Administrative overview · FIPS 06109
Tuolumne County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Tuolumne County Community Development Department - Building and Safety Division
For a project in or near Tuolumne County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
(209) 533-5633; building permit questions (209) 533-5637; inspection request line (209) 533-5940
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Tuolumne County Building and Safety Division, A.N. Francisco Building, 48 Yaney Avenue, Floors 3 and 4, Sonora, CA 95370; mailing address 2 S. Green Street, Sonora, CA 95370
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.; inspection requests should be made before 3:00 p.m. the business day before the desired inspection.
Review expectation
The County's published performance standard describes first review as generally due no later than 15 days after application, depending on project type; subsequent-review standards are maintained internally and are not publicly reported. Actual timing depends on a complete submittal and applicant corrections.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Tuolumne County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Tuolumne County Community Development Department - Building and Safety Division is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact (209) 533-5633; building permit questions (209) 533-5637; inspection request line (209) 533-5940.
How long might review take?
The County's published performance standard describes first review as generally due no later than 15 days after application, depending on project type; subsequent-review standards are maintained internally and are not publicly reported. Actual timing depends on a complete submittal and applicant corrections.
How are inspections scheduled?
Call the building inspection request line at (209) 533-5940. Requests made before 3:00 p.m. the day before the desired inspection avoid placement on the next business day; use the OpenGov permit record and county staff for project-specific inspection requirements.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
2025 California Building Standards Code, including the 2025 California Building Code, as adopted by the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors and codified in County Ordinance Chapter 15.04; applicable 2025 Title 24 Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Energy, Fire, Existing Building, Green Building, Wildland-Urban Interface, and referenced-standards provisions also apply. Tuolumne County's 2025 local amendment to California Building Code Section 105.2 exempts one-story detached accessory structures such as tool/storage sheds, playhouses, and gazebos up to 120 sq. ft., and covered porches not serving a primary exit up to 120 sq. ft., provided the highest porch support is no more than 12 ft. above grade and roof projections extend no more than 24 in. beyond the floor area. Exemption from a building permit does not remove applicable structural, zoning, fire, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, or Wildland-Urban Interface requirements; other exemptions should be confirmed with Building and Safety.