New Braunfels, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from Appendix D (Fee Schedule) of the City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, as codified on Municode. The building-permitting section was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023, so the adopted figures are more than two years old - read the source-age disclosure below before budgeting. New Braunfels sits on the I-35 corridor in Comal and Guadalupe counties, between San Marcos and San Antonio.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees printed in Appendix D, Sec. B(a) "Building Permit Fee Schedule A Residential" - $0.50 per square foot for new construction and additions, $0.25 per square foot for remodels, $0.25 per square foot for flat work (driveway, patio, sidewalk, deck, porch, stairs), and the flat residential fees ($50 fence, $200 in-ground pool, $100 above-ground pool, $150 foundation, $75 foundation repair, $75 roofing, $100 siding/brick/exterior veneer, $75 built-on-site shed, $50 pre-built shed, $35 misc. structures, $25 misc. residential, $0.50 per linear foot for retaining walls over 24 inches). It also covers the add-on fees that stack on a residential job: the $50 application fee, the plan review fee of 25% of permit cost (max $2,500), the $35 inspection fee, and the 3% technology fee.
The ICC valuation matrix is NOT published, so no Schedule B figure is computed here: Appendix D, Sec. B(b) says new construction and additions "shall be calculated on square footage" using a "Building Permit Fee Schedule B" whose "permit fees are derived from ICC's most current published Building Valuation Data (BVD) fee schedule using a spreadsheet that has been set with an appropriate multiplier." The codified appendix prints only the Schedule B reference tables (IBC occupancy groups and construction types - single-family uses R-3 and construction type VB). The actual dollar-per-square-foot BVD matrix and the city's multiplier are not printed in the adopted code. PermitPrice therefore does not compute, estimate, or reproduce any Schedule B-derived fee. Every figure on this page uses the printed Schedule A Residential rate. If your project is quoted off Schedule B, ask the Building Division for the current BVD table and multiplier.
MEP trades are priced separately and are NOT bundled: Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas permits are each their own fee schedule in Sec. B(e)-(h) with their own $15.00 issuance fee. None of them are included in the $0.50-per-square-foot building permit fee.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas imposes no state building permit levy or state permit surcharge. Every fee here is a City of New Braunfels municipal fee adopted in Appendix D. The city's only percentage add-on is the 3% technology fee.
This page does NOT cover: Water, wastewater and roadway impact fees (set outside Appendix D), New Braunfels Utilities connection charges, Comal County and Guadalupe County fees, and solar photovoltaic permits - solar is not a named line item anywhere in Appendix D and no solar fee is asserted on this page.
New Braunfels charges $0.50 per square foot for new residential construction and additions under the printed Schedule A Residential table, and $0.25 per square foot for remodels and flat work. On a 2,000 sq ft new home that is $1,000 of building permit fee, plus a $50 application fee, a plan review fee of 25% of permit cost ($250), a $35 inspection fee and a 3% technology fee - $1,375.00 after the ordinance's round-down-to-the-whole-dollar rule. Flat fees include a fence at $50, an in-ground pool at $200 and a re-roof at $75, each before the $35 inspection and 3% technology fee. Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits are separate schedules, each with a $15.00 issuance fee. Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- New residential construction and additions are $0.50 per square foot under the printed Schedule A Residential table; remodels and flat work (driveway, patio, deck, porch, stairs, sidewalk) are $0.25 per square foot. No residential minimum and no residential maximum permit fee is printed.
- Four add-ons stack on a residential job: a $50.00 application fee on all new construction, additions and substantial alterations; a plan review fee of 25% of permit cost capped at $2,500.00; a $35.00 inspection fee; and a 3% technology fee on all review, building, zoning and development related fees. All fees are rounded DOWN to the nearest whole dollar after the total is calculated.
- Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits are separate schedules and are NOT bundled into the building permit. Each carries a $15.00 issuance fee; plumbing is $5.00 per fixture, mechanical is $25.00 up to $1,000 of value then $25.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000, and a residential 100-231 amp meter is $55.00.
- Appendix D also references a "Schedule B" derived from ICC Building Valuation Data with a city multiplier, but that dollar matrix and multiplier are not printed in the codified appendix - so no Schedule B figure is computed or estimated anywhere on this page. Confirm which schedule applies to your project with the Building Division at 830-221-4000.
- The building-permitting section of Appendix D was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - more than two years before this page's July 21, 2026 verification. Treat every figure as the last adopted rate and confirm the current amount before filing.
- Working without a permit on residential property is charged double the permit fee per lot, capped at $500.00 per lot. A stop-work order is $100.00 to issue and $100.00 to lift.
New Braunfels Building Permit Fee Structure
New Braunfels prices residential building permits on a straight square-foot basis under Schedule A Residential, with flat fees for common small projects. The tables below reproduce the figures exactly as printed in Appendix D. Source-age note: the building-permitting section was last amended October 9, 2023 (Ordinance No. 2023-76) and the Municode page carried a "VERSION: MAY 28, 2026 (CURRENT)" label when extracted on July 21, 2026.
Schedule A Residential - building permit rates
| Project category | Printed fee |
|---|---|
| New construction and addition | $0.50 / sq ft |
| Remodel | $0.25 / sq ft |
| Flat work - driveway, patio, sidewalk, deck, porch, stairs | $0.25 / sq ft |
| Fence | $50.00 |
| Shed, storage building, car port | $75.00 built on site / $50.00 pre-built |
| Pool | $100.00 above ground / $200.00 in ground |
| Foundation | $150.00 |
| Foundation repair | $75.00 |
| Roofing | $75.00 |
| Siding, brick, exterior veneer | $100.00 |
| Mobile / manufactured home placement (does not include trades) | $50.00 |
| Misc. structures (gazebos, pergolas, archways, patio covers) | $35.00 |
| Retaining walls (over 24 inches) | $0.50 / linear foot |
| Misc. residential | $25.00 |
No residential minimum permit fee and no residential maximum permit fee are printed in Appendix D. The ordinance does not state whether the per-square-foot rate applies to conditioned area only or to total area under roof (garages and covered porches) - that determination was not verified and is a Building Division call. Commercial work uses a separate valuation table: $0-$50,000 = $50.00 plus $6.00 per $1,000 or fraction thereof; $50,001-$500,000 = $350.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000; $500,001 and above = $2,600.00 plus $4.00 per $1,000.
Add-on fees and the 3% technology surcharge
| Fee | Amount | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Permit application fee (residential) | $50.00 | All new construction, additions and substantial alterations (commercial $100.00) |
| Residential plan review fee | 25% of permit cost, max $2,500.00 | New construction, additions, alterations, change in use, existing C of O and interior |
| Residential inspection fee | $35.00 | Re-inspections $35.00, doubling for each subsequent re-inspection |
| Technology fee | 3% | All review, building, zoning and development related fees |
| ETJ engineering inspection multiplier | 200% of standard fee | Engineering / infrastructure inspections in the extraterritorial jurisdiction |
| Rounding rule | Round DOWN | All fees rounded down to the nearest whole dollar after the total owed is calculated (Sec. B(k)) |
MEP trade permits - separate, not bundled
| Trade | Issuance fee | Selected printed line items |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | $15.00 | Additional circuits $10.00; additions and/or repairs $25.00; residential panel $20.00 (1-6 circuits), $40.00 (6-24), $65.00 (25+); residential meter $45.00 (55-100 amp), $55.00 (100-231), $80.00 (231-400), $110.00 (401+); swimming pool circuit $12.50; electric motors $8.00 first HP, $3.00 each additional |
| Plumbing | $15.00 | $5.00 per fixture (bathtub, lavatory, shower, sink, water closet, water heater, water line, water softener, hose bib and similar); irrigation outlet $2.00; sewer line $10.00; sewer lift station $15.00; general repairs $30.00 |
| Mechanical | valuation based | $0.00-$1,000.00 = $25.00; $1,001.00 and above = $25.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000.00 or fraction thereof |
| Fuel gas | $15.00 | Gas line $15.00; gas test $15.00 |
The electrical table also separately prints a second residential meter series (55-230 amp $45.00, 231-400 amp $65.00, 401 amp and larger $100.00) alongside the one above; both appear in the codified appendix. Because trade scope on a new home varies by plan, this page does not roll MEP permits into a single new-home package number.
Other printed residential fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Building demolition (residential) | $100.00 |
| Building moving fee | $100.00 |
| New occupant permit | $150.00 |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy | $250.00 (30 days); $100.00 per extension |
| Alternate method request (building-related codes) | $150.00 |
| Stop-work order | $100.00 issue + $100.00 lift |
| Work without a permit (residential) | Double permit fee per lot, $500.00 max per lot |
| Floodplain permit application (residential) | $100.00 |
| Flood zone verification letter | $25.00 |
| Setback determination | $100.00 |
| Airport hazard permit, one- and two-family dwelling (city or ETJ) | $100.00 |
| Residential buffer wall exemption | $100.00 |
| Short-term rental permit | $200.00 |
| Appeal to construction board of appeals (residential) | $200.00 per lot |
| Additional review of accessory permits (signs, fences, etc.) | $250.00 each after the second review |
New Braunfels Permit Fee Components
A New Braunfels residential permit total stacks the square-foot (or flat) building permit fee, a $50 application fee on qualifying jobs, a plan review fee of 25% of permit cost, a $35 inspection fee, and a 3% technology fee across the review, building, zoning and development fees - then rounds the total down to the whole dollar.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee | $0.50/SF new or addition, $0.25/SF remodel or flat work, or flat fee | Exact printed Schedule A Residential figure |
| Permit application fee | $50.00 residential | New construction, additions and substantial alterations |
| Plan review fee | 25% of permit cost, max $2,500.00 | Exact printed rule |
| Inspection fee | $35.00 residential | Re-inspection $35.00, doubling each subsequent time |
| Technology fee | 3% | On all review, building, zoning and development related fees |
| Electrical / plumbing / mechanical / fuel gas permits | Separate schedules, $15.00 issuance each (mechanical valuation based) | NOT bundled into the building permit |
| Schedule B (ICC BVD matrix × city multiplier) | Not published in the codified appendix | Not computed or estimated here - ask the Building Division |
| Impact fees / NBU connection charges / county fees | Separate schedules | Excluded from every figure on this page |
Texas has no statewide building-permit levy. The 3% technology fee is the only percentage add-on the city applies, and Sec. B(k) rounds the final total down to the nearest whole dollar.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from the printed Appendix D Schedule A Residential rates and add-on fees, with the Sec. B(k) round-down applied at the end. No example uses the unpublished Schedule B ICC valuation matrix, and no example includes electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fuel gas permits - those are separate schedules priced on their own.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 2,000 SF × $0.50 | $1,000.00 |
| Permit application fee | flat, residential | $50.00 |
| Plan review fee | 25% × $1,000 | $250.00 |
| Inspection fee | flat, residential | $35.00 |
| Subtotal | $1,000 + $50 + $250 + $35 | $1,335.00 |
| Technology fee | 3% × $1,335 | $40.05 |
| Total after round-down | $1,375.05 rounded down | $1,375.00 |
Assumptions: 2,000 chargeable square feet, billed at the printed Schedule A Residential new-construction rate of $0.50/sq ft. The plan review fee is read as 25% of the $1,000 building permit cost. The 3% technology fee is applied to the $1,335 subtotal of building, application, review and inspection fees. The Sec. B(k) round-down to the nearest whole dollar is applied once at the end. Not included: electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits (separate schedules), impact fees, NBU connection charges, and county fees. This example does not use Schedule B, whose ICC BVD matrix and city multiplier are not published in the codified appendix. Whether garage and covered-porch area counts toward the chargeable square footage is not stated in the ordinance. Source: New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, Secs. A and B.
Example 2: 200 SF Deck
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Flat work permit (deck) | 200 SF × $0.25 | $50.00 |
| Inspection fee | flat, residential | $35.00 |
| Technology fee | 3% × $85 | $2.55 |
| Total after round-down | $87.55 rounded down | $87.00 |
Assumptions: A deck bills under the printed "Flat Work, Driveway, Patio, Sidewalk, Deck, Porch, Stairs" line at $0.25/sq ft. This example assumes the $50.00 permit application fee does not apply, because that fee is printed for "all new construction, additions and substantial alterations" and a stand-alone deck is treated here as none of those - if the Building Division classifies your deck as an addition, add $50.00 plus 3%. No plan review fee is added for the same reason. Deck lighting or any electrical work draws a separate electrical permit. For how deck permit math works elsewhere on the I-35 corridor, see the San Marcos deck permit guide. Source: New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, Secs. A and B.
Example 3: Flat-Fee Projects - Pool, Fence, Re-Roof
| Project | Base + $35 inspection + 3% | Total after round-down |
|---|---|---|
| In-ground swimming pool | $200 + $35 = $235; 3% = $7.05 | $242.00 |
| Above-ground swimming pool | $100 + $35 = $135; 3% = $4.05 | $139.00 |
| Fence | $50 + $35 = $85; 3% = $2.55 | $87.00 |
| Re-roof | $75 + $35 = $110; 3% = $3.30 | $113.00 |
Assumptions: Each project uses its printed Schedule A Residential flat fee plus one $35.00 residential inspection fee, then the 3% technology fee, then the Sec. B(k) round-down. The $50.00 application fee and the 25% plan review fee are not added, because these are not new construction, additions or substantial alterations as printed - confirm that classification with the Building Division. Pool electrical is separate: the electrical schedule prints a $12.50 swimming pool circuit plus a $15.00 issuance fee. Source: New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, Secs. A and B.
Example 4: 400 SF Interior Remodel
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel permit | 400 SF × $0.25 | $100.00 |
| Permit application fee | flat, residential (substantial alteration) | $50.00 |
| Plan review fee | 25% × $100 | $25.00 |
| Inspection fee | flat, residential | $35.00 |
| Technology fee | 3% × $210 | $6.30 |
| Total after round-down | $216.30 rounded down | $216.00 |
Assumptions: 400 SF of remodel area at the printed $0.25/sq ft remodel rate. This example assumes the remodel qualifies as a "substantial alteration," so the $50.00 application fee applies, and that the alteration plan review fee is 25% of the $100 permit cost. If the Building Division does not classify the job as a substantial alteration, drop the $50.00 and recompute - the total would be $166 × 1.03 = $170.98, rounded down to $170.00. Any electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fuel gas work in the remodel draws its own permit under its own schedule. Source: New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, Appendix D, Secs. A and B.
Read before you budget from these examples
- Source age: the building-permitting fees were last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023 - more than two years before the July 21, 2026 verification date. Confirm the current amounts with the Building Division.
- Schedule B is not computed: Appendix D references an ICC Building Valuation Data matrix with a city multiplier for new construction, but neither the matrix nor the multiplier is printed in the codified appendix. No page figure is derived from it. Ask the Building Division which schedule applies to your project and for the current BVD table and multiplier.
- MEP trades are separate: electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas permits are their own schedules with their own $15.00 issuance fees and are not included in any total above.
- Application-fee and plan-review applicability varies: the $50.00 application fee and the 25% plan review fee are printed for new construction, additions and substantial alterations. Whether a specific deck, fence, pool or re-roof falls in that bucket is a Building Division determination, and each example states which way it assumed.
- Chargeable area is undefined: the ordinance does not state whether the per-square-foot rates apply to conditioned area only or to total area under roof.
- Excluded entirely: water, wastewater and roadway impact fees, New Braunfels Utilities connection charges, and Comal County and Guadalupe County fees.
Practitioner Insight
New Braunfels is one of the few Texas cities where the fee schedule visibly argues with itself. Sec. B(a) introduces Schedule A Residential as covering work "other than new commercial construction and additions" - yet the table it introduces prints a "New Construction and Addition" line at $0.50 per square foot. Sec. B(b) then says new construction and additions are calculated under Schedule B, derived from ICC Building Valuation Data times a city multiplier. The codified appendix prints the Schedule B reference tables (single-family uses occupancy group R-3, construction type VB) but not the dollar matrix and not the multiplier. That means the only reproducible residential new-construction rate in the adopted code is the $0.50 per square foot Schedule A line, and it is the only one this page uses. If the counter quotes you off Schedule B instead, ask for the current BVD table and the multiplier in writing before you sign anything.
The second thing to plan for is trade permits. Unlike the bundled structures in some metros, New Braunfels prices electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fuel gas on four separate schedules, each with its own $15.00 issuance fee - plumbing at $5.00 per fixture adds up fast on a full house. Compared with I-35 neighbors, the arithmetic is close to San Marcos, which charges $0.63/sq ft plus a flat $15 technology fee, and to Georgetown at $0.50/sq ft plus fixed fees, while Round Rock uses a flat new-home fee instead. Finally, note the age: these fees were last amended in October 2023, and the city has since publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024, so a call to 830-221-4000 before you budget is the cheap move.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in New Braunfels
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | $0.50/SF (Schedule A Residential) | 2,000 SF = $1,375 with application, review, inspection and 3% tech; MEP separate |
| Addition | Yes | $0.50/SF | Same printed rate as new construction |
| Remodel | Yes | $0.25/SF | 400 SF = $216 as a substantial alteration |
| Deck, patio, porch, driveway, sidewalk, stairs | Yes | $0.25/SF (flat work) | 200 SF deck = $87 with inspection and 3% tech |
| Swimming pool | Yes | $200 in ground / $100 above ground | $242 / $139 with inspection and tech; pool circuit separate at $12.50 |
| Fence | Yes | $50.00 flat | $87 with inspection and 3% tech |
| Re-roof | Yes | $75.00 flat | $113 with inspection and 3% tech |
| Shed / storage building / car port | Yes | $75 built on site / $50 pre-built | Printed Schedule A Residential lines |
| Retaining wall over 24 inches | Yes | $0.50 / linear foot | Walls at or under 24 inches are not a printed line |
| Demolition (residential) | Yes | $100.00 flat | Commercial is $100.00 per story |
| Electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas work | Yes | Separate trade schedules, $15.00 issuance each | Never bundled into the building permit |
| Rooftop solar | Not stated | Not a printed line item | Appendix D names no solar fee; ask the Building Division which schedule applies |
Permit trigger thresholds and chargeable-area determinations are set by the City of New Braunfels Building Division. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the Building Division at 830-221-4000 before starting work - residential work done without a permit is charged double the permit fee per lot, up to $500.00 per lot.
City of New Braunfels Building Division
Building Division
City of New Braunfels, Comal and Guadalupe counties, Texas
Building Division: 830-221-4000
Ask specifically whether Schedule A or Schedule B applies to your project.
Code of Ordinances, Appendix D
Building-permitting section last amended by Ord. No. 2023-76, October 9, 2023
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Your project is quoted off Schedule B instead of Schedule A
Appendix D says new construction and additions are calculated under a Schedule B derived from ICC Building Valuation Data with a city multiplier, but the codified appendix prints only the occupancy-group and construction-type reference tables - not the dollar matrix and not the multiplier. PermitPrice does not compute or estimate a Schedule B figure. Ask the Building Division for the current BVD table and multiplier.
The adopted fees are more than two years old
The building-permitting section of Appendix D was last amended by Ordinance No. 2023-76 on October 9, 2023. The city has since publicized development-fee amendments effective April 1, 2024. Confirm the current amount for your permit type before budgeting.
Your job includes electrical, plumbing, mechanical or fuel gas work
Those trades are priced on four separate schedules with their own $15.00 issuance fees and are not in any total on this page. Plumbing alone runs $5.00 per fixture, and mechanical is valuation based at $25.00 plus $5.00 per $1,000 above $1,000.
Your chargeable square footage is disputed
The ordinance does not state whether the $0.50 and $0.25 rates apply to conditioned area only or to total area under roof, including garages and covered porches. That determination can move the computed fee materially.
You are building in the ETJ, or need re-inspections
Engineering and infrastructure inspections in the extraterritorial jurisdiction are charged at 200% of the standard fee. Re-inspections are $35.00 and double for each subsequent re-inspection. Additional review of accessory permits is $250.00 each after the second review.
You are installing rooftop solar
Solar photovoltaic installation is not a named line item anywhere in Appendix D. Whether it is charged as "Misc. Residential" ($25.00) or under the electrical schedule was not verified, and no solar fee is asserted on this page.
Source note: All figures were extracted on July 21, 2026 with Patchright from the live Municode codification of the New Braunfels Code of Ordinances, Appendix D - Fee Schedule (Sec. A Schedule of fees; Sec. B Additional fees specific to building permitting), page-labeled "VERSION: MAY 28, 2026 (CURRENT)". Appendix D prints no standalone effective date; the amendment history for Sec. B ends with Ord. No. 2023-76, Sec. 4, 10-9-23, which is the date used on this page. The city's Building Permits page also links an older PDF titled "2018 Fees" showing a valuation-tiered residential table; that printing is superseded by the codified appendix and was not used for any figure here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of New Braunfels Code of Ordinances - Appendix D, Fee Schedule New Braunfels, TX - codified fee schedule (Sec. A Schedule of fees; Sec. B Additional fees specific to building permitting). Primary and only source for every rate, flat fee, trade fee, surcharge and rule on this page. Building-permitting section last amended by Ord. No. 2023-76, Sec. 4, October 9, 2023. Extracted July 21, 2026 Verified
-
City of New Braunfels - "2018 Fees" PDF (superseded printing of Appendix D) Official city .gov document still linked from the Building Permits page. It is an older printing of Appendix D showing a valuation-tiered residential table and is superseded by the codified version above. Listed here for transparency only - no figure on this page was taken from it. Checked July 21, 2026.
Compare New Braunfels's $0.50/sq ft structure with its I-35 corridor neighbors, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your New Braunfels 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 Comal or Guadalupe 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 fees and site charges for larger projects
Water, wastewater and roadway impact fees are set outside Appendix D, and New Braunfels Utilities connection charges are separate again. 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 →