Conroe, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of Conroe Appendix A Fee Schedule, Chapter 14, as amended by Ordinance No. 2756-25, passed and effective November 13, 2025. Conroe is the Montgomery County seat on I-45, about 40 miles north of Houston. Every figure below is read directly from the signed ordinance.
This page covers: The residential dwelling permit rates in Conroe's Appendix A fee schedule - $0.64 per square foot for the building permit and $0.32 per square foot for the nonrefundable plan review, both applied to "the total square footage of the building area or work area" - plus the separately priced electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical permits, the swimming pool and solar fees, the flat trade fees, and the reinspection and penalty fees.
MEP trades are NOT bundled: Electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical are each their own permit with their own $75.00 base fee and their own inspection fees. The $0.64/sq ft building permit does not include them. Because the number of inspections on any given job is set by the inspector, this page publishes no single all-in new-home total - only the exact building line plus a clearly labeled trade build-up.
Commercial is a different system: New commercial construction, commercial additions, and residential structures or remodels that are not residential dwellings use the ICC Building Valuation Table and a tiered valuation fee, with plan review at 50% of the permit fee.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no state-level building permit surcharge, and Ordinance 2756-25 prints no technology, automation, or application surcharge. Any online-payment convenience fee charged by the city portal is not part of this schedule.
This page does NOT cover: Impact fees, water and sewer tap and capacity fees, and drainage/utility fees (Chapter 70, Ordinance 2759-25); fire protection plan review and permits (Chapter 30, Ordinance 2757-25); manufactured home, RV and tiny home fees (Chapter 82, Ord. 2760-25); sign fees (Chapter 90, Ord. 2761-25); vegetation and tree fees (Chapter 102, Ord. 2764-25); and Montgomery County, MUD, and HOA costs.
Conroe charges $0.64 per square foot for a residential dwelling building permit plus $0.32 per square foot for the nonrefundable plan review - a combined $0.96 per square foot. A 2,500 sq ft new home's building line is therefore exactly $2,400.00 ($1,600.00 permit + $800.00 plan review). Electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical permits are separate, each starting at a $75.00 base fee plus per-inspection charges, so no all-in new-home total is published here. Certificate of Occupancy for new construction is included with the construction permit. Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- Residential dwellings are priced by area, not valuation: $0.64/sq ft building permit + $0.32/sq ft plan review = $0.96/sq ft. A 2,500 sq ft home is $1,600.00 + $800.00 = $2,400.00; a 400 sq ft addition is $256.00 + $128.00 = $384.00.
- MEP trades are separate permits and are not included in the per-square-foot building fee. Electrical, plumbing, and fuel gas each carry a $75.00 base fee plus inspection fees scaled by work area ($15.00 each up to 1,000 sq ft, $50.00 each up to 5,000 sq ft, rising to $200.00 each over 50,000 sq ft). Mechanical is a $75.00 base plus $25.00 for a residential new system or change-out, inspection included.
- Plan review covers 1 to 3 submittals. A 4th submittal adds an additional 50% of the permit fee, a 5th adds double the plan review fee, and a 6th and each thereafter adds triple - so resubmittals, not the base rate, are what move a residential total.
- Swimming pools and all commercial work use the ICC valuation tier table with plan review at 50% of the permit fee. A pool also requires a $500.00 completion deposit at issuance, forfeited if the project is not finished in the permit's allotted time, plus separate $150.00 pool electric and $150.00 pool plumbing permits.
- Penalties are steep and flat: starting work before obtaining a permit costs $2,000.00 or double the permit fee, whichever is greater; an unlicensed-contractor reinstatement is $2,000.00; and reinspections run $75.00, then $100.00, then $150.00, then $300.00 each.
- The schedule is current. Ordinance No. 2756-25 was passed and approved November 13, 2025 and states it is effective immediately upon adoption. Exhibit A also states that "Fees referenced in Appendix A fee schedule supersede any fee referenced in the Codes of Ordinances."
Conroe Building Permit Fee Structure
Conroe runs two parallel systems. Residential dwellings - new single-family construction, additions, and remodels of dwellings - are priced per square foot of building area or work area. Everything else, including commercial work, residential structures that are not dwellings, and swimming pools, is priced from a valuation tier table. The tables below reproduce the figures exactly as printed in Exhibit A to Ordinance 2756-25.
Residential dwelling rates (per square foot)
| Component | Rate |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit fee | $0.64 / sq ft |
| Residential plan review fee (nonrefundable) | $0.32 / sq ft |
| Combined building line | $0.96 / sq ft |
| Certificate of Occupancy, new construction | Included with construction permit |
| Certificate of Occupancy, change of ownership or business name | $200.00 |
| Temporary Certificate of Occupancy | $250.00 |
| Replacement or lost Certificate of Occupancy | $20.00 |
The ordinance states these rates apply to "the total square footage of the building area or work area." It does not define whether garages, covered porches, or unconditioned space count toward building area - that determination is made by the Building Inspections and Permits Department. No minimum residential permit fee is printed in the schedule; the rates are stated without a floor.
Trade permits - priced separately, not bundled
| Trade permit | Base permit fee | Inspections |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical (Article III) | $75.00 | Underground, rough-in, TCI, final - each priced by work area |
| Plumbing (Article IV) | $75.00 | Underground, top-out, final - each priced by work area |
| Fuel gas (Article V) | $75.00 | Underground, top-out, final - each priced by work area |
| Mechanical (Article VII) | $75.00 | Inspection included; residential change-out or new system adds $25.00 |
Inspection fee tiers by work area (electrical, plumbing, fuel gas)
| Work area | Fee per inspection |
|---|---|
| Up to 1,000 sq ft | $15.00 |
| Up to 5,000 sq ft | $50.00 |
| Up to 10,000 sq ft | $100.00 |
| Up to 50,000 sq ft | $150.00 |
| Over 50,000 sq ft | $200.00 |
| Additional partial inspection | Half the inspection fee for the building area |
| After-hours inspection | $300.00 |
Flat fees for common jobs
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Water heater replacement (inspection included) | $75.00 |
| Backflow prevention device installation | $75.00 |
| Building sewer / sewer line replacement | $75.00 |
| Interior water line re-pipe or water line replacement | $100.00 |
| Grease trap or sand-oil separator installation | $100.00 |
| Yard line fuel gas replacement | $100.00 |
| Gas test on existing service (inspection included) | $75.00 |
| Electrical reconnect permit (inspection included) | $75.00 |
| Electrical service or meter loop replacement, 100-200 amp | $100.00 |
| Electrical service or meter loop replacement, 201-400 amp | $150.00 |
| Solar panel electrical permit (inspection included) | $300.00 |
| Generator electric permit (inspection included) | $300.00 |
| Gas line for generator (inspection included) | $100.00 |
| Irrigation, residential new system (inspection included) | $115.00 |
| Irrigation, repair or modification to existing system | $75.00 |
| Swimming pool electric permit / pool plumbing permit (each) | $150.00 |
| Swimming pool water heater (fuel gas, inspection included) | $75.00 |
| Permit for demolition without a building permit | $150.00 |
Ordinance 2756-25 prints no separate flat fee for a residential deck, fence, re-roof, accessory structure, or residential demolition tied to a building permit. Those fall either under the $0.64/sq ft residential rate applied to the work area or, for non-dwelling residential structures, under the valuation table. The only printed demolition line is the $150.00 permit for demolition without a building permit.
Valuation tiers (commercial, non-dwelling residential structures, and swimming pools)
| Valuation | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| $1,000.00 and less | $50.00 for the first $500, plus $3.50 per additional $100 or fraction to and including $1,000 |
| $1,000.00 to $25,000.00 | $67.50 for the first $1,000, plus $14.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction to and including $25,000 |
| $25,001.00 to $50,000.00 | $403.50 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| $50,001.00 to $100,000.00 | $656.00 for the first $50,000, plus $7.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction to and including $100,000 |
| $101,000.00 to $500,000.00 | $1,006.00 for the first $100,000, plus $5.00 per additional $1,000 or fraction to and including $500,000 |
| $501,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 | $3,006.00 for the first $500,000, plus $4.75 per additional $1,000 or fraction to and including $1,000,000 |
| $1,000,001.00 and above | $5,381.00 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.15 per additional $1,000 or fraction |
| Commercial / pool plan review | 50% of permit fee (1-3 submittals) |
Two printing artifacts in the ordinance are transcribed above exactly as published rather than corrected. First, the $25,001-$50,000 row is printed with the trailing phrase "to and including $100,000.00", which overlaps the next tier. Second, the table jumps from "$50,001.00 to $100,000.00" straight to "$101,000.00 to $500,000.00", leaving valuations between $100,001 and $100,999 unaddressed on the printed schedule. The department resolves both; we do not guess at the intent. Commercial multipliers apply on top: new construction and additions 1.0, new shell buildings 0.60, shell interior finish-outs 0.40, remodel level 1 0.40, level 2 0.60, level 3 0.80.
Conroe Permit Fee Components and Surcharges
A Conroe residential total stacks the building permit, the nonrefundable plan review, and then each trade permit separately. There is no percentage surcharge and no technology fee. The charges that actually inflate a total are resubmittals, reinspections, and penalties.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building permit fee | $0.64 / sq ft of building or work area | Exact ordinance figure |
| Residential plan review fee | $0.32 / sq ft (nonrefundable) | Covers 1-3 submittals; escalates after |
| Electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical permits | $75.00 base each, plus inspection fees | Separate - NOT bundled into the building permit |
| Resubmittal escalation | 4th: +50% of permit fee; 5th: double plan review; 6th+: triple plan review | Applies to residential and commercial alike |
| Commercial / pool plan review | 50% of permit fee (1-3 submittals) | Valuation-based work only |
| Swimming pool completion deposit | $500.00 | Due at issuance; forfeited if not completed in the permit's allotted time |
| Reinspection fees | $75.00 / $100.00 / $150.00 / $300.00 | 1st; 2nd for same failure; 3rd for same failure; 4th and each thereafter |
| After-hours inspection | $300.00 | Listed for electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical |
| Work started before permit (investigation fee) | $2,000.00 or double the permit fee, whichever is greater | Applies across Chapter 14, Articles I-XII |
| Permit reinstatement (unlicensed contractor) | $2,000.00 | Flat penalty |
| Impact, tap, drainage, and fire fees | Separate ordinances | Excluded - Chapter 70 (Ord. 2759-25) and Chapter 30 (Ord. 2757-25) |
No technology, automation, or credit-card surcharge appears anywhere in Ordinance 2756-25 Exhibit A, and Texas imposes no state-level permit levy. Any convenience fee charged by the city's online permit portal is a payment-processing charge outside this fee schedule.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from Ordinance 2756-25. Building-permit lines are exact. Trade build-ups are labeled estimates, because the ordinance states additional inspection fees may be required if inspections are needed that were not originally charged - the inspector sets the count, not the schedule.
Example 1: New 2,500 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Residential building permit | 2,500 SF × $0.64 | $1,600.00 |
| Residential plan review | 2,500 SF × $0.32 | $800.00 |
| Building line subtotal (exact) | $1,600 + $800 | $2,400.00 |
| Electrical permit (estimate) | $75 + 4 × $50 | $275.00 |
| Plumbing permit (estimate) | $75 + 3 × $50 | $225.00 |
| Fuel gas permit (estimate) | $75 + 3 × $50 | $225.00 |
| Mechanical permit, new system (estimate) | $75 + $25 | $100.00 |
| Trade build-up subtotal (estimate) | $275 + $225 + $225 + $100 | ~$825 (estimate) |
Assumptions: 2,500 SF of building area. The $2,400.00 building line is exact - it is the ordinance's own worked figure. The trade lines assume a 2,500 SF work area, which falls in the "up to 5,000 sq ft" tier at $50.00 per inspection, and assume the full printed inspection sets (electrical 4, plumbing 3, fuel gas 3) with mechanical treated as a new system. We deliberately do not publish a single all-in new-home total: the ordinance prices MEP separately and lets the inspector add inspections not originally charged, so the two subtotals are kept apart rather than merged into a number that would imply more certainty than the schedule supports. Certificate of Occupancy for new construction is included with the construction permit at no extra charge. Source: City of Conroe Ordinance No. 2756-25, Appendix A, Chapter 14 (eff. Nov 13, 2025).
Example 2: 400 SF Residential Addition
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 400 SF × $0.64 | $256.00 |
| Plan review | 400 SF × $0.32 | $128.00 |
| Building line total (exact) | $256 + $128 | $384.00 |
| If the addition draws electrical work (estimate) | $75 + 4 × $15 | $135.00 |
Assumptions: A 400 SF addition to a residential dwelling bills on the work area at $0.96/sq ft combined, so $384.00 is exact. The electrical line assumes a work area under 1,000 sq ft, which puts each inspection at $15.00, and assumes all four printed inspections are called. Plumbing, fuel gas, or mechanical work would each add their own $75.00 base plus inspections. Source: City of Conroe Ordinance No. 2756-25, Appendix A, Chapter 14 (eff. Nov 13, 2025).
Example 3: Swimming Pool Valued at $60,000
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Pool permit fee | $656.00 + (10 × $7.00) | $726.00 |
| Plan review | 50% × $726.00 | $363.00 |
| Pool electric permit | flat | $150.00 |
| Pool plumbing permit | flat | $150.00 |
| Total permit cost | $726 + $363 + $150 + $150 | $1,389.00 |
| Completion deposit (separate, at issuance) | flat | $500.00 |
Assumptions: The pool is valued by the department at $60,000, landing in the "$50,001.00 to $100,000.00" tier: $656.00 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000, and $60,000 is $10,000 over, so 10 × $7.00 = $70.00, giving $726.00. Plan review is 50% of that. Pool inspections are included in the pool permit per Article VI. A different department valuation produces a different fee - the valuation, not the pool's contract price, drives the number. The $500.00 deposit is paid at issuance and is forfeited only if the project is not completed within the permit's allotted time, so it is shown outside the permit total. Source: City of Conroe Ordinance No. 2756-25, Appendix A, Chapter 14 (eff. Nov 13, 2025).
Example 4: Small Standalone Jobs - Water Heater, Solar, Service Upgrade
| Project | Rule Applied | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Water heater replacement | flat, inspection included | $75.00 |
| Rooftop solar panel system | solar panel electrical permit, inspection included | $300.00 |
| 200 amp electrical service replacement | 100-200 amp meter loop / service | $100.00 |
| Residential HVAC change-out | $75 base + $25 change-out, inspection included | $100.00 |
| New residential irrigation system | flat, inspection included | $115.00 |
Assumptions: Each of these is a flat printed fee with inspection included, so the totals are exact and no per-square-foot math applies. Solar is listed in Article XI as referring to Article III electrical permits, where the solar panel electrical permit is printed at $300.00 with inspection included. The HVAC change-out combines the $75.00 mechanical base permit fee with the $25.00 residential change-out line. A reinspection after a failure adds $75.00 the first time. Our Conroe water heater permit cost guide covers that $75.00 line in depth, including the plumbing-base-fee question and the $2,000.00 penalty for skipping the permit. Source: City of Conroe Ordinance No. 2756-25, Appendix A, Chapter 14 (eff. Nov 13, 2025).
Read before you budget from these examples
- No all-in new-home total is published here. Conroe prices electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical as separate permits, and the ordinance allows additional inspections not originally charged. Merging the building line and the trade build-up into one headline number would imply a precision the schedule does not provide.
- The building line is exact, the trade build-up is an estimate. $2,400.00 for 2,500 SF is arithmetic from two printed rates. The ~$825 trade figure depends on the inspection count and the work-area tier the department applies.
- Chargeable area is not defined in the ordinance. "Total square footage of the building area or work area" is the printed language; whether garages, covered porches, and unconditioned space count is a department determination.
- Resubmittals escalate fast. A 4th submittal adds 50% of the permit fee, a 5th doubles the plan review fee, and a 6th and each thereafter triples it.
- Excluded fees are large. Impact fees, water and sewer tap and capacity fees, drainage fees, and fire protection review sit in separate ordinances and are not in any figure above.
Practitioner Insight
Conroe's residential schedule is one of the cleanest in the Houston metro to compute and one of the easiest to under-budget. The computation is trivial: multiply your building area by $0.96 and you have the whole building line, permit and plan review together. A 2,500 sq ft house is $2,400.00, and the ordinance itself prints that example. There is no percentage surcharge, no technology fee, and no state levy stacked on top - which is unusual enough that people assume the number is the whole permit cost.
It is not. Electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical are four separate permits, each with its own $75.00 base fee and its own inspection charges that step up with work area. On a 2,500 sq ft house every inspection prices at the $50.00 tier rather than the $15.00 tier used on small jobs, which is where the trade side quietly reaches several hundred dollars. That is why this page keeps the building line and the trade build-up in separate subtotals instead of publishing one headline number. Compare that structure to nearby Houston-area cities: Baytown, Pearland, and Pasadena each package trades and review differently, so a per-square-foot rate alone is never a fair comparison between cities.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Conroe
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | $0.64/SF + $0.32/SF review | 2,500 SF = $2,400.00 building line; MEP separate |
| Residential addition | Yes | $0.64/SF + $0.32/SF review | 400 SF = $384.00 building line |
| Remodel of a residential dwelling | Yes | $0.64/SF + $0.32/SF review on work area | Same rate as new construction, applied to work area |
| Swimming pool or spa | Yes | Valuation table + 50% review | $500 deposit; pool electric $150 and pool plumbing $150 separate |
| Rooftop solar | Yes | $300.00 flat | Article XI refers to Article III electrical; inspection included |
| Water heater replacement | Yes | $75.00 flat | Inspection included |
| HVAC change-out | Yes | $75.00 base + $25.00 | $100.00 total; inspection included |
| Irrigation system (new residential) | Yes | $115.00 flat | Repair or modification is $75.00 |
| Deck, fence, re-roof, accessory structure | Confirm with department | Not separately priced | No flat line is printed; falls under the per-SF work-area rate or the valuation table for non-dwelling structures |
| Demolition without a building permit | Yes | $150.00 flat | The only demolition line printed in Exhibit A |
| Standalone electrical / plumbing / fuel gas work | Yes | $75.00 base + per-inspection fees | Priced separately from any building permit |
Permit trigger thresholds and chargeable-area determinations are set by the City of Conroe Building Inspections and Permits Department. Where the fee schedule prints no line for a project type, the department decides which system applies - ask before you file rather than assuming the per-square-foot rate.
City of Conroe Building Inspections and Permits
Building Inspections and Permits Department
700 Metcalf St., Conroe, TX 77301
Permits@cityofconroe.org
Email the permits desk to confirm chargeable area and required trade inspections before filing.
Ordinance No. 2756-25, Appendix A, Chapter 14
Passed and approved November 13, 2025 · effective immediately upon adoption
When This Estimate May Not Apply
You want one all-in number for a new house
There isn't one in this schedule. The $0.64/sq ft building permit and $0.32/sq ft plan review are exact, but electrical, plumbing, fuel gas, and mechanical are separately priced permits whose inspection counts the department sets. This page deliberately publishes the building line and the trade build-up separately rather than a single total.
Your chargeable area is unclear
The ordinance says fees are based on "the total square footage of the building area or work area" but never defines whether garages, covered porches, or unconditioned space are counted. Every per-square-foot figure on this page moves if the counted area differs from the number you used.
Your project falls in a printed gap in the valuation table
The tiers jump from "$50,001.00 to $100,000.00" to "$101,000.00 to $500,000.00", leaving $100,001 to $100,999 unaddressed, and the $25,001-$50,000 row carries a trailing "to and including $100,000.00" that overlaps the next tier. We transcribe both artifacts as printed instead of resolving them. If your valuation lands there, the department decides.
Your plans go past three submittals, or work started early
A 4th submittal adds 50% of the permit fee, a 5th doubles the plan review fee, and a 6th and each thereafter triples it. Starting work before obtaining a permit triggers a $2,000.00 investigation fee, or double the permit fee if that is greater. Reinspections run $75.00, $100.00, $150.00, then $300.00 each.
You are budgeting site and utility costs
Impact fees, water and sewer tap and capacity fees, and drainage fees are set in Chapter 70 under Ordinance 2759-25, and fire protection review and permits in Chapter 30 under Ordinance 2757-25. Manufactured home, sign, and tree fees sit in still other ordinances. None of them are in any figure on this page.
The city amends Appendix A again
Ordinance 2756-25 is the most recent amendment to Appendix A, Chapter 14, adopted November 13, 2025. A later ordinance can change any figure here. Confirm the current schedule before filing.
Source note: All figures were extracted with pdfplumber on July 21, 2026 from the text layer of the signed ordinance PDF hosted on cityofconroe.org - Ordinance No. 2756-25, amending Appendix A Fee Schedule, Chapter 14, Buildings and Building Regulations. The ordinance was passed and approved November 13, 2025, and Section 6 states its provisions take effect immediately upon adoption; the ordinance history line at the end of Exhibit A confirms Ord. No. 2756-25, 11-13-2025 as the most recent amendment. The Municode-hosted Appendix A page returned HTTP 403 to automated fetch and was not used; no cross-source conflict was observed, because the city PDF is the adopting instrument that Municode codifies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Conroe - Ordinance No. 2756-25, Amending Appendix A Fee Schedule, Chapter 14 Buildings and Building Regulations (Exhibit A) Conroe, TX - signed ordinance passed and approved November 13, 2025, effective immediately upon adoption. Primary and only source for every rate, flat fee, valuation tier, inspection fee, deposit, and penalty on this page. Extracted with pdfplumber July 21, 2026 Verified
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Texas Local Government Code Chapter 395 - Financing Capital Improvements Required by New Development State statute governing how Texas municipalities impose impact fees. Cited only as context for why Conroe's impact fees sit in a separate ordinance (Chapter 70, Ord. 2759-25) and are excluded from every figure on this page. No fee amount on this page comes from this statute.
Compare Conroe's per-square-foot structure to other Houston-area cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Conroe 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 Montgomery 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, tap, and drainage fees for larger projects
Conroe's impact fees, water and sewer tap and capacity fees, and drainage fees sit in Chapter 70 under Ordinance 2759-25, 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 →