How to Get Building Permits in Texas?

As per the Census Bureau, US Building Permits are the approval or authorization by the government to legally work on construction projects in permit-issuing places. It is mostly demanded privately-owned housing units.

This section discusses the features and detailed procedure to obtain a building permit in the state of Texas, United States.

Important Consideration for Building Permits in Texas

Building permits are issued by the city in Texas, i.e. the city in which the construction is planned. Most cities will have their own development jurisdiction. Hence, it is necessary to visit the local building department or planning office of the city area to know more information on where to apply for the building permit.

Building permits are required for any new construction, demolition, structural alterations to any structure in Texas. Some examples include the construction of decks and pools, alteration of interior and exterior remodeling, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Some additional permits may be required based on the work, electrical permits, mechanical permits, and plumbing permits. Some cities may also require sign permits, concrete permits for public sidewalks and right-of-ways, and development permits. Your local Building Department can advise you on what permit you will need for your project. The links to various states of Texas, with their respective building permit website, are mentioned below.

CLICK THE LINK TO YOUR CITY BELOW TO APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT

Abilene	Amarillo	Arlington
Austin	Baytown	Beaumont
Brownsville	Bryan	Carrollton
College Station	Corpus Christi	Dallas
Denton	El Paso	Flower Mound
Fort Worth	Galveston	Garland
Harlingen	Houston	Irving
Killeen	Laredo	Lewisville
Longview	Lubbock	McAllen
McKinney	Mesquite	Midland
Missouri City	North Richland Hills	Odessa
Pasadena	Plano	Port Arthur
Richardson	Round Rock	San Angelo
San Antonio	Sugar Land	Temple
Tyler	Victoria	Waco
Wichita Falls

Documents Required to Apply for Building Permit in Texas

The main documents required by the local governments of Texas vary from city to city. But the general requirements for building permit application include the information on the property and proposed construction project in Texas. These includes:

These requirements may include:

• Legal description of the proposed site, which is available from your property tax statements, deeds, etc.
• Property address- Address of the property, if one exists. Otherwise a new address will be assigned by the City's 9-1-1 coordinator.
• Property owner’s name and contact information
• The names and contract information of any contractor, architect, or engineer working on the project. Proof of contractor license (if applicable). Contractors performing work on HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, or Fire Sprinker Systems must show proof of licensure by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation prior to any inspection.
• A plot plan or site plan of the property
• Scale of the plan and the direction of North;
• Location and length of all property lines;
• Location, dimensions, and type of all easements (access, utilities) if any exist;
• Drainage plan, showing elevations and direction of drainage;
• Location, dimensions, and uses of all existing and proposed buildings, showing distances from property lines;
• Show all proposed porches, walks, decks, retaining walls, patios, etc.;
• Location and names of all streets which are adjacent to the site, and;
• Location of all on-site parking and driveways.
• NOTE: Sometimes non-conventional construction will require plans stamped by an engineer or architect licensed in Texas.
• Proposed use of the building
• Type of work: Building plans - Two complete copies, including the names, addresses, and phone numbers of the person who prepared them
• Description of the work
• Total valuation of the construction

Also Read: How to Get Building Permits in California, U.S?