Shed Permit Cost in Arlington, TX (2026)

Shed permit fees for the City of Arlington, Texas (Tarrant County), pulled directly from the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A). Arlington splits accessory buildings by size. A portable storage or accessory building 320 square feet or under is a flat $25.00 building permit – the exact printed line, the same $25.00 as a residential-lot fence. A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet (or a detached garage) is priced instead by the city's Table 1 valuation schedule, so its fee scales with the declared value of the work. The $25.00 does not include wiring; a shed with power adds a separate $100.00 electrical trade permit. Texas has no statewide permit levy and Arlington adds no technology surcharge. This schedule is current (under two years old), so the source-age caveat that applies to some Texas cities does not apply here.

Portable / Accessory Shed ≤320 sq ft

$25.00 flat (exact printed line)

Permanent Accessory Building >320 sq ft

Table 1 valuation (scales with value)

Electrical (if wiring the shed)

Separate $100.00 trade permit

Technology / State Levy

None (Texas has no state levy)

Fee Basis

Res. 25-213 Exhibit A, flat + Table 1

Fee Schedule Effective

Effective September 1, 2025

What This Guide Covers - and What It Does Not

This guide covers: The City of Arlington, Texas (Tarrant County) residential shed and accessory-building permit lines as printed in the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Exhibit A. The headline is the flat $25.00 "Portable storage / accessory building 320 square feet or under" line – exact from the published schedule. That $25.00 is the building permit for a typical prefab or portable backyard shed.

The size cutoff is the key rule: the flat $25.00 applies at 320 square feet or under. A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet, or a detached garage, is priced by the city's Table 1 valuation schedule instead, so its fee rises with the declared value of the work. That means a large workshop is not a flat $25.00 – its permit could run into the hundreds of dollars depending on valuation.

Trade permits are separate: the $25.00 is the building permit only. If the shed gets electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work, each associated trade permit is a separate flat $100.00 on the Arlington schedule. A wired shed is therefore about $125.00 across the building and electrical permits – a labeled estimate, not one printed line.

Plan review is usually not charged here: Arlington's non-refundable plan-review fee applies only when plans are reviewed by City staff rather than an approved third-party organization (TPO). A small shed typically does not draw a City plan-review fee, so it is not added to the estimates on this page – confirm with the department.

This guide does NOT cover: zoning setback, easement, and Unified Development Code placement rules; homeowners-association approval; concrete slab or foundation work; impact fees; the separate $100.00 trade permits and any TPO-conditional plan review; and any Tarrant County fees. The dollar figures for over-320-square-foot buildings depend on the declared valuation and are examples, not fixed amounts.

Key Takeaways

Arlington, Texas charges a flat $25.00 building permit for a "portable storage / accessory building 320 square feet or under" on the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule (Exhibit A). That $25.00 is the exact printed figure for a typical prefab backyard shed.
The 320-square-foot cutoff controls the price. A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet, or a detached garage, is priced by the Table 1 valuation schedule, so its permit scales with the declared value of the work rather than staying at $25.00.
Trade permits are separate. Electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work on the shed is a flat $100.00 each on the Arlington schedule, so a wired shed is about $125.00 across the building and electrical permits – a labeled estimate, not a single printed line.
A worked Table 1 example: a 400-square-foot permanent accessory building at an assumed $30,000 valuation is about $414.49 building permit ($367.24 at $25,000 plus $9.45 per $1,000 for the next $5,000). The exact figure depends on the department's declared valuation.
Plan review applies only when City staff, not an approved third-party organization, review the plans, so a small shed usually does not draw a City plan-review fee. Texas has no statewide percentage levy and Arlington adds no technology surcharge.
The schedule is effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution 25-213), under two years old, so no source-age caution applies. For same-city context, see the Arlington pool permit guide and the Arlington fence permit guide.

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Arlington Shed Permit Fee Structure

The shed permit hinges on one number: 320 square feet. At or under that, the building permit is a flat $25.00. Over it, the fee moves to the Table 1 valuation schedule and scales with declared value. Trade permits and any City plan review are separate. The table below shows the flat line, the valuation path, and the trade permits, so you can see what is and is not part of the $25.00. Every printed amount is exactly as it appears on the schedule.

Item	Fee	How It Is Applied
Portable storage / accessory building ≤320 sq ft	$25.00 flat	Exact printed line on Exhibit A. The building permit for a typical prefab or portable backyard shed at or under 320 square feet.
Permanent accessory building >320 sq ft / detached garage	Table 1 valuation	Priced on declared value at an assumed $75.00/sq ft. Table 1 is $65.36 up to $2,000, then $367.24 at $25,000, $603.49 at $50,000, and so on.
Electrical / mechanical / plumbing (each, if added)	$100.00 each	Associated trade permits, separate flat fees added to the building permit. Not bundled into the $25.00.
Plan review (City staff only)	$150.00+ - usually not added	Applies only when City staff, not an approved third-party organization, review the plans. A small shed usually does not draw it.
Fence residential lot (context)	$25.00	Sibling flat line at the same $25.00 as a portable shed. Shown for context, not added.
State / city percentage levy	None	Texas has no statewide permit levy and Arlington adds no technology surcharge to the shed line.

Source: City of Arlington (TX) Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A). The $25.00 portable/accessory-building ≤320 sq ft line, the Table 1 valuation schedule for larger permanent buildings, the $100.00 per-trade permit fees, and the TPO-conditional plan-review tiers all appear on the city schedule. The over-320-square-foot figures depend on declared valuation – confirm the current amount and how your structure is classified with Development Services.

Worked Examples - Real Shed Projects in Arlington

For a typical backyard shed, the building permit is a flat $25.00. What raises the cost is crossing 320 square feet into the valuation schedule, or adding power. Each example below separates the exact printed line from any labeled estimate.

Example 1: Standard portable storage shed, 200 sq ft, no power

A homeowner sets a 10 ft x 20 ft (200 sq ft) prefab storage shed on a gravel pad, no electrical.

Portable / accessory building ≤320 sq ft: $25.00
Trade permits: not added (no wiring)
City plan review: not added (small shed)
Total: $25.00

The $25.00 is the exact printed flat line at or under 320 square feet. Setback and placement rules still apply, but they carry no fee on this line.

Example 2: Shed with lighting and an outlet

The same 200 sq ft shed, but the owner runs a circuit from the house for lighting and one outlet.

Portable / accessory building ≤320 sq ft: $25.00
Electrical trade permit: $100.00
Estimate: $125.00

The $25.00 building line and the $100.00 electrical trade permit are both exact printed lines; the $125.00 combined figure is a labeled estimate across two separate permits.

Example 3: Large permanent workshop, 400 sq ft (Table 1)

A homeowner builds a 400 sq ft permanent, foundation-set workshop – over 320 square feet, so it is priced by Table 1 at an assumed $75.00/sq ft valuation ($30,000).

Assumed valuation: 400 × $75.00 = $30,000
Table 1: $367.24 at $25,000 + $9.45 × 5 = $414.49
Trade permits, if wired: $100.00 each, separate
Estimate: $414.49 building (plus trades)

Over 320 square feet, the flat $25.00 does not apply. The $414.49 is a labeled estimate driven by the assumed $30,000 valuation; the department's declared valuation sets the actual figure.

When This Estimate May Not Apply

The flat $25.00 covers a portable storage or accessory building 320 square feet or under. Route your project to Development Services before relying on this figure if any of the following applies:

Your building is over 320 square feet. A permanent accessory building above 320 square feet, or a detached garage, is priced by Table 1 valuation, not the flat $25.00. The permit scales with declared value and can run into the hundreds.
You are wiring or plumbing the shed. The $25.00 is the building permit only. Each associated trade permit – electrical, mechanical, plumbing – is a separate flat $100.00.
City staff review your plans. If the plans are reviewed by City staff rather than an approved third-party organization, a valuation-tiered plan-review fee (starting at $150.00) can apply. A small shed usually avoids it.
Your structure is classified differently. Whether a build is a "portable / accessory building 320 square feet or under" or a valuation-priced permanent building is a department call. Confirm the classification before assuming $25.00.
Zoning, placement, or HOA rules affect your shed. Unified Development Code setback and placement rules and any homeowners-association approval are separate from the fee and can restrict where or how large a shed may be.
The schedule has been amended. The fees are effective September 1, 2025 as part of Arlington's phased permit-fee adjustments. Confirm the current amount before budgeting.

Zoning and placement rules, HOA approval, slab or foundation work, impact fees, the separate $100.00 trade permits, TPO-conditional plan review, and any Tarrant County fees are excluded from the $25.00 shed figure on this page, and the page-standard disclaimer applies. Always verify the current amount and your structure's classification with Arlington Development Services before budgeting.

Arlington Shed Permit Cost vs Other Verified Texas Cities

Texas cities price shed and accessory-building permits differently – some as a single flat fee, some tiered by size, some by valuation. Scope differs, so each figure below notes its basis, and each department should be verified separately.

City	Shed / Accessory Fee Basis	Typical Backyard Shed Permit
Arlington, TX	Flat ≤320 sq ft; valuation above	$25.00 (≤320 sq ft)
Carrollton, TX	Flat "Storage shed" specific permit	$50.00 flat
Grand Prairie, TX	Tiered by size	$20 / $100 / $0.25 per sq ft
New Braunfels, TX	Flat, site-built vs pre-built	$75 / $50 (~$113 all-in)

Scope note: Arlington charges a flat $25.00 for a portable storage or accessory building 320 square feet or under, moving to Table 1 valuation above that size. Carrollton charges a flat $50.00 stand-alone "Storage shed" specific permit at any size. Grand Prairie tiers by size ($20.00 up to 100 sq ft, $100.00 for 100–400 sq ft, $0.25 per sq ft above). New Braunfels charges $75.00 site-built or $50.00 pre-built, plus fees. Compare the basis, not just the number, and confirm current figures with each department.

Next Step

See Arlington's full fee schedule, or price other Arlington projects.

All Arlington Fees → Arlington Deck Guide Arlington Fence Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a shed permit cost in Arlington, TX?

A portable storage or accessory building 320 square feet or under is a flat $25.00 building permit on the Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule (Exhibit A, effective September 1, 2025) – the exact printed line. That covers the building permit for a typical prefab backyard shed. A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet is priced by Table 1 valuation instead, and wiring adds a separate $100.00 electrical trade permit.

What happens if my shed is bigger than 320 square feet?

Then the flat $25.00 no longer applies. A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet, or a detached garage, is priced by the city's Table 1 valuation schedule, so the fee scales with the declared value of the work. For example, a 400-square-foot building at an assumed $30,000 valuation is about $414.49. The department's declared valuation sets the actual figure – confirm before budgeting.

Does the $25 shed fee include electrical wiring?

No. The $25.00 is the building permit only. Each associated trade permit – electrical, mechanical, or plumbing – is a separate flat $100.00 on the Arlington schedule. A shed with lighting and an outlet is therefore about $125.00 across the building and electrical permits. That combined figure is a labeled estimate, not a single printed line.

Is a portable shed treated differently from a permanent one?

Yes. The flat $25.00 line reads "portable storage / accessory building 320 square feet or under." A permanent accessory building over 320 square feet is a separate "permanent storage / accessory building" line priced by Table 1 valuation. So both size and whether the structure is portable or permanent affect how Arlington prices it – confirm your structure's classification with Development Services.

Will I have to pay a plan-review fee for a shed?

Usually not. Arlington's plan-review fee applies only when City staff, rather than an approved third-party organization, review the plans, and it is valuation-tiered starting at $150.00. A small portable shed generally does not draw a City plan-review fee, so it is not added to the estimates here. Confirm with Development Services whether your project triggers a City plan review.

Is there a state fee or technology surcharge on top?

No. Texas has no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and the Arlington schedule adds no technology or automation surcharge to the shed line. For a portable shed 320 square feet or under with no wiring, the $25.00 stands on its own. Only a separate trade permit, a City plan review, or the Table 1 valuation path for a larger building would add to it.

Do I still need to follow setback and HOA rules?

Yes. The $25.00 covers only the building permit fee. Unified Development Code setback, easement, and placement rules govern where and how large a shed may be, and a homeowners association may add its own approval. Those requirements are separate from the fee and carry no charge on this line, but they can still stop or resize a project – check them before you buy the shed.

How current are these Arlington shed fees?

They come from the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A), part of Arlington's phased permit-fee adjustments. It is under two years old, so no source-age caution applies, but confirm the current amount with Development Services before filing. See all Arlington permit fees and all Texas cities.

Who to Contact

Department	City of Arlington, Texas - Planning and Development Services
County	Tarrant County, Texas
Permit portal	Arlington Online Permits (ap.arlingtontx.gov)
Ask them	Whether your shed is a flat $25.00 portable/accessory building or a Table 1 permanent building, whether a $100.00 trade permit is needed, whether City plan review applies, and whether the schedule has changed
Fee schedule	Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule (effective Sept 1, 2025)

Sources

Official Sources - Recorded August 2026

City of Arlington, TX - Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule (effective September 1, 2025) Arlington, TX (Tarrant County) - official Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A. Primary source for the $25.00 portable/accessory-building ≤320 sq ft line, the Table 1 valuation schedule for larger permanent buildings, and the $100.00 per-trade permit fees. Effective September 1, 2025; recorded August 2026.
Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 Texas statute (.gov) confirming municipal building-regulation authority and that Texas imposes no statewide percentage building-permit levy. Context for the "no statewide levy" statement. Verified August 2026.

Arlington Permit Fees → Arlington Pool Guide → Arlington Deck Guide → Carrollton Shed Guide → Permit Fee Calculator → All Texas Cities → All Guides →

Always verify current shed permit fees directly with the City of Arlington (TX) Planning and Development Services before budgeting or filing. The figures on this page come from the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A). The schedule prints a flat $25.00 permit for a portable storage or accessory building 320 square feet or under; a permanent building over 320 square feet is priced by Table 1 valuation; and each trade permit is a separate $100.00. Confirm the current amount, how your structure is classified, and whether a City plan review applies before submitting.

Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Actual permit fees are determined by the City of Arlington, Texas Planning and Development Services at the time of application. The $25.00 portable/accessory-building ≤320 sq ft line, the Table 1 valuation schedule, the $100.00 per-trade permit fees, and the TPO-conditional plan-review tiers are as printed in the Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective September 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-213, Exhibit A). The $25.00 is the exact printed line for a portable shed at or under 320 square feet; the $125.00 wired-shed figure and the $414.49 Table 1 example are labeled estimates that add a $100.00 trade permit or apply an assumed $30,000 valuation, and the department's declared valuation sets the actual figure for buildings over 320 square feet. Zoning setback and placement rules, HOA approval, slab or foundation work, impact fees, separate trade permits, City plan review, and any Tarrant County fees are separate and excluded. Verify all fees directly with the department before filing.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.