit Resources

• City of Davis Building Division — applications, forms, permit instructions and inspection information.
• Davis Building Permits portal — existing permit records and online permit/inspection functions.
• Current City fee schedules — use the FY 2026–27 schedule rather than an older PDF.
• Davis Municipal Code – Building provisions — current adopted building codes and local amendments.
• Davis Planning and Zoning — zoning, land-use and applicable site/planning questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related California Building Permit Guides

If you are comparing nearby California jurisdictions, permit procedures can be very different even though the statewide Title 24 code cycle is the same. You can also review our Auburn building permit guide, Benicia Building Safety guide, and Alameda building permit guide.

Last fact-check: October 24, 2026. This page is designed to help homeowners, contractors, buyers, sellers and property managers understand the process before they reach the final City action.