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Texas Building Permit Fees (2026)

Actual building permit fee formulas from official Texas city fee schedules. Texas has no statewide percentage levy on permits, so each city sets its own structure and bottom-line number. Coverage starts with Austin and expands as each city's official schedule is verified.

Key Takeaways
  • Texas has no statewide building-permit levy. There is no equivalent of Virginia's mandatory 2% USBC levy or Washington DC's 10% enhanced fee at the state level.
  • Each Texas city sets its own fee schedule and structure. Austin prices one and two-family residential permits per square foot, charged as five separate trade lines (Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Energy) that are added together.
  • In Austin, the permit for a new dwelling of 1,000 sq ft or less totals $838.82 across the five trade lines, with plan review charged separately starting at an $896.50 base plus a $106.72 application processing fee.
  • Austin charges a verified $370.00 residential roof replacement inspection and a $73.70 demolition permit. Decks, pools, and fences do not have a single published flat permit amount in Austin - they run through a $132.86 small-projects review plus inspection fees.
  • Austin's 10% Austin Energy technology fee applies only to Austin Energy and solar (auxiliary power) line items, not to the core per-square-foot building permit fees.
Use the Fee Calculator Austin Permit Fees

How Texas Permit Fees Work

There is no single statewide Texas building permit fee. Authority sits with each city's building or development services department, so the structure and the bottom-line number vary widely across the state. Texas also has no state-level percentage levy added on top of the local fee.

City Permitting Authority Fee Structure Headline Figure
Austin Development Services Department (DSD) Per square foot, tiered, summed across five trade lines; plan review charged separately Small new-home permit = $838.82
College Station Planning & Development Services $0.74 per sq ft building fee for new homes with electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits separate; valuation-based pool permits New 1,000 sq ft home = about $970 (estimate)
Dallas Planning & Development - Building Inspection Per square foot for new (Table A-I); value-based alterations; flat $181 single-family remodel New 2,000 sq ft home permit = $991.38
Denton Development Services - Building Safety $0.89 per sq ft building fee for new homes plus a flat $141 plan review; MEP priced separately at $0.21 per sq ft; flat menu for pools, fences, demolition New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,921 (building + review)
Georgetown Building Inspections (Development Services) $125 app + $0.50 per sq ft + $25 tech for new homes with trades bundled; miscellaneous residential $60 + $0.50 per sq ft for decks and additions; flat pool/fence/demolition New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,150 all-in
Killeen Development Services - Building Inspections $0.20 per sq ft new-home fee bundling structure and all trades; $0.04 per sq ft plan review; $10 tech fee; flat menu for decks, pools, sheds New 2,000 sq ft home = $490 all-in
Plano Building Inspections Department $0.48 per sq ft for new homes; many flat fees; Table 1 valuation for general permits New 2,500 sq ft home permit = $1,200
Round Rock Planning & Development Services - Building Inspection Flat $485 for new single-family homes with plan review bundled; flat per-project menu for decks, pools, sheds New home permit = $485 flat
Corpus Christi Development Services Department Per square foot, stacking plan review + building + three trade permits, with a 4.5% city surcharge; building permit excludes MEP New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,738.88 all-in
El Paso Planning & Inspections Department Tiered per gross sq ft that bundles all trades ($0.61-$0.87 by size band); technology-fee rate not published; flat pool/fence/demolition New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,640 (before tech fee)
Irving Inspections Department $0.40 per sq ft building permit + $0.10 per sq ft plan review; trades separate at $65 each; no surcharge; flat menu for pools, decks, fences New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,000 building side
Lubbock Department of Building Safety $0.15 per sq ft building permit with electrical, mechanical, and plumbing as separate $0.07 per sq ft permits; $75 minimums; no surcharge New 2,000 sq ft home = $720 across four permits
Tyler Building Permit Office $0.35 per sq ft building permit + 20% plan review; flat permits $50-$150; roof/solar $100; pool $150; no surcharge New 2,000 sq ft home = ~$840
Grand Prairie Building Inspections Flat $1,100 for a new home with all trades bundled; additions $0.25 per sq ft; pool $100; fence $25; demolition $50; no surcharge New home = $1,100 flat · additions $0.25/sq ft
Arlington Planning & Development Services Tiered $0.80/$0.64/$0.53 per sq ft by size band + $100 per trade permit; deck, reroof, solar and pool flat; no surcharge New 1,500 sq ft home = ~$1,260
Waco Development Services - Inspection Services $0.35 per sq ft building permit + $15 technology fee + $60 plan submittal; trades permitted separately; no surcharge New 2,000 sq ft home = ~$775
Mesquite Building Inspection Flat per-type fees; deck/fence/demo $60, in-ground pool $200, re-roof $65; additions $0.25 per sq ft; no surcharge (Feb 2022 schedule) Deck = $60 · pool = $200
Richardson Community Services - Building Inspection Flat $1,200 new home (all trades + concrete bundled); remodels 1% of value; pool $200, fence $30; no surcharge (2015 schedule, verify) New home = $1,200 flat
Carrollton Building Inspection Flat $1,100/unit new home + $125 application (trades + CO bundled); pool/spa $200; residential remodel $125; no surcharge New home = $1,225 all-in
Brownsville Building Inspection (Sec. 18-123) $40 base + $0.25-$0.30 per sq ft new construction; pool $200, solar $225; trades permitted separately; no surcharge (2019 schedule) New 2,000 sq ft home = ~$580 permit
McAllen Building Permits & Inspections $0.16 per sq ft new construction ($48 minimum); trades permitted separately; pool $55.86; no surcharge (2016 schedule, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $320 permit
Abilene Building Inspections $0.50 per sq ft new construction ($550 min), includes all 5 trades; +$35 plan review; pool $180, solar $350; no surcharge (undated, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,035 all-in
Temple Permit Office (Exhibit A) $0.135 per sq ft new construction, all-in (all trades + plan review); remodel $70 + $55/trade; pool $110; no surcharge (undated, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $270 all-in
Longview Development Services (FY2025-26) $0.30 per sq ft all residential work ($100 min); trades $80 each separate; pool $305, re-roof $105; no surcharge (verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $600 permit
Pasadena Permit Dept. (Harris Co., TX) $0.20 per sq ft building + $0.10 per sq ft plan review; MEP trades separate; roof $40, fence $40; no surcharge (undated, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $600 building side
Pearland Community Development (Exhibit B) $0.41 per sq ft + plan review of half the building fee; trades separate; pool $350; no surcharge (undated, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,230 building side
Laredo Code of Ordinances (Ch. 7 § 109.2) $0.40 per sq ft new construction; flat $64–$76 remodels/additions; pool $64; block fence $46; re-roof $50; no surcharge (codified, no printed date, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $800 building line
Odessa Inspection Division Master Fee Schedule $50 + $0.12 per sq ft new residential; plan review 25% of permit fee at pick-up; trades separate; fence $50 (2018 schedule, verify) New 2,000 sq ft home = $362.50 with plan review
League City Permit Fee Schedule (Council 01/23/2024) $0.42 per sq ft + $0.21 per sq ft residential plan review; trades $59 base each; pool $600; deck $100 (eff. March 1, 2024) New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,260 building side
Beaumont Residential Building Permit Fee Schedule 2024 $0.50 per sq ft + $150 plan review + $10 usage fee; $55 minimum; roofing $0.10 per sq ft; in-ground pool $225 (eff. October 1, 2024) New 2,400 sq ft home = $1,360 building line
Conroe Ordinance No. 2756-25 (Appendix A) $0.64 per sq ft + $0.32 per sq ft nonrefundable plan review = $0.96 per sq ft; trades $75 base each plus tiered inspections (adopted Nov 13, 2025) New 2,500 sq ft home = $2,400 building line
New Braunfels Code of Ordinances Appendix D $0.50 per sq ft + $50 application + 25% plan review + $35 inspection, all × 1.03 technology fee, rounded down; pool $200 in ground (Ord. 2023-76) New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,375 building line

Because Texas sets no statewide percentage levy, the city's own fee schedule (and, in Austin, the separate plan-review charge) determines the building permit cost. For new construction, separate utility tap, capital recovery, and impact fees are charged apart from the building permit and often exceed it.

Live Coverage · Texas

Texas Cities

Actual fee structures from official city documents. Each page includes the complete fee components, worked examples, and a calculator link.

Texas Live
Austin
Per sq ft across five trade lines · plan review separate · no state levy
Small new-home permit = $838.82 · roof replacement = $370.00
Texas Live
College Station
$0.74 per sq ft building fee · trade permits separate · valuation-based pools · no state levy
New 1,000 sq ft home = about $970 (estimate) · re-roof = $95
Texas Live
Dallas
Per sq ft for new homes (Table A-I) · flat $181 single-family remodel · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home permit = $991.38 · demolition = $205 + $0.21/sq ft
Texas Live
Denton
$0.89 per sq ft building fee + $141 plan review · MEP priced separately · flat menu for small projects · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,921 (building + review) · in-ground pool = $357
Texas Live
Georgetown
$125 app + $0.50 per sq ft + $25 tech new-home fee with trades bundled · flat menu for small projects · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,150 all-in · deck = $170 · pool = $110
Texas Live
Baytown
Flat new-home fee by size tier ($1,660 / $1,900 / $2,030) with MEP bundled · flat menu for small projects · no state levy
New home under 2,000 sq ft = $1,660 (includes MEP) · pool = $620 · re-roof = $128
Texas Live
San Marcos
$0.63 per sq ft building fee + $15 tech fee · trade permits separate · flat menu for small projects · no state levy
New 1,000 sq ft home = about $645 (building + tech) · deck = $121 · pool = $263
Texas Live
Killeen
$0.20 per sq ft all-trades new-home fee · flat menu for small projects · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $490 all-in · uncovered deck = $80
Texas Live
Plano
$0.48 per sq ft for new homes · flat fees for pools, fences, solar · no state levy
New 2,500 sq ft home permit = $1,200 · in-ground pool = $300
Texas Live
McKinney
$0.68 per gross sq ft for new homes · flat fees for re-roof, solar, fence · no state levy
New 2,500 sq ft home permit = $1,700 · re-roof = $200
Texas Live
Round Rock
Flat $485 new-home permit with plan review bundled · flat per-project menu · no state levy
New home permit = $485 flat · in-ground pool = $350 · deck from $125
Texas Live
Irving
$0.40 per sq ft building permit + $0.10 per sq ft plan review · trades separate at $65 · no surcharge · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,000 building side · pool = $240 · deck = $65
Texas Live
Corpus Christi
Per sq ft stacking plan review + building + three trades · 4.5% city surcharge · building permit excludes MEP · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,738.88 all-in · demolition = $278.18
Texas Live
El Paso
Tiered per gross sq ft that bundles all trades ($0.61-$0.87 by size) · technology-fee rate not published · flat pool/fence/demolition · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,640 (before tech fee) · pool = $160
Texas Live
Lubbock
$0.15 per sq ft building permit + $0.07 per sq ft each for electrical, mechanical, plumbing · $75 minimums · no surcharge · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $720 across four permits · fence/re-roof/demo = $75
Texas Live
Tyler
$0.35 per sq ft building permit + 20% plan review · flat permits $50-$150 · roof/solar $100 · no surcharge · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = ~$840 · pool = $150 · roof/solar = $100
Texas Live
Grand Prairie
Flat $1,100 for a new home with all trades bundled · additions $0.25 per sq ft · no surcharge · no state levy
New home = $1,100 flat · pool = $100 · fence = $25 · demo = $50
Texas Live
Arlington
Tiered $0.80/$0.64/$0.53 per sq ft by size band + $100 per trade permit · deck/reroof/solar/pool flat · no surcharge · no state levy
New 1,500 sq ft home = ~$1,260 · deck = $225 · reroof/solar/pool = $275
Texas Live
Waco
$0.35 per sq ft building permit + $15 technology fee + $60 plan submittal · trades separate · no surcharge · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = ~$775 · roof = $125 · pool = $125
Texas Live
Mesquite
Flat per-type fees · deck/fence/demo $60 · in-ground pool $200 · re-roof $65 · additions $0.25/sq ft · no state levy · Feb 2022 schedule
Deck = $60 · in-ground pool = $200 · new-home permit = $1,100 (verify total)
Texas Live
Richardson
Flat $1,200 new home with all trades bundled · remodels 1% of value · pool $200 · fence $30 · no state levy · 2015 schedule, verify
New home = $1,200 flat · pool = $200 · demo = $50 · fence = $30
Texas Live
Carrollton
Flat $1,100/unit new home + $125 application (trades + CO bundled) · pool/spa $200 · remodel $125 · no state levy
New home = $1,225 all-in · pool = $200 · solar = $125 · fence = $50
Texas Live
Brownsville
$40 base + $0.25-$0.30 per sq ft new construction · pool $200 · solar $225 · trades separate · no state levy · 2019 schedule
New 2,000 sq ft = ~$580 permit + $50 plan check · pool = $200 · solar = $225
Texas Live
McAllen
$0.16 per sq ft new construction ($48 minimum) · trades separate · pool $55.86 · no state levy · 2016 schedule, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $320 permit · pool = $55.86 · demo = $39.60
Texas Live
Abilene
$0.50 per sq ft new construction ($550 min) · includes all 5 trades · +$35 plan review · pool $180 · no state levy · no printed date, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $1,035 all-in · pool = $180 · 500 sq ft alteration = $382
Texas Live
Temple
$0.135 per sq ft new construction, all-in (all trades + plan review) · remodel $70 + $55/trade · pool $110 · no state levy · undated, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $270 all-in · pool = $110 · fence = $35
Texas Live
Longview
$0.30 per sq ft all residential work ($100 min) · trades $80 each separate · pool $305 · no state levy · FY2025-26, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $600 permit · pool = $305 · re-roof = $105
Texas Live
Pasadena
$0.20 per sq ft building + $0.10 per sq ft plan review · MEP trades separate · roof $40 · Harris Co. (TX, not CA) · no state levy · undated, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $600 building side · roof = $40 · demo = $50
Texas Live
Pearland
$0.41 per sq ft + plan review of half the building fee · trades separate · pool $350 · Houston metro · no state levy · undated, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $1,230 building side · pool = $350 · remodel = $120/$180
Texas Live
Laredo
$0.40 per sq ft new construction · flat $64–$76 remodels/additions · pool $64 · block fence $46 · re-roof $50 · Webb County / border · no state levy · codified, verify
New 2,000 sq ft = $800 building line · block fence = $76 all-in · re-roof = $84 all-in
Texas Live
Odessa
$50 + $0.12 per sq ft building fee · 25% plan review at pick-up · trade permits separate · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $362.50 with plan review · fence = $50 · demolition = $100
Texas Live
League City
$0.42 per sq ft + $0.21 per sq ft plan review · trades $59 base each · pool $600 · no state levy
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,260 · pool = $600 · deck = $100
Texas Live
Beaumont
$0.50 per sq ft + $150 plan review + $10 usage fee · $55 minimum · trade permits separate · no state levy
New 2,400 sq ft home = $1,360 · re-roof 2,000 sq ft = $200 · in-ground pool = $225
Texas Live
Conroe
$0.64 per sq ft + $0.32 per sq ft plan review · trades $75 base each · newest Texas schedule · no state levy
New 2,500 sq ft home = $2,400 · 400 sq ft addition = $384 · water heater = $75
Texas Live
New Braunfels
$0.50 per sq ft + $50 application + 25% plan review + 3% technology fee · rounded down · trades separate
New 2,000 sq ft home = $1,375 · in-ground pool = $242 · fence = $87

Pages are added as fee data is verified against official city documents. Each page requires a minimum of one official adopted fee schedule source before publishing. Fort Worth, Frisco, and other large Texas cities are queued for verification.

Texas vs Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC

The base permit math differs across these markets, but the real divergence is the mandatory add-on layer that sits on top of every permit. Texas and Maryland have no statewide add-on; Virginia and DC do.

Market Mandatory add-on What drives the bottom line
Texas None statewide City fee schedule only; Austin charges plan review separately and a 10% technology fee on Austin Energy / solar items only
Maryland None statewide County fee schedule only; Howard and Prince George's add a 10% technology fee
Virginia 2% state USBC levy on every permit Local fee plus the mandatory 2% Virginia levy on top
Washington DC 10% enhanced fee on the permit A single DOB schedule plus a universal 10% enhanced fee

See how Maryland counties price permits, how Virginia's 2% levy works, or how Washington DC stacks its 10% enhanced fee for the contrast.

Texas Permit Fee FAQ

Does Texas charge a statewide building permit levy?

No. Texas has no statewide percentage levy on building permits. There is no equivalent of Virginia's mandatory 2% USBC levy or Washington DC's 10% enhanced fee. Each city sets and collects its own permit fees, so the bottom-line cost depends entirely on the city schedule.

How does Austin price a residential building permit?

Austin's Development Services Department prices one and two-family dwelling permits per square foot, tiered by size, and charges five separate trade lines - Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Energy - that are added together. A new dwelling of 1,000 sq ft or less totals $838.82 across those five lines. Plan review is charged separately, starting at an $896.50 base plus a $106.72 application processing fee.

What is Austin's 10% technology fee?

Austin adds a 10% Austin Energy technology fee, but only to Austin Energy and solar (auxiliary power) line items - for example the electric service application fee. It does not apply to the core per-square-foot building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or energy permit fees.

Are electrical, plumbing, and HVAC permits included?

In Austin, for a new one or two-family dwelling, the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trade lines are built into the per-square-foot permit total. Standalone trade work (for example a change-out HVAC system or an electric service inspection) is priced on its own and is not included in the dwelling permit figure.

How current is this fee data?

Austin's figures come from the City of Austin FY 2025-26 Residential Building Plan Review and Inspection Permit Fees schedule, effective October 1, 2025. Cities revise fees periodically, so confirm the current figure with the city permitting department before budgeting or filing.

Texas Permit Fees: What Most Homeowners Miss

Sources

Official .gov Sources
Disclaimer: All fee information on PermitPrice is for informational purposes only and is not an official permit quotation. Each Texas city sets and changes its own fees. Verify with your local building department before budgeting or filing. Utility tap, capital recovery, impact, and zoning fees, along with separate standalone trade permits, are excluded from the building-permit figures referenced here.

Written by: Munib Ur Rehman

Data verified against official fee schedule documents.