Yes. If you're demolishing a structure anywhere in Tehama, Butte, or Shasta County, in Northern California, you need a demolition permit before work starts, and each county runs its own process with its own forms. There's no single "Northern California demolition permit." Tehama County, Butte County, and Shasta County, plus the City of Redding, which handles its own permits separately from the county, each have a different building department, a different application, and in some cases a different online portal.
That's the part that trips people up. A property owner who searches "demolition permit California" mostly finds state-level generalities or a big city's process. What actually matters is the specific form and office for the county the structure sits in, and that's what this post walks through.
Why there isn't one form for the whole region
California's building code requires a permit from the local building official before any demolition, but "local" means the incorporated city or the county, not the state. Tehama, Butte, and Shasta each administer that requirement through their own building department, with their own applications and, in Butte County's case, an added air district review step. None of them will accept another jurisdiction's paperwork, and none of them share a portal.
Tehama County
Corning, Red Bluff, and the unincorporated county route demolition permits through the Tehama County Department of Building and Safety. The county's posted clearance requirements note that demolition doesn't trigger the same fire department or road department sign-off that some new construction projects need, but an asbestos and lead paint survey can still be required before the department will issue the permit. You apply through the county's permit system or by contacting Building and Safety directly with the parcel information for the property.
Butte County and the City of Chico
Butte County uses a two-part process most first-time applicants don't expect. You submit a building permit application, form DBP-01, with the assessor's parcel number, along with a separate Demolition Permit Asbestos Notification Statement, form DBP-83. The county can't issue the demolition permit until that asbestos questionnaire has been reviewed and approved by the Butte County Air Quality Management District. Depending on what the questionnaire turns up, that can mean a full asbestos survey and its own notification timeline before the building department moves the file forward. A site plan is required, and if the work is interior demolition only, floor plans as well. Applications run through the county's Accela-based demolition packet process, or in person at the Building Division.
The City of Chico runs its own building division, separate from the county, for anything inside city limits. A demolition in downtown Chico goes through the city's Community Development Building Division, not the county office, even though both sit in Butte County.
Shasta County and the City of Redding
This pairing catches the most people off guard, because "Redding" isn't one jurisdiction for permitting purposes. Inside Redding city limits, you file a Demolition Permit Declaration through the City of Redding Permit Center, and that application gets submitted in person. Outside city limits, anywhere else in Shasta County, you apply through the county's Build Shasta online portal, or in person at the Shasta County Building Division on Placer Street. File with the wrong office and you'll be sent to start over with the right one, which costs a week you didn't plan for.
What stays the same no matter which office you're in
A few things hold across all three counties and both cities, even though the applications look different:
| Jurisdiction | Where you apply | Core form or portal | Asbestos step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tehama County | Building and Safety Dept. | County application | Survey may be required before permit issues |
| Butte County | Accela / in person | DBP-01 plus DBP-83 | AQMD approval required before permit issues |
| City of Chico | City Building Division | City application | Same state asbestos rules, city-run process |
| Shasta County (unincorporated) | Build Shasta online portal | Build Shasta | Survey tied to state Title 8 requirements |
| City of Redding | Permit Center, in person | Demolition Permit Declaration | Same state asbestos rules, city-run process |
A licensed contractor, not the property owner, should generally be the one listed as contractor of record on the application. If a contractor asks you to pull the permit yourself, that shifts liability back onto you, and it's worth asking directly why.
The asbestos and lead survey requirement comes from state and federal rules, not county preference, so it applies no matter which office issues the permit. Our hazardous waste removal before demolition page covers what that survey and abatement step actually involves once it's flagged.
None of the three counties publish a flat processing time. Whether a file moves in days or weeks depends mostly on whether an asbestos survey has to happen first and how backed up that particular office is that month.
When it's worth having a contractor handle the paperwork
A property owner demolishing one small outbuilding with no asbestos history can sometimes manage the county application directly, especially in Tehama County, where the process is simpler. Once you're dealing with a house, a barn with unknown roofing material, or a commercial structure in Butte or Shasta County, the air district questionnaire and survey timeline start driving the whole schedule, and it helps to have someone who files these applications regularly and already knows which office wants what.
Walberg, Inc. has run demolition projects across Tehama, Butte, and Shasta counties since 1999 (26 years) under CSLB License #898860 (A, C-21, C-22). Pulling the permit and coordinating the asbestos survey is part of how we scope a job, not a separate line item you have to chase down on your own.
Common Questions
Do I need a permit to demolish a barn or ag building in Tehama County?
Yes. Tehama County requires a demolition permit for any structure or portion of a structure, agricultural buildings included. The county doesn't require the fire or road department clearances that some new construction triggers, but an asbestos and lead survey can still be required before the permit is issued.
Is a City of Redding demolition permit the same as a Shasta County permit?
No. They're two separate offices with two separate applications. Projects inside Redding city limits go through the City of Redding Permit Center. Everything outside city limits, anywhere else in Shasta County, goes through the county's Build Shasta portal or the Building Division office on Placer Street.
Can I pull my own demolition permit as the property owner?
In most cases, yes, but it means you're the one of record responsible for meeting code and passing inspection, not the contractor doing the physical work. Most licensed demolition contractors pull the permit themselves as part of the job, so it's worth asking upfront who will actually be listed as the applicant.
How long does a demolition permit take in Northern California?
None of the three counties publish a guaranteed turnaround, and it depends heavily on whether the structure needs an asbestos or lead survey first. A simple ag building with no hazardous material history typically moves faster through review than a pre-1980 house that needs lab results before the county will sign off.
What happens if I demolish a structure without a permit?
You're exposed to stop-work orders and fines, and it becomes a problem the next time you try to pull a building permit for whatever goes on that lot afterward. Unpermitted demolition can also surface in title and disclosure searches, which complicates selling the property later.
Bottom line
Three counties, two of them with a separate city process layered on top, and the one thing that stays consistent is that the asbestos and lead survey requirement doesn't disappear no matter which office is reviewing your file. If you're not sure which jurisdiction your property falls under or which form applies, request a free estimate and we'll tell you what the permit path looks like before you file anything, along with what our demolition services cover once you're cleared to start. For projects in and around Chico or Redding, we've filed through both the city and county offices enough times to know which one you actually need.