Dallas, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fee formulas from the official City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676), effective May 1, 2024 and re-confirmed as the current published schedule on June 27, 2026. Dallas is the seat of Dallas County in North Texas. Verified directly against the published city schedule.
This page covers: The residential building permit fee for new single-family and duplex construction (Table A-I, priced per square foot), single-family and duplex alterations (the flat $181 Table B-II line or the value-based Table B-I tiers), the $15 technology permit fee, and the separately billed residential plan-review fee, exactly as printed in the City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule effective May 1, 2024.
Dallas uses a mixed model: New square footage is priced per square foot under Table A-I. Alterations and repairs to an existing home are priced either as a flat $181 single-family line (Table B-II) or by the value of the work (Table B-I). The city charges the greater of the table result or a per-trade minimum inspection fee ($125 for one trade, rising to $1,125 for nine or more trades).
Texas has no statewide levy: Unlike Virginia or Maryland, Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy. The only document-wide add-on in Dallas is a flat $15 technology permit fee per document submitted. A separate 10% surcharge applies only inside planned-development, specific-use-permit, and deed-restricted areas - not to ordinary permits.
This page does NOT cover: Dallas Water Utilities tap and capacity charges, zoning and Board of Adjustment fees, platting and subdivision review, the 10% planned-development / specific-use-permit / deed-restricted surcharge (which applies only inside those mapped areas), and any standalone trade work billed through the per-trade minimum inspection schedule. Final permit fees are calculated at the time of submittal per the schedule's own disclaimer.
Dallas prices a new single-family home per square foot under Table A-I - a new 2,000 sq ft house is $991.38 for the building permit (2,000 × $0.34569 + $300), and a 1,000 sq ft home is $645.69. A single-family remodel or alteration is instead a flat $181 per dwelling unit plus $100 for each additional trade (Table B-II). Every submittal adds a $15 technology permit fee per document, and Texas has no statewide percentage levy. Add the residential plan review (the greater of $0.46/sq ft or $577) and the 2,000 sq ft example totals $1,926.38.
- New single-family and duplex construction is priced per square foot across four Table A-I tiers; a 2,000 sq ft home is $991.38 and a 1,000 sq ft home is $645.69.
- A single-family or duplex alteration is a flat $181 per dwelling unit plus $100 per additional trade (Table B-II); larger value-based jobs use Table B-I instead (for example a $30,000 alteration is $388.39).
- The only document-wide add-on is a $15 technology permit fee per document submitted. A separate 10% surcharge applies only inside planned-development, specific-use-permit, and deed-restricted areas - not to ordinary permits.
- Residential plan review is the greater of $0.46 per square foot or $577, billed separately from the permit. Demolition is $205 plus $0.21 per square foot.
- Decks, pools, and fences are not separately itemized - they are priced through the square-foot or valuation tables - so we do not publish a fabricated flat figure for them.
How Dallas Calculates a Residential Permit
Dallas uses a mixed model. New square footage is priced per square foot under Table A-I; alterations and repairs to an existing home are priced either as a flat $181 single-family line (Table B-II) or by the value of the work (Table B-I). A $15 technology permit fee applies per document submitted. The tables below show the verified formulas, exactly as printed in the May 1, 2024 schedule.
New single-family and duplex construction (Table A-I, per square foot)
| Square-foot tier | Permit fee formula |
|---|---|
| 0 - 700 sq ft | sq ft × $1.07 |
| 701 - 2,350 sq ft | sq ft × $0.34569 + $300 |
| 2,351 - 10,500 sq ft | sq ft × $0.077 + $800 |
| 10,501+ sq ft | sq ft × $0.0272 + $1,000 |
| Technology permit fee (per document) | $15.00 |
New multifamily construction is priced per dwelling unit under Table A-II at $652.00 per unit. For a single-family home the applicable tier is chosen by total square footage - a 2,000 sq ft home falls in the 701 - 2,350 tier.
Alterations and repairs (Table B-II flat line and Table B-I value tiers)
For a single-family or duplex alteration, Dallas charges a flat $181 per dwelling unit plus $100 for each additional trade (Table B-II). Larger or non-single-family alterations use the value-based Table B-I schedule:
| Value of work | Permit fee formula |
|---|---|
| $0 - $2,000 | $132 flat |
| $2,000 - $25,000 | value × 0.0057394 + $143 |
| $25,001 - $60,000 | value × 0.004312869 + $259 |
| $60,001 - $100,000 | value × 0.003997634 + $400 |
| $100,001 - $300,000 | value × 0.002464894 + $739 |
For any alteration, Dallas charges the greater of the table result or the per-trade minimum inspection fee ($125 for one trade, rising to $1,125 for nine or more trades). Confirm whether your single-family job falls under the flat $181 line or the value-based schedule with the Building Inspection Division.
Verified flat and itemized fees
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Single-family / duplex alteration (flat) | $181.00 | Per dwelling unit, plus $100 per additional trade (Table B-II). |
| New multifamily (per dwelling unit) | $652.00 | Table A-II, charged per unit. |
| Demolition permit | $205 + $0.21/sq ft | For a 2,000 sq ft structure that is $205 + $420 = $625. |
| Residential certificate of occupancy (TCO, one/two-family) | $250.00 | Temporary certificate of occupancy. |
| Irrigation permit | $120.00 | Lawn irrigation system. |
| Technology permit fee | $15.00 | Per document submitted (applies to all permit types). |
Residential plan review is charged separately at the greater of $0.46 per square foot or $577. Decks, pools, and fences are not separately itemized on the schedule - they are priced through the square-foot table (for new structure) or the value-based alteration schedule.
Dallas Permit Fee Components
A Dallas building permit total stacks a few separate components: the building permit fee (per square foot for new work, or flat/value-based for alterations), a $15 technology permit fee per document, and a separately billed residential plan-review fee. Water Utilities, zoning, and platting charges sit outside this stack entirely.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Table A-I per SF (new) or $181 flat / Table B-I value (alteration) | Exact schedule figure |
| Technology permit fee | $15.00 | Flat, per document submitted |
| Residential plan review | greater of $0.46/SF or $577 | Separate - billed on its own, not part of the permit fee |
| Per-trade minimum inspection | $125 (1 trade) to $1,125 (9+ trades) | Applies when it exceeds the table result on an alteration |
| PD / SUP / deed-restricted surcharge | 10% | Excluded unless the property sits inside a mapped area |
| Water Utilities / zoning / platting | Separate schedules | Excluded - can far exceed the building permit on a new home |
The only document-wide add-on to a Dallas permit is the flat $15 technology permit fee - Texas has no statewide building-permit levy, and the 10% surcharge applies only inside planned-development, specific-use-permit, or deed-restricted areas. Residential plan review is real money but is billed separately from the permit itself.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from the published May 1, 2024 schedule (Ordinance 32676). The totals are the arithmetic result of those verified inputs. Final fees are calculated at the time of submittal.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Single-Family Home
| Line item | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Table A-I: 2,000 × $0.34569 + $300 | $991.38 |
| Technology permit fee | flat, per document | $15.00 |
| Permit subtotal | $991.38 + $15 | $1,006.38 |
| Residential plan review | greater of $0.46 × 2,000 or $577 | $920.00 |
| Permit + plan review total (exact) | $1,006.38 + $920 | $1,926.38 |
Assumptions: 2,000 SF home in the 701 - 2,350 sq ft Table A-I tier. Building permit 2,000 × $0.34569 + $300 = $991.38; plus the $15 technology fee = $1,006.38; plus residential plan review (greater of $0.46 × 2,000 = $920 or $577) = a total of $1,926.38 - all exact schedule figures. This total excludes Dallas Water Utilities tap and capacity charges, zoning review, and any standalone trade or inspection fees - all billed separately and frequently larger than the permit itself on new construction. Source: City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676, eff. May 1, 2024).
Example 2: Single-Family Alteration (Flat Line)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alteration permit | Table B-II, flat per dwelling unit | $181.00 |
| Technology permit fee | flat, per document | $15.00 |
| Permit subtotal (exact) | $181 + $15 | $196.00 |
Assumptions: One single-family dwelling unit under the flat $181 Table B-II line, plus the $15 technology fee = $196.00 - an exact schedule figure. Add $100 for each additional trade beyond the first. Larger or non-single-family alterations use the value-based Table B-I schedule instead, and Dallas charges the greater of the table result or the per-trade minimum inspection fee. See the Dallas addition permit guide for a full walkthrough. Source: City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676, eff. May 1, 2024).
Example 3: $30,000 Value-Based Alteration (Table B-I)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alteration permit | Table B-I: $30,000 × 0.004312869 + $259 | $388.39 |
| Technology permit fee | flat, per document | $15.00 |
| Permit subtotal (exact) | $388.39 + $15 | $403.39 |
Assumptions: A $30,000 alteration falls in the $25,001 - $60,000 Table B-I tier: $30,000 × 0.004312869 + $259 = $388.39, plus the $15 technology fee = $403.39 - an exact schedule figure. Dallas charges the greater of this table result or the per-trade minimum inspection fee ($125 for one trade). Residential plan review, if triggered, is billed separately. Source: City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676, eff. May 1, 2024).
Example 4: Demolition Permit for a 2,000 SF Structure
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Demolition base | flat base | $205.00 |
| Area component | 2,000 × $0.21 | $420.00 |
| Demolition permit subtotal | $205 + $420 | $625.00 |
| Technology permit fee | flat, per document | $15.00 |
| All-in total (exact) | $625 + $15 | $640.00 |
Assumptions: Dallas charges $205 plus $0.21 per square foot of floor area for a demolition permit. For a 2,000 sq ft structure that is $205 + $420 = $625, plus the $15 technology fee = $640.00 all-in - an exact schedule figure. Utility disconnects and any asbestos survey are handled separately. Source: City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676, eff. May 1, 2024).
Read before you budget from these examples
- New vs alteration are priced differently: new square footage uses Table A-I per-SF tiers; an existing-home alteration uses the flat $181 Table B-II line or the value-based Table B-I schedule - whichever your job falls under.
- The $15 technology fee is the only document-wide add-on: there is no percentage surcharge on ordinary permits, and Texas has no statewide levy.
- The 10% surcharge is location-specific: it applies only if the property sits inside a planned-development, specific-use-permit, or deed-restricted area.
- Plan review is separate: the residential plan-review fee (greater of $0.46/SF or $577) is billed on its own and is not part of the permit fee.
- Excluded fees can dwarf the permit: Dallas Water Utilities tap and capacity charges, zoning review, and platting are separate and not in any total above.
Practitioner Insight
The thing to understand about Dallas is that new construction and remodels live on two different fee tracks. A new home is priced per square foot on Table A-I - a 2,000 sq ft house is $991.38 for the building permit, and you can compute it on the back of an envelope. A remodel of that same house is not per-square-foot at all; it is a flat $181 Table B-II line (plus $100 per additional trade), unless the job is large enough that the value-based Table B-I result or the per-trade minimum inspection fee is higher. Knowing which track your project is on is the whole game. See how Dallas stacks up against the state capital on the Austin vs Dallas comparison, and against nearby North Texas on the Denton permit fees page.
Two figures catch people out. First, residential plan review is billed separately at the greater of $0.46/sq ft or $577 - on the 2,000 sq ft example that is $920, nearly as much as the building permit itself, so the permit-plus-review total is $1,926.38, not $1,006.38. Second, the 10% surcharge only bites inside planned-development, specific-use-permit, and deed-restricted areas; on an ordinary lot it does not apply, and Texas adds no statewide levy on top. Anyone budgeting a full build should also price the excluded site charges early: Dallas Water Utilities tap and capacity charges, zoning review, and platting are separate schedules and can exceed the building permit itself.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Dallas
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | Table A-I per SF + $15 tech | 2,000 SF = $991.38 building line; plan review separate |
| Addition (new square footage) | Yes | Table A-I per SF + $15 tech | Priced by the new area's square-foot tier |
| Interior remodel / alteration | Yes | $181 flat (B-II) + $100/trade | Value-based Table B-I if larger; $196 all-in on the flat line |
| Deck or patio | Yes | Per-SF or valuation table | No separate flat fee published |
| Swimming pool | Yes | Per-SF or valuation table | No separate flat fee published |
| Fence | Yes | Valuation table | No separate flat fee published |
| Demolition (residential) | Yes | $205 + $0.21/SF + $15 tech | 2,000 SF = $640 all-in; utility disconnects separate |
| New multifamily | Yes | $652 / unit (Table A-II) | Charged per dwelling unit |
| Irrigation system | Yes | $120 flat | Lawn irrigation permit |
Permit trigger thresholds and chargeable-area determinations (which square footage counts for garages, porches, and covered patios) are set by the City of Dallas Building Inspection Division. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact Building Inspection before starting work.
City of Dallas Building Inspection
Planning & Development - Building Inspection
Oak Cliff Municipal Center, 320 E. Jefferson Blvd, Room 118, Dallas, TX 75203
Building Inspection: 214-948-4480
Permitting portal: DallasNow (Accela)
Permit Fee Schedule (Ordinance 32676)
Effective May 1, 2024 · Tables A-I, A-II, B-I, B-II
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your property sits inside a PD, SUP, or deed-restricted area
A 10% surcharge then applies to the total permit fee. On an ordinary lot outside those mapped areas it does not apply, so the figures on this page assume no surcharge.
Your alteration exceeds the flat $181 line
If the job is large enough or structured so that the value-based Table B-I result (or the per-trade minimum inspection fee) exceeds the flat $181 single-family line, Dallas charges the greater figure.
You are building new - site fees are separate and large
Dallas Water Utilities tap or capacity charges, zoning or Board of Adjustment review, and platting are all billed separately and are NOT in any total on this page. On new construction they frequently exceed the building permit itself.
The schedule is amended after its May 1, 2024 effective date
We re-confirmed it as current on June 27, 2026, but always check for a newer "Effective" date on dallas.gov before filing.
Source note: The May 1, 2024 schedule is about 25 months old as of this writing - just past our 24-month freshness threshold - but the City of Dallas still publishes it as the active building-permit schedule on dallas.gov, re-confirmed June 27, 2026. One Table B-I row is printed as "$500,000,001 - 10,000,000" in the source, almost certainly a typo for "$5,000,001 - 10,000,000"; it is commercial-scale and not residentially load-bearing, and we report it as printed rather than silently correct it.
Dallas Permit Fee FAQ
Sources
-
City of Dallas Permit Fee Schedule (PDF) Dallas, TX - Permit Fee Schedule, Ordinance 32676; Tables A-I, A-II, B-I, B-II. Effective May 1, 2024; re-confirmed current June 27, 2026. Primary source for every per-square-foot tier, flat fee, value-based tier, and technology fee on this page. Verified
-
City of Dallas Building Inspection Dallas, TX - Planning & Development, Building Inspection Division landing page and department contact details. Verified June 27, 2026.
See how Dallas's mixed per-SF and flat-line structure compares to nearby Texas cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Dallas 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 Dallas County. See how Texas jurisdictions calculate the ongoing property tax impact at CountyTaxTools.com.
Water Utilities, zoning, and platting for larger projects
Dallas Water Utilities tap and capacity charges, zoning review, and platting are separate from the building permit and can exceed it on new construction. Research zoning and site costs at ZoneFee.com.