diff --git a/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/table.py b/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/table.py
index 3b0346f60cdf..1861ad993241 100644
--- a/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/table.py
+++ b/bigquery/google/cloud/bigquery/table.py
@@ -469,12 +469,11 @@ def _build_resource(self):
         if self.view_query is not None:
             view = resource['view'] = {}
             view['query'] = self.view_query
-        elif self._schema:
+
+        if self._schema:
             resource['schema'] = {
                 'fields': _build_schema_resource(self._schema)
             }
-        else:
-            raise ValueError("Set either 'view_query' or 'schema'.")
 
         return resource
 
diff --git a/bigquery/tests/unit/test_table.py b/bigquery/tests/unit/test_table.py
index 6a496ba69e95..a974f218270f 100644
--- a/bigquery/tests/unit/test_table.py
+++ b/bigquery/tests/unit/test_table.py
@@ -395,14 +395,29 @@ def test_from_api_repr_w_properties(self):
         self.assertIs(table._dataset._client, client)
         self._verifyResourceProperties(table, RESOURCE)
 
-    def test_create_no_view_query_no_schema(self):
-        conn = _Connection()
+    def test_create_new_day_partitioned_table(self):
+        PATH = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_NAME)
+        RESOURCE = self._makeResource()
+        conn = _Connection(RESOURCE)
         client = _Client(project=self.PROJECT, connection=conn)
         dataset = _Dataset(client)
         table = self._make_one(self.TABLE_NAME, dataset)
+        table.partitioning_type = 'DAY'
+        table.create()            
 
-        with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
-            table.create()
+        self.assertEqual(len(conn._requested), 1)
+        req = conn._requested[0]
+        self.assertEqual(req['method'], 'POST')
+        self.assertEqual(req['path'], '/%s' % PATH)
+        SENT = {
+            'tableReference': {
+                'projectId': self.PROJECT,
+                'datasetId': self.DS_NAME,
+                'tableId': self.TABLE_NAME},
+            'timePartitioning': {'type': 'DAY'},
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(req['data'], SENT)
+        self._verifyResourceProperties(table, RESOURCE)
 
     def test_create_w_bound_client(self):
         from google.cloud.bigquery.table import SchemaField
@@ -647,7 +662,6 @@ def test_create_w_alternate_client(self):
         import datetime
         from google.cloud._helpers import UTC
         from google.cloud._helpers import _millis
-        from google.cloud.bigquery.table import SchemaField
 
         PATH = 'projects/%s/datasets/%s/tables' % (self.PROJECT, self.DS_NAME)
         DESCRIPTION = 'DESCRIPTION'
@@ -667,10 +681,7 @@ def test_create_w_alternate_client(self):
         conn2 = _Connection(RESOURCE)
         client2 = _Client(project=self.PROJECT, connection=conn2)
         dataset = _Dataset(client=client1)
-        full_name = SchemaField('full_name', 'STRING', mode='REQUIRED')
-        age = SchemaField('age', 'INTEGER', mode='REQUIRED')
-        table = self._make_one(self.TABLE_NAME, dataset=dataset,
-                               schema=[full_name, age])
+        table = self._make_one(self.TABLE_NAME, dataset=dataset)
         table.friendly_name = TITLE
         table.description = DESCRIPTION
         table.view_query = QUERY