College Station, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of College Station Planning & Development Services FY26 fee schedule - updated September 29, 2025, with FY26 fees effective October 1, 2025 (current). College Station is in Brazos County, Texas, home of Texas A&M University in the Bryan-College Station metro. Verified directly against the published city schedule.
This page covers: The per-square-foot residential building permit fees in College Station - $0.74/sq ft for new single-family and duplex construction, $0.75/sq ft for remodels and additions ($127 minimum), $0.74/sq ft for accessory living quarters or pool houses ($127 minimum), and $0.56/sq ft for other accessory structures ($63 minimum) - plus the city's flat residential fees (re-roof $95, mechanical change-out $95, demolition $67, driveway $67, irrigation $40, window replacements $127, residential solar $695, and more) and the valuation-based schedule used for pool permits. Each figure is exact from the published FY26 Planning & Development Services schedule.
Trade permits are SEPARATE: Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trade permits are priced separately from the per-square-foot building permit. Electrical is a $54 minimum for the first 1,000 sq ft plus $0.03/sq ft over 1,000, mechanical is a $55 minimum plus $0.03/sq ft over 1,000, and plumbing is $40 base plus $6.75 per fixture. A new home built by a general contractor typically draws all three trade permits.
No separate residential plan-review line is printed: The FY26 schedule prints no distinct residential plan-review fee, so as the schedule reads, the per-square-foot building fee appears to cover review. This is an observation of how the schedule is printed - confirmed neither way with the department.
Texas has no statewide levy: Unlike Virginia or Maryland, Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and College Station adds no city percentage surcharge on the permit fee.
This page does NOT cover: Impact fees, which are billed separately and can far exceed the building permit - residential water and wastewater impact fees by meter size (a 5/8" meter is $2,150 water + $3,300 sewer, effective 1/1/2025), roadway impact fees ($1,876.24 to $4,372.88 per single-family dwelling unit by service area, effective 1/1/2025-12/31/2025), and parkland dedication / park development fees ($5,256 per single-family dwelling unit, effective 10/1/2024) - plus zoning, platting, and site-development review fees, all excluded from every figure on this page.
College Station charges $0.74 per square foot for a new single-family or duplex building permit, so a 2,000 sq ft home is $1,480.00 for the building permit alone. Trade permits are separate line items: electrical ($54 minimum), mechanical ($55 minimum), and plumbing ($40 base + $6.75 per fixture). A build-up estimate for a full 2,000 sq ft new-home permit package is about $1,770.00 (estimate - plumbing varies with fixture count). A remodel or addition is $0.75/sq ft with a $127 minimum, a re-roof is $95 flat, residential solar is $695 flat, and pool permits use a valuation table - a $40,000 in-ground pool is $301.30. Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- A new single-family or duplex building permit is $0.74 per square foot - $1,480.00 for a 2,000 sq ft home. No separate residential plan-review line is printed on the FY26 schedule, so as the schedule reads, the per-square-foot building fee appears to cover review.
- Trade permits are separate from the building fee: electrical is a $54 minimum for the first 1,000 sq ft plus $0.03/sq ft over, mechanical is a $55 minimum plus $0.03/sq ft over 1,000, and plumbing is $40 base plus $6.75 per fixture. Any full-project total is a build-up estimate.
- A remodel or addition is $0.75/sq ft with a $127 minimum. Flat fees cover common jobs: re-roof $95, mechanical change-out $95, demolition $67, driveway $67, window replacements $127, residential solar $695.
- Pool permits use the valuation-based schedule: $40 for the first $1,000 of valuation plus $6.70 per additional $1,000 up to $50,000 - a $40,000 in-ground pool permit is $301.30, and a $60,000 pool is $423.50.
- Substantial impact fees are NOT included in any total on this page: water and wastewater impact fees (a 5/8" meter is $2,150 water + $3,300 sewer), roadway impact fees ($1,876.24 to $4,372.88 per single-family dwelling unit by service area), and parkland dedication ($5,256 per single-family dwelling unit). Fees are CPI-adjusted every October 1.
College Station Building Permit Fee Structure
College Station uses per-square-foot rates for residential building permits, separate formula-based trade permits, a flat-fee menu for common small jobs, and a valuation-based table for pools and commercial work. The tables below show the verified FY26 figures exactly as published, effective October 1, 2025.
Per-square-foot building permit rates
| Category | Rate |
|---|---|
| New single-family or duplex building | $0.74 / sq ft |
| Remodel or addition | $0.75 / sq ft ($127 min) |
| Accessory living quarters or pool house | $0.74 / sq ft ($127 min) |
| Accessory - all other | $0.56 / sq ft ($63 min) |
| Re-roof | $95.00 flat |
| Mechanical change-out | $95.00 flat |
The new single-family/duplex rate is the building fee only - trade permits are separate line items (below). No separate residential plan-review line is printed on the FY26 schedule, so as the schedule reads, the per-square-foot building fee appears to cover review; this is an observation of how the schedule is printed, confirmed neither way with the department. Multi-family, briefly: a new multi-family building is $0.46/sq ft, a remodel or addition is $0.46/sq ft ($127 minimum), and a re-roof is $190 - this page focuses on single-family residential.
Trade permits (separate line items - not bundled into the building fee)
| Trade permit type | Fee formula |
|---|---|
| Electrical | $54 min (first 1,000 sq ft) + $0.03/sq ft over 1,000 |
| Electrical repair / alteration | $54.00 |
| Mechanical | $55 min (first 1,000 sq ft) + $0.03/sq ft over 1,000 |
| Plumbing | $40 base + $6.75 per fixture |
| Plumbing gas | $40 base + $6.75 (up to 4 outlets) + $1.35 each over 4 |
Flat miscellaneous fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Demolition | $67.00 |
| Driveway | $67.00 |
| Irrigation | $40.00 |
| Window replacements (residential) | $127.00 |
| Solar panels (residential) | $695.00 |
| Sign | $205.00 |
| Temporary power pole (College Station Utilities) | $101.00 |
| Temporary power pole (Entergy) | $40.00 |
| Reinspection | $132.00 |
Valuation-based permit fee schedule (pools, tank/tent, commercial)
| Project valuation | Fee formula |
|---|---|
| Up to $50,000 | $40 for first $1,000 + $6.70 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $370 for first $50,000 + $5.35 per $1,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $640 for first $100,000 + $4.00 per $1,000 |
| Over $500,000 | $2,255 for first $500,000 + $2.70 per $1,000 |
All FY26 figures are CPI-adjusted each October 1 per the schedule - verify with Planning & Development Services at 979-764-3500 before budgeting.
College Station Permit Fee Components
A College Station building permit total stacks a few separate components: the per-square-foot building permit fee, separately priced trade permits, and for pools a valuation-based fee. There is no percentage surcharge on the permit. Impact, roadway, and parkland fees sit outside this stack entirely and are billed separately.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $0.74/SF (new/duplex), $0.75/SF ($127 min) (remodel/addition), or flat fee | Exact schedule figure |
| Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | Electrical $54 min / mechanical $55 min / plumbing $40 + $6.75 per fixture | Separate - priced and paid on their own |
| Percentage surcharge | None | Texas has no statewide levy; no city percentage surcharge |
| Water / wastewater impact fees | 5/8" meter: $2,150 water + $3,300 sewer | Excluded - billed separately by meter size |
| Roadway impact fees | $1,876.24 - $4,372.88 / dwelling unit | Excluded - varies by service area |
| Parkland dedication | $5,256 / single-family dwelling unit | Excluded - separate site/subdivision charge |
There is no percentage surcharge on a College Station permit, and Texas has no statewide building-permit levy. Because trade permits are priced on their own lines, new-home totals that add electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are labeled build-up estimates in the worked examples below. The impact, roadway, and parkland fees above are substantial, billed separately, and can far exceed the building permit itself.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from the published FY26 schedule. Because trade permits are separate line items in College Station, full new-home package totals are labeled build-up estimates that combine verified per-line fees with a labeled plumbing fixture-count assumption; single-line figures are exact.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit (exact) | 2,000 SF × $0.74 | $1,480.00 |
| + Electrical permit | $54 + $0.03 × 1,000 SF over | $84.00 |
| + Mechanical permit | $55 + $0.03 × 1,000 SF over | $85.00 |
| + Plumbing permit (12-fixture assumption) | $40 + 12 × $6.75 | $121.00 |
| Full new-home package (build-up estimate) | $1,480 + $84 + $85 + $121 | ~$1,770 (estimate) |
Assumptions: 2,000 SF home. The building permit at $0.74/SF = $1,480.00 is an exact schedule figure. Adding electrical ($84.00), mechanical ($85.00), and plumbing ($121.00 at a labeled 12-fixture assumption) brings the full package to about $1,770.00 - a build-up estimate because trade permits are separate line items and plumbing varies with fixture count. Water/wastewater impact fees, roadway impact fees, and the $5,256-per-unit parkland dedication are separate and not included. Source: City of College Station Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule (FY26, eff. Oct 1, 2025).
Example 2: 400 SF Remodel or Addition
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel or addition permit | 400 SF × $0.75 | $300.00 |
| Minimum check | above the $127 minimum | n/a |
| Permit total (exact) | 400 × $0.75 | $300.00 |
Assumptions: A remodel or addition bills at $0.75/sq ft with a $127 minimum. 400 SF × $0.75 = $300.00, which is above the minimum, so the exact figure is $300.00. A smaller 150 SF remodel computes to $112.50, so the $127 minimum governs instead. Any electrical, mechanical, or plumbing work draws a separate trade permit. Source: City of College Station Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule (FY26, eff. Oct 1, 2025).
Example 3: In-Ground Pool (Valuation-Based)
| Pool valuation | Rule Applied | Permit Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 pool | $40 + 24 × $6.70 | $200.80 |
| $40,000 pool | $40 + 39 × $6.70 | $301.30 |
| $60,000 pool | $370 + 10 × $5.35 | $423.50 |
Assumptions: Pool permits use the valuation-based schedule. A $25,000 pool is $40 + 24 × $6.70 = $200.80; a $40,000 pool is $40 + 39 × $6.70 = $301.30 (both in the up-to-$50,000 tier); a $60,000 pool crosses into the second tier at $370 + 10 × $5.35 = $423.50. Pool electrical and plumbing trade permits are separate. See the College Station pool permit guide for a full walkthrough. Source: City of College Station Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule (FY26, eff. Oct 1, 2025).
Example 4: Flat-Fee Projects - Re-Roof, Demolition, Solar
| Project | Fee Basis | Permit Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Re-roof | flat | $95.00 |
| Demolition | flat | $67.00 |
| Residential solar panels | flat | $695.00 |
| Window replacement (residential) | flat | $127.00 |
Assumptions: Each of these is a flat permit fee, so the figure is exact: re-roof $95.00, demolition $67.00, residential solar $695.00, window replacement $127.00. Residential solar is priced well above other flat jobs on the FY26 schedule. Source: City of College Station Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule (FY26, eff. Oct 1, 2025).
Read before you budget from these examples
- New-home package is a build-up estimate: the $1,480 building permit is an exact schedule figure, but the ~$1,770 full package is an estimate because trade permits are separate line items and plumbing depends on fixture count.
- Trades are separate: College Station prices electrical ($54 min), mechanical ($55 min), and plumbing ($40 + $6.75 per fixture) on their own lines, on top of the building permit.
- No percentage surcharge: there is no percentage add-on to a College Station permit and Texas has no statewide levy.
- Fees are CPI-adjusted every October 1: the schedule states figures are adjusted annually, so FY26 amounts change each fall.
- Excluded fees can dwarf the permit: water/wastewater impact fees, roadway impact fees, and the $5,256-per-unit parkland dedication are separate and not in any total above.
Practitioner Insight
College Station keeps its residential building fee simple: one per-square-foot rate by project category, no percentage surcharge, and a building permit you can compute on the back of an envelope - a 2,000 sq ft new home is exactly $1,480.00 for the building line. That is a very different structure from a valuation-based big-city schedule; for a side-by-side, see the College Station vs Austin comparison or the Austin permit fees page. Nearby Central Texas cities like Killeen and Round Rock each price their permits differently again.
The place College Station is not simple is the full new-home number. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are separate line items, and plumbing scales with fixture count ($40 base plus $6.75 per fixture), which is why every full-package figure on this page is a build-up estimate (about $1,770 for a 2,000 sq ft home at a labeled 12-fixture assumption). For a re-roof, demolition, solar, or window job that draws no trades, the flat fee is exact and there is nothing to estimate. Anyone budgeting a full build should price the excluded site charges early: water and wastewater impact fees, roadway impact fees, and the $5,256-per-unit parkland dedication are separate schedules and can exceed the building permit itself. And because the schedule is CPI-adjusted every October 1, confirm the current figure before you file.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in College Station
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home or duplex | Yes | $0.74/SF | Trades separate; 2,000 SF = $1,480 building line |
| Remodel or addition | Yes | $0.75/SF ($127 min) | 400 SF = $300.00; trades separate |
| Accessory living quarters / pool house | Yes | $0.74/SF ($127 min) | Same rate as new construction |
| Accessory - all other | Yes | $0.56/SF ($63 min) | Lower per-SF rate for sheds, detached structures |
| Swimming pool | Yes | valuation table | $40,000 pool = $301.30; pool electrical/plumbing separate |
| Re-roof | Yes | $95 flat | Same as mechanical change-out |
| Demolition | Yes | $67 flat | Same flat fee as a driveway permit |
| Residential solar panels | Yes | $695 flat | Highest flat residential fee on the schedule |
| Window replacement (residential) | Yes | $127 flat | Flat fee |
| Standalone trade work (electrical / mechanical / plumbing) | Yes | $54 / $55 / $40 + $6.75 per fixture | Priced separately from the building permit |
Permit trigger thresholds and chargeable-area determinations (which square footage counts for garages, porches, and covered patios) are set by the City of College Station Planning & Development Services. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the department at 979-764-3500 before starting work.
City of College Station Planning & Development Services
Planning & Development Services
1101 Texas Ave., College Station, TX 77840
Phone: 979-764-3500
cspds@cstx.gov · eTRAKiT portal (cd.cstx.gov/eTRAKiT) · 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays
FY26 PDS Fee Schedule
Effective October 1, 2025 · CPI-adjusted annually
When This Estimate May Not Apply
You need a single all-in new-home number
Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing are separate line items from the per-square-foot building fee, so any full-project total on this page is a build-up estimate, not a single published package price. Confirm with Planning & Development Services before relying on one figure.
Your home has more or fewer plumbing fixtures than assumed
The plumbing permit is $40 plus $6.75 per fixture, and the 12-fixture count used in the worked examples is a labeled assumption. Every extra fixture adds $6.75 to the plumbing line.
You are building a new home - impact fees are separate and large
Water and wastewater impact fees (5/8" meter: $2,150 water + $3,300 sewer, effective 1/1/2025), roadway impact fees ($1,876.24 to $4,372.88 per single-family dwelling unit by service area, effective 1/1/2025-12/31/2025), and parkland dedication ($5,256 per single-family dwelling unit, effective 10/1/2024) are NOT in any total here and can far exceed the building permit.
You file after September 30, 2026
The schedule states fees are CPI-adjusted annually each October 1, so the FY26 figures on this page will change. Confirm the current amount with the department before filing.
Your project is commercial or multi-family
Commercial new construction and remodels use the valuation-based table, and multi-family uses its own per-square-foot rate ($0.46/sq ft), which this page covers only briefly.
Source note: All figures come from the City of College Station Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule, FY26, updated September 29, 2025, with FY26 fees effective October 1, 2025 - extracted from the official PDF on July 2, 2026 and verified July 3, 2026. Contact details were verified from the department page on July 3, 2026. No separate residential plan-review line is printed on the schedule; that observation is flagged on this page rather than asserted as a confirmed bundling rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of College Station - Planning & Development Services Fee Schedule (FY26) College Station, TX - official FY26 fee schedule PDF, updated September 29, 2025; FY26 fees effective October 1, 2025. Primary source for every per-square-foot rate, flat fee, trade formula, and valuation-based figure on this page. Fees are CPI-adjusted annually each October 1 per the schedule. Extracted July 2, 2026, verified July 3, 2026 Verified
-
City of College Station - Planning & Development Services Department page - contact details (1101 Texas Ave., 979-764-3500, cspds@cstx.gov) and eTRAKiT permit portal. Verified July 3, 2026.
See how College Station's per-SF structure compares to a valuation-based big-city schedule, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your College Station 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 Brazos County. See how Texas jurisdictions calculate the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Impact, roadway, and parkland fees for larger projects
Water/wastewater impact fees, roadway impact fees, and the $5,256-per-unit parkland dedication in College Station are separate from the building permit. Research zoning and site costs at ZoneFee.com.