Fresno board affirms citation for unpermitted backyard structure but gives deadline for permit filing

The Fresno City Building Standards Appeals Board on a unanimous vote confirmed a $250 administrative citation for an unpermitted accessory structure at 7462 East Fedora Avenue but attached a deadline for the owner to advance the permit process.

Assistant City Attorney Christina Roberson told the board staff recommended denying the appeal and confirming the citation, summarizing that the case opened May 21, 2025, and that a notice and order was posted June 10 with a June 28 compliance deadline; reinspections on Oct. 30 found the accessory structure still in place and a citation was issued. Roberson said the municipal code requires an applicant to obtain permits before construction and that the appellant had not supplied required plan documents. "Staff recommends that the board deny the appellant's appeal and confirm the administrative citation," Roberson said.

Applicant Carmen Sanchez told the board she lost her home and had a prefabricated shed assembled to store belongings and that she did not realize a permit was required. "I need more time," Sanchez said, explaining she must hire help to remove or resize the structure and complete permit paperwork.

Board members and staff confirmed the applicant visited the building-permit counter and that plans had been requested on June 16 but not provided. Staff said the options in the notice and order were to remove the structure or pursue the permit plan-check process; inspectors also acknowledged offering extensions when the appellant showed progress on other violations.

A board member moved to affirm the citation while directing code enforcement to work with the appellant through a specified June deadline for a plan application to be accepted by the building department; the motion was seconded and carried. The board's action confirms the October citation but suspends issuance of additional citations so long as a formal, accepted permit application is submitted and processed by the agreed deadline.

The board did not specify fines beyond the issued citation but recorded that staff would cooperate with the appellant on timelines. The action leaves in place the city's findings that an accessory structure requiring a permit was installed without completed plan submittal; it also gives the owner a defined period to remedy the deficiency through the permitting process.

Next steps: code enforcement will work with the appellant to set and monitor a plan acceptance schedule through June; if no accepted application is filed by the confirmed deadline the city may resume enforcement.