What changes a remodel in Fullerton.
30.7 percent of Fullerton homes were built before 1960
Of the 50,344 housing units the Census Bureau counts in Fullerton for 2020 to 2024, 15,480 were built before 1960. The 1950s were the busiest decade on record, with 11,022 homes, and 2,379 predate 1940. The median year built is 1969. A house that old may have wiring, gas lines and drains that were never replaced, and paint from before the 1978 lead ban. Open the walls in one of them and electrical or plumbing upgrades often come along with the kitchen or bath.
Source: Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Fullerton
Fullerton's very high fire hazard zone grew 28 percent in 2025
The City Council adopted Cal Fire's updated hazard maps on May 6, 2025. The very high zone rose from 1,186 acres to 1,516, and the new maps added 426 acres of moderate and 419 acres of high hazard, with most of the growth in the West and East Coyote Hills. Inside the high and very high zones, new construction and major renovations must meet Chapter 7A of the California Building Code, which calls for ember-resistant vents and ignition-resistant materials. Owners in the very high zone also face defensible space rules, including a five-foot ember-resistant strip around the house.
Source: Fullerton Observer, Fullerton adopted updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Residential Preservation Zones hold new work to the street's character
Fullerton Municipal Code Chapter 15.48 sets up landmarks, landmark districts and Residential Preservation Zones. Inside a zone, additions and new ADUs are allowed, but construction has to stay in keeping with the traditional character of the area, and the state's two-unit lot split under SB 9 is not allowed. The city publishes design guidelines with maps of each zone, and residents of Lower Golden Hill, Oceanview and the 114-lot Skyline Park tract have asked about becoming new zones. Fullerton also adopted a Mills Act program on April 21, 2020, which trades a property tax cut for restoring a qualified historic house. Call the Planning Division at 714-738-6559 to confirm whether your lot is in a zone.
Source: City of Fullerton, Historic Preservation Zones In Review
What a remodel costs in Fullerton in 2026.
168
Fullerton's clearest local signal is the backyard unit. Fullerton's 2025 housing report to Sacramento lists building permits for 168 ADU units, up from 110 in 2024, while only 55 new single-family houses were permitted the same year. Fullerton's median owner-occupied home was worth $902,600 according to Census data for 2020 to 2024.
For roofs, the regional numbers are a useful anchor. In the 2023 federal housing survey, the typical roof job in the region cost owners $14,290. Crews cost more here than the national median: a roofer in greater Los Angeles and Orange County made a median $30.56 per hour in May 2025, where the nationwide median was $26.65. On a Coyote Hills lot inside a high or very high fire zone, new construction and major renovations also have to meet the state's wildfire building standards.
| Figure | Value | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| ADU units permitted in 2025 | 168 | Accessory dwelling units given building permits in Fullerton in 2025, per the annual Housing Element progress report; 110 in 2024 (California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report data, Table A2) |
| New single-family homes permitted in 2025 | 55 | Detached single-family homes permitted in Fullerton in 2025, same state report (California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report data, Table A2) |
| Median home value | $902,600 | Owner-occupied homes in Fullerton, Census ACS 2020-2024 (Census ACS 2020-2024, Median Value, Fullerton) |
| Median roofing project, Los Angeles metro | $14,290 | Owner-reported roof jobs in the metro that includes Fullerton, 2023 American Housing Survey (Census American Housing Survey 2023, Table Creator) |
| Median roofer wage | $30.56 an hour | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, May 2025; $26.65 nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim roofers) |
Who issues permits in Fullerton.
The City of Fullerton Building and Safety Division issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for homes inside city limits, and most applications now go through EasyDev, the city's online self-service portal. Plans are reviewed under the 2025 California Building Standards Code, which took effect in Fullerton on January 1, 2026. The Planning Division handles zoning, preservation zones and ADU rules.
- City of Fullerton Building and Safety Division
Building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits, plan review and inspections inside Fullerton city limits
- City of Fullerton Planning Division
Zoning, Residential Preservation Zones, historic resources and ADU regulations
- Fullerton requires a permit for decks, patios, fences over 6 feet, fireplaces, pools and retaining walls, for remodels such as garage conversions, kitchen remodels, stucco and window or door changeouts, and for any new, expanded or replaced electrical, mechanical or plumbing work.
- Projects that need 30 minutes or less of plan review can usually be approved over the counter. That list includes residential patio covers, small kitchen and bathroom remodels and freestanding block walls that do not retain soil.
- For most project types the plans must be drawn by a California licensed architect or engineer. For very small jobs the city offers standard construction details you can use instead.
- An application filed before January 1, 2026 can still follow the 2022 codes if the permit is issued before the application expires.
- The City Council approved Ordinance No. 3343 on June 17, 2025, rewriting Fullerton's ADU and junior ADU rules in Title 15 of the municipal code.
- In a Residential Preservation Zone, an ADU or addition is allowed but must match the traditional character of the area, and SB 9 urban lot splits are not allowed.
- The Building and Safety page points owners of older houses to the California Residential Mitigation Program, whose Earthquake Brace + Bolt grants help pay for a seismic retrofit.
What Fullerton homeowners plan most.
Landscaping and outdoor living
Fences over 6 feet, patios, retaining walls and pools all need a Fullerton permit, and in the very high fire zone of the Coyote Hills, the planting near the house falls under defensible space rules.
Roofing
Across the region the median roofing job ran $14,290 in the 2023 housing survey. In Fullerton's high and very high fire zones, new construction and major renovations must meet Chapter 7A wildfire standards, so ask whether your roof job counts.
Kitchen remodel
A small kitchen remodel can often be approved over the counter in Fullerton. The kitchen guide covers Orange County; the permit comes from Fullerton Building and Safety.
Flooring
In a pre-1960 Fullerton house, pulling up old flooring can expose subfloor damage. Our flooring guide was written with Los Angeles houses in mind, and Fullerton Building and Safety issues any permit here.
Window replacement
Window and door changeouts need a permit in Fullerton, and in a Residential Preservation Zone the new windows should match the house's original character.
Bathroom remodel
Small bathroom remodels are on Fullerton's over-the-counter review list. The bathroom guide covers Orange County, and Fullerton issues the permit.
Before you start.
What does a new roof cost in Fullerton?
Owners in the Los Angeles and Orange County metro, which takes in Fullerton, reported a median roofing job of $14,290 in the 2023 American Housing Survey. Roofing crews there were paid a $30.56 hourly median in May 2025. In the Coyote Hills high and very high fire zones, new construction and major renovations must meet the state's Chapter 7A wildfire building standards.
What work requires a permit in Fullerton?
Fullerton Building and Safety requires permits for new buildings, additions, ADU conversions, decks, patios, fences over 6 feet, fireplaces, pools and retaining walls. Kitchen remodels, garage conversions, stucco and window or door changeouts need one too, as does any new or replaced electrical, mechanical or plumbing work. Most applications are filed through the EasyDev portal.
What is a Residential Preservation Zone in Fullerton?
It is a neighborhood protected under Fullerton Municipal Code Chapter 15.48. Owners can still build additions and ADUs, but the work must stay in keeping with the area's traditional character, and SB 9 lot splits are not permitted. The city publishes design guidelines and zone maps, and the Planning Division at 714-738-6559 can confirm whether a lot is included.
Is Fullerton in a fire hazard zone?
Parts of it are. Under the maps the City Council adopted on May 6, 2025, Fullerton's very high fire hazard zone grew from 1,186 to 1,516 acres, with 426 acres of moderate and 419 of high hazard added, mostly in the West and East Coyote Hills. Inside the high and very high zones, new homes and major renovations have to follow Chapter 7A.
How many ADUs does Fullerton permit?
Fullerton issued building permits for 168 ADU units in 2025, up from 110 the year before, according to its annual housing report to the state. The city rewrote its ADU rules with Ordinance No. 3343, approved June 17, 2025. ADUs are allowed in Residential Preservation Zones as long as they fit the neighborhood's character.
Explore regions, cities & neighborhoods →
Renovating in Fullerton?
Tell us what you are planning. A Renology advisor talks it through and introduces a vetted contractor who works in Fullerton. Free, with no obligation.
Find a contractor in Fullerton →Already have a bid? The quote-review tool checks its scope and exclusions, wherever you live.
Sources
- Census ACS 2020-2024, Year Structure Built, Fullerton
- Fullerton Observer, Fullerton adopted updated Fire Hazard Severity Zones
- City of Fullerton, Historic Preservation Zones In Review
- California HCD, Housing Element Annual Progress Report data, Table A2
- Census ACS 2020-2024, Median Value, Fullerton
- Census American Housing Survey 2023, Table Creator
- BLS OEWS May 2025, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim roofers
- City of Fullerton, Historic Resources
- City of Fullerton, Building and Safety
- City of Fullerton, Building and Safety FAQs
- City of Fullerton, Permit Processing Info
- City of Fullerton, Accessory Dwelling Units
- BLS OEWS May 2025, national roofers