Fort Worth, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of Fort Worth Development Fees Schedule, Ordinance No. 26-28781, adopted September 15, 2026 and effective October 1, 2026 (current). Fort Worth is the Tarrant County seat and the western anchor of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Verified directly against the published city ordinance.
This page covers: Fort Worth's residential building permit fees from Section 119 of the City Code as amended by Ordinance No. 26-28781 - the tiered per-square-foot table for new homes and additions (Table 1-C-3, R use groups), the lower tiered table for accessory structures such as decks, sheds, detached garages, and carports (Table 1-C-4, U use group), the trade-count table for residential remodels (Table 1A-1), the $33.08 permit application fee and $16.87 technology fee (Table No. 1-B), plan review deposits, demolition fees, and the third-party review and inspection reductions. Each figure is exact from the published ordinance.
Trade permits are SEPARATE: Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are priced on their own per-item tables (Table 1-H, Table 1-I, and the electrical schedule that follows) - for example $10.34 for the first plumbing fixture and $4.22 for each additional one. This page does not estimate a bundled trade total for a new home.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy. Fort Worth's add-ons are flat: a $33.08 permit application fee (all permit types except signs) and a $16.87 technology fee (all applications and permits).
This page does NOT cover: Transportation and water/wastewater impact fees, water and sewer tap or meter fees (set separately), water, wastewater, and stormwater utility rates (explicitly outside this ordinance), platting and zoning application fees, and any fence permit fee - the ordinance prints no standalone residential fence fee, so none is shown here.
Fort Worth prices a new home on a tiered square-footage table: a 2,000 sq ft new home's building permit is $1,171.00 ($937.00 for the first 1,400 sq ft + 600 × $0.39), and adding the $33.08 permit application fee and $16.87 technology fee brings it to $1,220.95, plus a plan review deposit ($291.00 when plans require circulation). A 300 sq ft deck is $176.95 all-in, and a residential remodel starts at $119.00 per trade. These are the fees in effect since October 1, 2026 under Ordinance No. 26-28781. Trade permits are priced separately, and Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- New homes and additions use Table 1-C-3: $570.00 for the first 700 sq ft + $0.53/sq ft to 1,400; $937.00 for the first 1,400 sq ft + $0.39/sq ft to 2,700; $1,446.00 for the first 2,700 sq ft + $0.35/sq ft to 11,800. A 2,000 sq ft home's building permit is $1,171.00.
- Every permit adds a $33.08 permit application fee and a $16.87 technology fee ($49.95 combined), so the 2,000 sq ft home totals $1,220.95 before trades and the plan review deposit.
- Small additions to an existing house are cheaper: new R-3 square footage up to 500 sq ft is charged $61.01 + $0.45/sq ft above 65 sq ft, so a 400 sq ft addition is $211.76 ($261.71 with both add-ons). At 501 sq ft and up, the standard $102.00 + $0.74/sq ft row applies.
- Decks, sheds, detached garages, and carports use the lower U-group table: $102.00 for the first 175 sq ft + $0.20/sq ft to 2,500 sq ft ($61.01 for 0-175 sq ft accessory to an existing house). Remodels are $119.00 per trade, from $119.00 (one trade) to $595.00 (five trades).
- Ordinance No. 26-28781 took effect October 1, 2026 and raised most building fees - the 1,400-2,700 sq ft tier base went from $892.25 to $937.00 and its rate from $0.37 to $0.39/sq ft. Impact fees, tap fees, and utility rates are separate and NOT in any figure on this page.
Fort Worth Building Permit Fee Structure
Fort Worth charges residential building permits by new square footage on tiered tables: each tier sets a base fee for the square footage up to the tier's floor, plus a per-square-foot rate for each additional foot. Remodels with no new square footage are charged by the number of trades involved. The tables below reproduce the verified figures from Section 119 as amended by Ordinance No. 26-28781.
Table 1-C-3: New homes and additions (R use groups)
| New square footage | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 65 | $102.00 (R-3 up to 500 sq ft: $61.01) |
| 65 to 700 | $102.00 + $0.74/sq ft over 65 (R-3 up to 500 sq ft: $61.01 + $0.45/sq ft) |
| 700 to 1,400 | $570.00 + $0.53/sq ft over 700 |
| 1,400 to 2,700 | $937.00 + $0.39/sq ft over 1,400 |
| 2,700 to 11,800 | $1,446.00 + $0.35/sq ft over 2,700 |
| 11,800 to 24,500 | $4,610.00 + $0.27/sq ft over 11,800 |
| Over 24,500 | $8,001.00 + $0.20/sq ft over 24,500 |
The ordinance's footnote reads: "New square footage for Group R-3, up to and including 500 sq. ft., shall be charged the fee in ( )." The parenthetical figures - $61.01 and $0.45 per additional square foot - are printed in the 0-65 and 65-700 rows. Group R-3 is the building-code use group for one- and two-family dwellings.
Table 1-C-4: Accessory structures (U use group - decks, sheds, garages, carports)
| New square footage | Permit fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to 175 | $102.00 (accessory to an existing R-3: $61.01) |
| 175 to 2,500 | $102.00 + $0.20/sq ft over 175 |
| 2,500 to 5,200 | $570.00 + $0.13/sq ft over 2,500 |
| 5,200 to 10,200 | $937.00 + $0.11/sq ft over 5,200 |
| 10,200 to 46,500 | $1,446.00 + $0.09/sq ft over 10,200 |
| 46,500 to 96,500 | $4,610.00 + $0.07/sq ft over 46,500 |
| Over 96,500 | $8,001.00 + $0.06/sq ft over 96,500 |
Table 1A-1: Residential remodels (by number of trades)
| Number of trades | Minimum permit fee | With $33.08 application + $16.87 technology |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $119.00 | $168.95 |
| 2 | $238.00 | $287.95 |
| 3 | $357.00 | $406.95 |
| 4 | $476.00 | $525.95 |
| 5 | $595.00 | $644.95 |
Other residential fees (Table No. 1-B and related tables)
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Permit application fee (all permit types except signs) | $33.08 |
| Technology fee (all applications/permits) | $16.87 |
| Paper filing fee | $33.08 |
| Plan review deposit - plans requiring circulation | $291.00 |
| Plan review deposit - plans without circulation | $113.00 |
| Demolition, 0-1,000 sq ft / 1,001-2,000 / 2,001-3,000 | $88.59 / $180.00 / $336.00 |
| Demolition of a structure 45 years or older | $59.06 |
| Reinspection fee | $66.15 |
| Change of occupancy permit | $94.50 |
| Pool electrical ("Swimming pools", electrical schedule) | $56.48 |
| Lawn sprinkler system (plumbing, Table 1-I) | $120.00 |
Per the ordinance, the plan review deposit "is not required for additions and remodels to existing Group R-3 Occupancies and additions, remodels or new construction of their accessory structures." Plan revisions are billed per revision, per hour (half-hour minimum): $66.15 first, $119.00 second, $237.00 third and fourth, $375.00 fifth and up. The demolition section is headed "Demolition and Moving Fees cost per square foot" but prints a single amount for each size bracket; how the $59.06 line for structures 45 years or older combines with the size brackets is not stated - confirm with Development Services.
Fort Worth Permit Fee Components
A Fort Worth residential permit total stacks a tiered building permit fee, two flat add-ons, a plan review deposit on new dwellings, and separately priced trade permits. Optional third-party plan review or inspections reduce the building permit fee itself. Impact and tap fees sit outside this stack entirely.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Tiered per-SF (Tables 1-C-3 / 1-C-4) or per-trade (Table 1A-1) | Exact schedule figure |
| Permit application fee | $33.08 | Flat, all permit types except signs |
| Technology fee | $16.87 | Flat, all applications and permits |
| Plan review deposit | $291.00 / $113.00 | New dwellings; not required for additions/remodels to an existing house or its accessory structures |
| Trade permits (mechanical, plumbing, electrical) | Per-item tables | Separate - not estimated on this page |
| Third-party review / inspection | Permit fee × 0.35, 0.70, or 0.55 | Optional reduction (residential) |
| Impact / tap / utility fees | Separate schedules | Excluded |
For residential projects, the ordinance reduces the permit fee by multiplying it by 0.35 when both plan review and field inspections are done by a third party, by 0.70 when only plan review is third-party, and by 0.55 when only inspections are third-party. The ordinance applies the multiplier to the permit fee; it does not say the multiplier applies to the application or technology fee, so the worked examples below keep those two flat.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from Ordinance No. 26-28781. Building permit, application, and technology fees are exact. Trade permits and the plan review deposit are shown separately and are not added into the totals.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit (Table 1-C-3) | $937.00 + 600 × $0.39 | $1,171.00 |
| Permit application fee | flat | $33.08 |
| Technology fee | flat | $16.87 |
| Total before trades (exact) | $1,171.00 + $33.08 + $16.87 | $1,220.95 |
| Plan review deposit (separate) | requiring circulation / without | $291.00 / $113.00 |
Assumptions: 2,000 SF of new square footage falls in the 1,400-2,700 tier: $937.00 for the first 1,400 sq ft + 600 × $0.39 = $234.00, for $1,171.00. Adding the $33.08 application fee and $16.87 technology fee gives $1,220.95 - an exact schedule figure. A 2,700 SF home works the same way: $937.00 + 1,300 × $0.39 = $1,444.00, or $1,493.95 with both add-ons. The plan review deposit and separate mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are not in the total. Source: City of Fort Worth Ordinance No. 26-28781, Tables 1-C-3 and 1-B (eff. Oct 1, 2026).
Example 2: 300 SF Deck
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Deck permit (Table 1-C-4) | $102.00 + 125 × $0.20 | $127.00 |
| Application + technology fees | $33.08 + $16.87 | $49.95 |
| All-in total (exact) | $127.00 + $49.95 | $176.95 |
Assumptions: A deck is an accessory structure in the U use group. 300 SF falls in the 175-2,500 tier: $102.00 for the first 175 sq ft + 125 × $0.20 = $25.00, for $127.00, plus $49.95 in add-ons = exactly $176.95. No plan review deposit applies to accessory structures of an existing house. A shed of 175 sq ft or less built as an accessory to an existing house uses the parenthetical $61.01 fee, or $110.96 with add-ons. Deck lighting or outlets would draw a separate electrical permit. Source: City of Fort Worth Ordinance No. 26-28781, Tables 1-C-4 and 1-B (eff. Oct 1, 2026).
Example 3: Home Additions - 400 SF vs 600 SF
| Addition | Rule Applied | All-in Total |
|---|---|---|
| 400 SF (R-3, up to 500 sq ft) | $61.01 + 335 × $0.45 = $211.76, + $49.95 | $261.71 |
| 600 SF (over 500 sq ft) | $102.00 + 535 × $0.74 = $497.90, + $49.95 | $547.85 |
Assumptions: Both additions are new square footage on an existing one- or two-family house (Group R-3). Up to and including 500 sq ft, the parenthetical rates apply: $61.01 for the first 65 sq ft + $0.45 for each additional sq ft. Above 500 sq ft the standard 65-700 row applies: $102.00 + $0.74 per sq ft over 65. Both totals add the $33.08 application and $16.87 technology fees and are exact. No plan review deposit applies to additions to an existing R-3. Source: City of Fort Worth Ordinance No. 26-28781, Table 1-C-3 (eff. Oct 1, 2026).
Example 4: Kitchen Remodel With Two Trades
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel minimum permit fee (Table 1A-1) | 2 trades × $119.00 | $238.00 |
| Application + technology fees | $33.08 + $16.87 | $49.95 |
| All-in total (exact) | $238.00 + $49.95 | $287.95 |
Assumptions: A remodel that adds no new square footage and involves two trades (for example plumbing and electrical in a kitchen). Table 1A-1 sets the minimum permit fee at $238.00 for two trades; adding the two flat fees gives $287.95. Table 1A-1 is labeled a minimum permit fee, so the city may charge more for a larger scope - confirm with Development Services. Source: City of Fort Worth Ordinance No. 26-28781, Tables 1A-1 and 1-B (eff. Oct 1, 2026).
Read before you budget from these examples
- Trades are separate and not estimated here: mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are priced per item (per fixture, outlet, appliance, or ton), so a new home's trade total depends on the plans. None of the totals above include them.
- The plan review deposit is shown, not added: new dwellings carry a $291.00 (circulation) or $113.00 deposit. Additions and remodels to an existing house and its accessory structures do not.
- Remodel fees are minimums: Table 1A-1 prints "Minimum Permit Fee" by number of trades.
- Third-party reductions lower the permit fee only as printed: for example, a 2,000 SF home with third-party plan review and city inspections is $1,171.00 × 0.70 = $819.70 before the two flat fees.
- Excluded fees can be large: impact fees, water and sewer tap fees, and utility charges are separate and not in any total above.
Practitioner Insight
The detail that matters most in Fort Worth is the 500 sq ft line for additions. Up to and including 500 sq ft of new space on an existing house, the parenthetical rates apply ($61.01 + $0.45/sq ft), so a 500 sq ft addition is $256.76 before the flat fees. One more square foot moves the project onto the standard row ($102.00 + $0.74/sq ft), and a 501 sq ft addition is $424.64 - about $168 more for one extra foot. If an addition design sits just above 500 sq ft, it is worth checking how Development Services counts the area before finalizing the plans.
The schedule also changed on October 1, 2026. Under the prior ordinance (No. 27191-09-2024), the same 2,000 sq ft home's building permit was $892.25 + 600 × $0.37 = $1,114.25; under Ordinance No. 26-28781 it is $1,171.00, an increase of $56.75, and the application fee rose from $31.50 to $33.08. A quote or online fee estimate prepared before October 1 may use the old figures. For comparison with Fort Worth's tiered approach, see neighboring Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Dallas, each of which publishes its own schedule.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Fort Worth
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | Table 1-C-3 + $49.95 | 2,000 SF = $1,220.95; deposit and trades separate |
| Addition | Yes | Table 1-C-3 + $49.95 | R-3 up to 500 SF uses $61.01 + $0.45/SF; 400 SF = $261.71 |
| Remodel (no new square footage) | Yes | $119/trade minimum + $49.95 | 2 trades = $287.95 |
| Deck, shed, detached garage, carport | Yes | Table 1-C-4 + $49.95 | 300 SF deck = $176.95 |
| Swimming pool | Yes | Electrical line $56.48 | No flat pool building fee printed - verify with Development Services |
| Fence | Verify | Not printed | No standalone residential fence fee in the ordinance |
| Demolition | Yes | $88.59-$1,804.00 by size | 1,001-2,000 SF = $180.00 |
| Standalone trade work (mechanical / plumbing / electrical) | Yes | Per-item tables | e.g. plumbing $10.34 first fixture, $4.22 each additional |
Permit trigger thresholds and which square footage counts as new area are determined by the City of Fort Worth Development Services Department. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact Development Services before starting work.
City of Fort Worth Development Services
Development Services Department
City Hall, 100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76102
Development Services: 817-392-2222
Permits are applied for online through the city's permitting portal
Development Fees Schedule (Ord. No. 26-28781)
Adopted September 15, 2026 · effective October 1, 2026
When This Estimate May Not Apply
You need a single all-in new-home number
Mechanical, plumbing, and electrical permits are priced per item from the plans, and new dwellings carry a plan review deposit. This page gives the exact building permit and flat fees but does not estimate trade totals.
Your addition is close to 500 sq ft
The lower R-3 parenthetical rates stop at 500 sq ft of new space. Which areas count toward that figure is a Development Services determination, so a design near the line can land on either rate.
You are building a new home - site fees are separate
Transportation and water/wastewater impact fees, water and sewer tap fees, and utility rates are set outside this ordinance's building fee tables and are NOT in any total here.
Your plans need revisions or extra inspections
Plan revisions are billed per revision ($66.15 first, rising to $375.00 for the fifth and later), a reinspection is $66.15, a same-day inspection adds $140.00, and concealed work is $400.00 per item - all on top of the permit fees.
The city adopts a new fee ordinance
Fort Worth adopts its fee ordinance with each fiscal-year budget, effective October 1. These figures are from Ordinance No. 26-28781 (effective October 1, 2026); confirm the current schedule before filing.
Source note: All figures come from the City of Fort Worth Development Fees Schedule PDF published by Development Services - Ordinance No. 26-28781, adopted September 15, 2026, effective October 1, 2026 (73 pages; building fees in Exhibit A, Part II, Section 119 "Fee Tables"). The PDF was retrieved and machine-read with pdfplumber on October 5, 2026; it replaced the FY2025 schedule (Ordinance No. 27191-09-2024) at the same city address. Department contact details are from the city's Development Services permits page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Fort Worth - Development Fees Schedule (Ordinance No. 26-28781) Fort Worth, TX - official fee ordinance adopted September 15, 2026, effective October 1, 2026 (current). Primary source for Tables 1-C-3, 1-C-4, 1A-1, 1-B, 1-G, 1-H, 1-I and the electrical schedule. Verified October 5, 2026 Verified
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City of Fort Worth - Development Services Permits Department permits page and source of the Development Services contact details. Verified October 5, 2026.
See how Fort Worth compares with other Dallas-Fort Worth cities, or check national addition and remodel permit costs.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Fort Worth permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition, garage, or pool 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 zoning fees for larger projects
Fort Worth's transportation and water/wastewater impact fees, water and sewer tap fees, and zoning or platting application fees 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 →