Brownsville, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 - Schedule of permit fees. Brownsville is a Cameron County city in the Rio Grande Valley - the southernmost city in Texas, on the U.S.-Mexico border. Verified directly against the city's codified fee schedule. The permit-fee amounts trace to Ord. 2019-1485-C, effective July 30, 2019, so confirm current amounts with the city before budgeting.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees in Brownsville from Sec. 18-123. New construction is a $40.00 base fee plus a per-square-foot rate set by the total conditioned square-footage bracket: $0.25 per sq ft for 1-1,450 SF, $0.27 per sq ft for 1,451-3,010 SF, and $0.30 per sq ft for 3,011 SF and up. Interior alterations/repairs are $40.00 base plus $40.00 (up to 1,000 SF) or $75.00 (over 1,000 SF); exterior alterations/repairs are $40.00 base plus $15.00 (up to 1,000 SF) or $35.00 (over 1,000 SF). A residential swimming pool is $200.00, solar panels $225.00, and re-roofing runs $50.00 to $150.00 by area. Each figure is exact from the codified schedule.
Important note on fee schedule age: The permit-fee amounts in Sec. 18-123 trace to Ord. No. 2019-1485-C, effective July 30, 2019 - about seven years old at the time of writing. The Municode supplement that publishes the code is current, but the dollar amounts themselves date to 2019. Fee schedules can be amended by later ordinance, so confirm the current amounts with the City of Brownsville before relying on any figure.
The bracket rate is applied to the whole conditioned area (an assumption): This page computes new construction as $40.00 plus the bracket rate multiplied by ALL conditioned square feet - for example, a 2,000 SF home is $40 + 2,000 × $0.27, not a marginal or stacked computation across brackets. The ordinance sets a single per-SF rate by total square footage but does not explicitly state whether the rate is applied to all square feet or marginally within each band, so this is disclosed as an interpretation. Confirm the correct method with the city.
Trade permits are separate: Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permit fees are codified in separate articles of Chapter 18 and are NOT included in the per-square-foot building permit. A new build likely requires separate trade permits - confirm which apply with the city. This page does not invent any trade-permit amount.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy on top of the city's permit fee.
This page does NOT cover: Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits (separate Chapter 18 articles); capital recovery / impact fees; and certificate-of-occupancy fees - all excluded from every figure on this page. There is no separately listed fence permit in Sec. 18-123, so no fence fee is stated here.
In Brownsville, TX a new-construction building permit is a base $40 plus a per-square-foot rate set by the total conditioned square-footage bracket - $0.25/sq ft for 1-1,450 SF, $0.27/sq ft for 1,451-3,010 SF, and $0.30/sq ft for 3,011 SF and up - so a 2,000 SF home is $40 + 2,000 × $0.27 = $580.00 (applying the bracket rate to the whole area, an assumption). A residential swimming pool is $200, solar panels are $225, and re-roofing runs $50 to $150 by area. Interior remodels are $40 base plus $40 (up to 1,000 SF); exterior work is $40 base plus $15 (up to 1,000 SF). Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits are codified separately and are NOT included, and Texas has no statewide levy. The fee amounts trace to a 2019 ordinance - verify current amounts with the city.
- New construction is a $40.00 base fee plus a per-square-foot rate set by the total conditioned square-footage bracket: $0.25/sq ft (1-1,450 SF), $0.27/sq ft (1,451-3,010 SF), or $0.30/sq ft (3,011 SF and up). This page applies the bracket rate to the whole conditioned area - an interpretation the ordinance does not state explicitly.
- Interior alterations/repairs are $40.00 base plus $40.00 (up to 1,000 SF) or $75.00 (over 1,000 SF). Exterior alterations/repairs are $40.00 base plus $15.00 (up to 1,000 SF) or $35.00 (over 1,000 SF).
- Common flat and tiered residential fees: swimming pool $200.00, solar panels $225.00, re-roofing $50.00 (1-500 SF) / $70.00 (501-2,000 SF) / $150.00 (over 2,000 SF), house leveling $75.00, enclosures $70.00, window replacement $70.00 (up to 4 units) / $120.00 (5+ units), mechanical repairs $60.00, mobile/manufactured home $50.00, and re-inspection $75.00.
- Plan checking is an added surcharge: a flat $50.00 for a single-family or two-family dwelling, or 50% of the permit fee for commercial/multifamily (3+ units). Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permits are separate Chapter 18 fees and NOT included here.
- The permit-fee amounts trace to Ord. 2019-1485-C (effective July 30, 2019) - about seven years old - so confirm current amounts with the city. Capital recovery / impact fees and certificate-of-occupancy fees are separate. There is no separately listed fence permit in Sec. 18-123, and Texas has no statewide levy.
Brownsville Building Permit Fee Structure
Brownsville prices a new-construction building permit as a flat $40.00 base fee plus a per-square-foot rate set by the total conditioned square-footage bracket. Alterations, repairs, and specialty projects carry flat or tiered fees, and a plan-checking surcharge applies on top. The tables below show the verified figures exactly as published in Sec. 18-123 of the Brownsville Code of Ordinances (permit-fee amounts per Ord. 2019-1485-C).
New construction & alterations
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| New construction - base fee (per permit) | $40.00 |
| New construction - per-SF rate, 1-1,450 SF bracket | $0.25 / sq ft |
| New construction - per-SF rate, 1,451-3,010 SF bracket | $0.27 / sq ft |
| New construction - per-SF rate, 3,011 SF and up bracket | $0.30 / sq ft |
| Interior alterations / repairs (up to 1,000 SF) | $40.00 base + $40.00 |
| Interior alterations / repairs (over 1,000 SF) | $40.00 base + $75.00 |
| Exterior alterations / repairs (up to 1,000 SF) | $40.00 base + $15.00 |
| Exterior alterations / repairs (over 1,000 SF) | $40.00 base + $35.00 |
The bracket rate is set by the total conditioned square footage. This page applies that single rate to ALL conditioned square feet (for example, a 2,000 SF home computes as $40 + 2,000 × $0.27), which the ordinance does not state explicitly - confirm the correct method with the city. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permits are codified in separate Chapter 18 articles and are not included in these figures.
Flat & tiered residential permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential swimming pool | $200.00 |
| Residential solar panels | $225.00 |
| Re-roofing (1-500 SF) | $50.00 |
| Re-roofing (501-2,000 SF) | $70.00 |
| Re-roofing (over 2,000 SF) | $150.00 |
| House leveling | $75.00 |
| Residential enclosures | $70.00 |
| Window replacement (up to 4 units) | $70.00 |
| Window replacement (5+ units) | $120.00 |
| Residential mechanical repairs | $60.00 |
| Mobile / manufactured home | $50.00 |
| Demolition (first 1,000 SF, then $25 per additional 500 SF) | $100.00 |
| Re-inspection | $75.00 |
| Moving a building | $150.00 |
There is no separately listed fence permit in Sec. 18-123, so this page states no fence fee - confirm whether a fence requires a permit with the city. Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas) are separate Chapter 18 fees not shown here.
Plan checking surcharge
| Plan Check Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential single-family or two-family dwelling | $50.00 flat |
| Commercial / multifamily (3+ units) | 50% of permit fee |
| Work started before permit issued | Double fee |
Plan checking is a surcharge added on top of the permit fee. For a single-family or two-family dwelling it is a flat $50.00; for commercial or multifamily (3+ units) it is 50% of the permit fee. Beginning work before the permit is issued doubles the permit fee.
Brownsville Permit Fee Components
A Brownsville building permit combines a base fee, a per-square-foot or flat project fee, and a plan-checking surcharge. Trade permits and site fees are separate and are not summed into the building-permit figure on this page.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New-construction base fee | $40.00 | Exact schedule figure; added to the per-SF amount |
| New-construction per-SF rate | $0.25 / $0.27 / $0.30 | Set by total conditioned SF bracket; whole-area application assumed |
| Plan checking (single/two-family dwelling) | $50.00 flat | Surcharge added to the permit fee |
| Residential percentage surcharge / state levy | $0.00 | None - Texas has no statewide levy on the city permit fee |
| Electrical / mechanical / plumbing / gas permits | Separate articles | Codified in separate Chapter 18 articles - NOT included here |
| Capital recovery / impact / certificate-of-occupancy fees | Separate schedules | Excluded - can far exceed the building permit on a new home |
For a specialty project - a pool, solar array, or re-roof - the printed fee is the building-permit cost, with plan checking and any required trade permit added separately. For a new home, add the $40 base, the per-SF amount, the $50 plan-check surcharge, and the separate trade permits to reach a true all-in figure; confirm each with the city.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct from Sec. 18-123 of the Brownsville Code of Ordinances (permit-fee amounts per Ord. 2019-1485-C). The new-construction example applies the bracket rate to the whole conditioned area (an assumption) and excludes the separate electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits. Capital recovery and certificate-of-occupancy fees are separate and not included.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | flat per permit | $40.00 |
| Per-SF fee (1,451-3,010 bracket) | 2,000 SF × $0.27 | $540.00 |
| Building permit subtotal | $40 + $540 | $580.00 |
| Plan checking (single-family dwelling) | flat | $50.00 |
| Total with plan check | $580 + $50 | $630.00 |
Assumptions: A 2,000 SF home falls in the 1,451-3,010 SF bracket at $0.27/sq ft, and this page applies that rate to the whole conditioned area: $40 base + 2,000 × $0.27 = $580.00 building permit, plus the $50.00 single-family plan-checking surcharge = $630.00. Two disclosures: (a) the whole-area-at-bracket-rate approach is an interpretation the ordinance does not state explicitly, and (b) electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits are separate Chapter 18 fees and are NOT included in this figure - a new build likely needs them, so confirm which apply with the city. Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 (Ord. 2019-1485-C).
Example 2: Interior Remodel up to 1,000 SF
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Base fee | flat per permit | $40.00 |
| Interior alteration (up to 1,000 SF) | flat adder | $40.00 |
| Interior remodel permit total (exact) | $40 + $40 | $80.00 |
Assumptions: An interior alteration or repair up to 1,000 SF is a $40.00 base fee plus a $40.00 adder = $80.00. Over 1,000 SF the adder rises to $75.00 (total $115.00). Exterior work is cheaper: a $15.00 adder up to 1,000 SF (total $55.00) or $35.00 over 1,000 SF (total $75.00). Any trade work draws a separate electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or gas permit under a different Chapter 18 article. Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 (Ord. 2019-1485-C).
Example 3: Residential Swimming Pool
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Residential swimming pool permit | flat | $200.00 |
| Pool permit total (exact) | flat fee | $200.00 |
Assumptions: A residential swimming pool is a flat $200.00 building permit. A residential solar-panel permit is $225.00. Pool electrical bonding and any required barrier draw a separate electrical or building permit under a different Chapter 18 article - confirm which apply with the city. Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 (Ord. 2019-1485-C).
Example 4: Re-Roofing and Demolition
| Project | Rule Applied | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Re-roofing 1,500 SF (501-2,000 bracket) | tiered by area | $70.00 |
| Demolition (first 1,000 SF) | flat base | $100.00 |
Assumptions: Re-roofing is tiered by area - $50.00 for 1-500 SF, $70.00 for 501-2,000 SF, and $150.00 over 2,000 SF - so a 1,500 SF re-roof is $70.00. Demolition is $100.00 for the first 1,000 SF, then $25.00 per additional 500 SF, so a 1,000 SF demolition is $100.00. Each is a flat or tiered fee with no residential percentage surcharge. Source: Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 (Ord. 2019-1485-C).
Read before you budget from these examples
- Source age: the permit-fee amounts trace to Ord. 2019-1485-C, effective July 30, 2019 - about seven years old. Confirm current amounts with the city before relying on any figure.
- Whole-area assumption: the new-construction example applies the bracket rate to all conditioned square feet, which the ordinance does not state explicitly - verify the method with the city.
- Trade permits are separate: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas permits are separate Chapter 18 fees and are NOT in the new-home figure above.
- Plan checking is added: a flat $50 for a single/two-family dwelling, or 50% of the permit fee for commercial/multifamily (3+ units).
- Excluded fees can dwarf the permit: capital recovery / impact fees and certificate-of-occupancy fees are separate and not in any figure above.
Practitioner Insight
Brownsville uses a low per-square-foot model that keeps a new-home building permit modest: a 2,000 SF house is a $40 base plus $540 in per-SF fees for a $580 building permit, well under the flat new-home permits seen elsewhere in Texas. Its Rio Grande Valley neighbor McAllen is the closest peer for comparing Valley permit costs, and metros like Austin price new construction on a very different, valuation-driven scale - so the building permit itself is one of the cheaper parts of a Brownsville build.
Two cautions. First, the fee amounts trace to a 2019 ordinance, so it is worth confirming with the city that the schedule has not been amended before you file. Second - and more consequential for a new build - the per-SF building permit does NOT include the electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits, which are codified in separate Chapter 18 articles, nor capital recovery or certificate-of-occupancy fees. Anyone permitting a whole house should get the full stack of applicable permits and fees from the city rather than treating the $580 building permit as the all-in cost. For a small project - a pool, solar array, or re-roof - the printed fee plus plan checking is the whole permit cost.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Brownsville
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | $40 + $0.25-$0.30/SF | Rate set by total SF bracket; trade permits separate |
| Interior remodel | Yes | $40 + $40 / $75 | $40 adder up to 1,000 SF; $75 over 1,000 SF |
| Exterior remodel | Yes | $40 + $15 / $35 | $15 adder up to 1,000 SF; $35 over 1,000 SF |
| Residential swimming pool | Yes | $200 flat | Solar panels are $225 |
| Re-roof | Yes | $50 / $70 / $150 | Tiered: 1-500, 501-2,000, over 2,000 SF |
| Window replacement | Yes | $70 / $120 | $70 up to 4 units; $120 for 5+ units |
| Fence | Verify | Not separately listed | No fence fee in Sec. 18-123 - confirm with the city |
| Electrical / HVAC / plumbing / gas | Yes | Separate articles | Codified in separate Chapter 18 articles - not on this page |
Permit trigger thresholds and project-classification determinations (which square footage counts, whether a project is new construction vs. an alteration, whether a fence needs a permit) are set by the City of Brownsville Building Inspection division. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the city before starting work - beginning work before the permit is issued doubles the fee.
City of Brownsville Building Inspection
Building Inspection
City of Brownsville, Cameron County, Texas
brownsvilletx.gov - Permitting
Confirm the current fee schedule, trade-permit fees, and counter hours on the city's official site
Sec. 18-123 (Ord. 2019-1485-C)
Permit-fee amounts effective July 30, 2019 - confirm current amounts before filing
When This Estimate May Not Apply
The fee amounts date to a 2019 ordinance
The permit-fee amounts in Sec. 18-123 trace to Ord. 2019-1485-C, effective July 30, 2019 - about seven years old. The Municode supplement is current, but the dollar amounts date to 2019 and could have been amended since. Confirm current amounts with the city before filing.
You are building a new home
The $40 base plus per-SF building permit is only part of the cost. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits are separate Chapter 18 fees, and the whole-area application of the bracket rate is an assumption. Get the full permit stack and confirm the method with the city.
Your project is commercial or multifamily
Plan checking for commercial or multifamily (3+ units) work is 50% of the permit fee, not the flat $50 residential rate, and the fee structure can differ. Verify the commercial figures directly with the city.
You need a fence or other permit not listed in Sec. 18-123
There is no separately listed fence permit in the schedule, so this page states no fence fee. Whether a fence, or another project not itemized here, requires a permit and what it costs is determined by the city - confirm before starting.
Site and occupancy fees apply to a new build
Capital recovery / impact fees and certificate-of-occupancy fees are separate charges NOT in any figure on this page and can far exceed the building permit on a new home.
Source note: All figures come from the Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Chapter 18, Article III, Sec. 18-123 - Schedule of permit fees, published on Municode. The permit-fee amounts trace to Ord. No. 2019-1485-C, effective July 30, 2019; the Municode supplement carrying the code is current, but the dollar amounts date to 2019. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and gas trade permits (separate Chapter 18 articles), capital recovery / impact fees, and certificate-of-occupancy fees are not used here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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Brownsville Code of Ordinances, Sec. 18-123 - Schedule of permit fees (Ord. 2019-1485-C) Brownsville, TX - codified building permit fee schedule. Primary source for the base fee, per-square-foot brackets, alteration adders, specialty fees, and plan-checking surcharge on this page. Permit-fee amounts effective July 30, 2019 2019 - verify current
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City of Brownsville - official site (brownsvilletx.gov) City .gov site for the Building Inspection division, permitting information, trade-permit fees, and counter hours. Use to confirm current amounts and which trade permits a project requires. Verified July 2026.
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Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov) Texas .gov statutory context: Texas municipalities regulate building construction and adopt their own permit fee schedules by ordinance, and Texas imposes no statewide building-permit levy - which is why the Brownsville schedule is the whole permit cost. Verified July 2026.
See how Brownsville's per-SF fees compare to other Texas cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Brownsville permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition or pool increases your assessed value in Cameron County. A permitted project may change the property's taxable value. The county appraisal district determines that value and local taxing units adopt the rates, both separately from this permit fee.
Impact and utility fees for larger projects
Capital recovery / impact fees and certificate-of-occupancy fees in Brownsville are separate from the building permit. These items are governed by fee schedules separate from the building permit and are not included in the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →