Pearland, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B). Pearland is a fast-growing suburb straddling Brazoria, Harris, and Fort Bend counties on Houston's south side. Verified directly against the city's published fee schedule. Because the schedule carries no printed effective date, confirm current amounts with Pearland Community Development before budgeting.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees in Pearland. New one- and two-family dwellings, townhomes, and additions are priced per square foot at $0.41 per square foot, and a plan review is added equal to one-half of the building permit fee. A residential alteration or remodel is $120.00 without reconfiguration of space or $180.00 with reconfiguration. A swimming pool is a flat $350.00, a residential accessory structure is $60.00 (minor, one inspection) or $120.00 (major, two or more inspections), and a residential miscellaneous permit is $60.00. Each figure is exact from the City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
Important note on fee schedule age: The live Pearland fee page carries no printed effective date or adopting ordinance for the building exhibit. It is the city's current published schedule (in the CityWorks portal era). Treat the figures as the current published amounts and confirm them with Community Development (281-652-1600) before relying on any number.
Trade permits are priced separately: For new construction and additions, the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are priced separately by their own square-foot schedules and are NOT bundled into the $0.41 per square foot building permit. So a full new home is the building permit plus its plan review (half the building fee) PLUS separate MEP permits. This page reports the building permit and plan review together and lists the trade permits separately - it does not sum a single all-in new-home total.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and Pearland adds no residential percentage surcharge on top of the per-square-foot building permit.
This page does NOT cover: Water and wastewater impact fees (due before the building permit at new buildings, per the city's impact-fee study), parkland dedication and tree-mitigation fees, and planning/platting fees (a separate Exhibit A) - all excluded from every figure on this page. Commercial permits use a valuation-based model outside the scope of the residential figures here.
In Pearland, TX a new one- or two-family dwelling, townhome, or addition is $0.41 per square foot, plus a plan review equal to one-half of the building permit fee - so the building-side cost for a 2,000 sq ft home is $1,230.00 ($820 building permit + $410 plan review). The electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are priced separately, so a full new home costs more than that. A residential alteration is $120.00 without reconfiguration or $180.00 with it, and a swimming pool is a flat $350. Texas has no statewide levy, and the published schedule carries no printed effective date - verify current amounts.
- New one- and two-family dwellings, townhomes, and additions in Pearland are $0.41 per square foot. A 2,000 sq ft home is an $820.00 building permit (2,000 × $0.41 = $820).
- A plan review equal to one-half of the building permit fee is added, so the building-side total for a 2,000 sq ft home is $1,230.00 ($820 + $410). This plan-review-equals-half rule is a defining feature of the Pearland schedule.
- The electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits are priced separately for new construction and additions: electrical is $200.00 for the first 2,500 sq ft (then $6.50 per 100 sq ft over), mechanical is $160.00 for the first 2,500 sq ft (then $3.25 per 100 sq ft), and plumbing is $200.00 for the first 2,500 sq ft (then $6.50 per 100 sq ft). A full new home adds these on top of the building permit.
- A residential alteration or remodel is $120.00 without reconfiguration of space or $180.00 with reconfiguration. A swimming pool is a flat $350.00, a residential accessory structure is $60.00 (minor) or $120.00 (major), a demolition is $60.00, and a residential miscellaneous permit is $60.00.
- The fees come from the City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B), which carries no printed effective date - so confirm current amounts with Community Development (281-652-1600). Water/wastewater impact fees, parkland dedication, and platting fees are separate and NOT included. Texas has no statewide levy.
Pearland Building Permit Fee Structure
Pearland prices new residential construction per square foot with a plan review equal to one-half of the building permit fee, and prices the trade permits separately by their own square-foot schedules. There is no residential percentage surcharge and no statewide Texas levy. The tables below show the verified figures exactly as published in the City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
New construction & alterations (building permit)
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| New 1-2 family dwellings, townhomes & additions - building permit | $0.41 / sq ft |
| Plan review | One-half of the building permit fee |
| Alteration / remodel - without reconfiguration of space | $120.00 |
| Alteration / remodel - with reconfiguration of space | $180.00 |
| Manufactured home placement | $180.00 |
| Residential miscellaneous permit | $60.00 |
The building permit above is priced separately from the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits (see the next table). A full new home is the $0.41 per square foot building permit plus its plan review (half the building fee) PLUS the separate MEP permits, so no single all-in new-home figure is stated here.
Trade permits (priced separately)
| Trade permit (new / addition) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical | $200.00 first 2,500 sq ft + $6.50 per 100 sq ft over |
| Mechanical | $160.00 first 2,500 sq ft + $3.25 per 100 sq ft over |
| Plumbing | $200.00 first 2,500 sq ft + $6.50 per 100 sq ft over |
| Trade remodel / alteration (and pool electrical/plumbing), each | $120.00 |
| Other residential trade work, each | $60.00 |
These trade permits are additive to the building permit - they are not bundled into it. For a new home of 2,000 sq ft (under the 2,500 sq ft first tier), the three trade base fees are $200.00 + $160.00 + $200.00 = $560.00.
Flat & other fees
| Permit / fee | Fee |
|---|---|
| Swimming pool | $350.00 |
| Residential accessory structure - minor (one inspection) | $60.00 |
| Residential accessory structure - major (two+ inspections) | $120.00 |
| Residential demolition | $60.00 |
| Grading | $125.00 |
| Moving (placement) | $180.00 |
| Re-inspection | $75.00 |
| Processing fee | $25.00 |
| Special inspection (same day / after hours) | $120.00 |
| Temporary certificate of occupancy (per division inspection) | $60.00 |
A swimming pool is a flat $350.00 building permit; its own electrical and plumbing work is a separate $120.00 trade permit each. Fence and sign permits use a valuation-based formula ($16.50 for the first $1,000 plus $5.50 per additional $1,000). Fire alarm and sprinkler permits are a separate Exhibit D.
Pearland Permit Fee Components
A Pearland residential project is built from a per-square-foot (or flat) building permit, a plan review equal to half the building permit fee, and any separate trade permits. There is no residential percentage surcharge and no statewide Texas levy.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit (new 1-2 family / addition) | $0.41 / sq ft | Per square foot of the dwelling |
| Plan review | 1/2 of building permit fee | Added to the building permit |
| Electrical / mechanical / plumbing permits | Separate SF schedules | Additive to the building permit - not bundled |
| Residential percentage surcharge / state levy | $0.00 | None - Texas has no statewide levy; Pearland adds no residential surcharge |
| Impact / parkland / platting fees | Separate schedules | Excluded - water/wastewater impact fees are due before the building permit |
For a flat-fee project - a pool ($350.00) or an alteration ($120.00/$180.00) - the printed fee is the building-permit cost (a pool's own trade work is a separate $120.00 permit each). For new construction, add the plan review (half the building fee) and the applicable trade permits to the per-square-foot building permit, and confirm current amounts with Community Development before treating any total as final.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct from the City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B). Per-square-foot fees produce exact building-permit and plan-review totals; the new-construction example deliberately does not sum a single all-in figure because the trade permits are billed separately. Impact fees and parkland dedication are separate and not included.
Example 1: New 2,000 SF Home (building permit + plan review)
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | 2,000 SF × $0.41 | $820.00 |
| Plan review | 1/2 × $820.00 | $410.00 |
| Building-side total (exact) | building permit + half-fee plan review | $1,230.00 |
| Electrical + mechanical + plumbing permits | $200 + $160 + $200 | $560.00 additive |
Assumptions: The building permit is $0.41 per square foot; a 2,000 sq ft home is $820.00 (2,000 × $0.41). The plan review is one-half of the building permit fee, adding $410.00, for a $1,230.00 building-side total. The electrical ($200), mechanical ($160), and plumbing ($200) permits for a home under 2,500 sq ft add $560.00 more and are billed separately - this page does not sum a single all-in number. Source: City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
Example 2: Remodel with Reconfiguration
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Alteration building permit (with reconfiguration) | flat | $180.00 |
| Plan review | 1/2 × $180.00 | $90.00 |
| Building-side total (exact) | alteration + half-fee plan review | $270.00 |
Assumptions: A residential alteration with reconfiguration of space is a flat $180.00 building permit (a remodel without reconfiguration is $120.00). Adding the plan review at one-half of that fee ($90.00) gives a $270.00 building-side total. Any trade work draws a separate $120.00 trade permit each. Source: City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
Example 3: Swimming Pool
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming pool building permit | flat | $350.00 |
| Pool building permit (exact) | flat fee | $350.00 |
Assumptions: A swimming pool is a flat $350.00 building permit. The pool's own electrical and plumbing work is a separate $120.00 trade permit each, so a pool with both trades is $350.00 + $120.00 + $120.00 = $590.00. Source: City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
Example 4: Accessory Structure & Demolition
| Project | Rule Applied | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Accessory structure - minor (one inspection) | flat | $60.00 |
| Residential demolition | flat | $60.00 |
Assumptions: A minor residential accessory structure (one inspection) is a flat $60.00; a major one (two or more inspections) is $120.00. A residential demolition is $60.00. These are flat fees with no residential surcharge, so the figures are exact. Source: City of Pearland Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B).
Read before you budget from these examples
- Source age: the fee page carries no printed effective date. It is the current published version; confirm current amounts with Community Development before relying on any figure.
- Plan review is half the building fee: a defining feature of the Pearland schedule - the building-side total is always the building permit plus half of it.
- Trades are separate: the $1,230 new-home figure is the building permit plus plan review only. Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits (about $560 for a home under 2,500 sq ft) are additive.
- Flat fees are the whole building permit: for a pool ($350) or an alteration ($120/$180), the printed fee is the building-permit charge; a pool's own trade work is a separate $120 permit each.
- Excluded fees can dwarf the permit: water/wastewater impact fees (due before the building permit), parkland dedication, and platting fees are separate and not in any figure above.
Practitioner Insight
Pearland's schedule has two features to keep straight. First, the plan review is always one-half of the building permit fee, so the building-side cost is the $0.41 per square foot permit plus 50% - a 2,000 sq ft home is $820 plus $410, or $1,230. Second, the trade permits are richly priced and separate: electrical and plumbing are each $200 for the first 2,500 sq ft and mechanical is $160, so the three trades add roughly $560 to a typical new home. Compare a Houston-area neighbor like Pasadena or Baytown for how differently south-metro cities stack these components.
Two cautions. First, the live fee page carries no printed effective date, so confirm the amounts with Community Development (281-652-1600) before you file. Second, Pearland is a fast-growing suburb where water and wastewater impact fees are due before the building permit at new buildings - those site charges are separate from everything on this page and can be substantial on a new home, so budget them alongside the permit rather than treating the $0.41 per square foot figure as the whole cost.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Pearland
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home / townhome | Yes | $0.41/SF + 1/2 plan review | Building side; MEP trade permits separate |
| Addition | Yes | $0.41/SF + 1/2 plan review | Same as new construction rate |
| Remodel / alteration | Yes | $120 / $180 | $120 without reconfiguration, $180 with |
| Swimming pool | Yes | $350 flat | Pool electrical/plumbing $120 each separate |
| Accessory structure | Yes | $60 / $120 | Minor (one inspection) / major (two+) |
| Demolition (residential) | Yes | $60 flat | Grading $125 separate |
| Electrical / mechanical / plumbing (new) | Yes | $200 / $160 / $200 | First 2,500 sq ft; more per 100 sq ft over |
| Fence / sign | Yes | Valuation-based | $16.50 first $1,000 + $5.50/$1,000 |
Permit trigger thresholds and project-classification determinations (which square footage counts, whether an alteration involves reconfiguration of space) are set by the City of Pearland Community Development. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact Community Development before starting work.
City of Pearland Community Development
Community Development (Permits & Inspections)
City of Pearland, Brazoria/Harris/Fort Bend Counties, Texas · 281-652-1600
pearlandtx.gov - Permits & Development Fees
Confirm the current fee schedule and counter hours on the city's Permits & Development Fees page
Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B)
No printed effective date - confirm current amounts before filing
When This Estimate May Not Apply
The schedule carries no printed effective date
The live Pearland fee page prints no effective date or adopting ordinance for the building exhibit. It is the current published version, but a fee could have changed. Confirm current amounts with Community Development before filing.
You are building a new home
The $0.41/sq ft building permit and its half-fee plan review are exact, but the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits (about $560 for a home under 2,500 sq ft) are billed separately and are additive. Add each trade permit rather than treating the building-side figure as the all-in total.
Your home is larger than 2,500 square feet
The trade base fees cover the first 2,500 sq ft. Above that, electrical and plumbing add $6.50 per 100 sq ft and mechanical adds $3.25 per 100 sq ft - so a large home's trade permits are higher than the worked example here.
Your project is commercial, not residential
Commercial building permits are valuation-based ($16.50 for the first $1,000 of valuation plus $5.50 per additional $1,000, applied to assigned per-square-foot minimum valuations) - a different model from the residential figures on this page.
Site fees apply to a new build
Water and wastewater impact fees (due before the building permit at new buildings), parkland dedication, and tree-mitigation fees are separate site charges NOT in any figure on this page and can far exceed the building permit on a new home.
Source note: All figures come from the City of Pearland Permits & Development Fees page - the Building Permit Fee Schedule (Exhibit B) plus the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing schedules - read directly from the live pearlandtx.gov page. The city page confirms the residential building permit is $0.41 per square foot for new one- and two-family dwellings, townhomes, and additions. The fee page carries no printed effective date, so treat the figures as the current published amounts and confirm with Community Development. Water/wastewater impact fees, parkland dedication, platting fees, and commercial permits are not used in any residential worked-example total here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of Pearland Permits & Development Fees (Building Permit Fee Schedule - Exhibit B) Pearland, TX - official permits & development fees page. Primary source for the $0.41/SF residential rate, the half-fee plan review, the separate trade schedules, and every flat fee on this page no printed date - verify current
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City of Pearland - official city website City site linking Community Development, the permit fee schedules, and department contact information (281-652-1600). Verified July 2026.
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Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov) Texas .gov statutory context: Texas municipalities regulate building construction and adopt their own permit fee schedules by ordinance, and Texas imposes no statewide building-permit levy - which is why the Pearland schedule is the whole permit cost. Verified July 2026.
See how Pearland's per-square-foot fees compare to other Houston-area Texas cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Pearland 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 Brazoria 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 and utility fees for larger projects
Water and wastewater impact fees in Pearland are due before the building permit and are separate from it. 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 →