Resources
Remodeling and Building Guides for Austin Homeowners
Plain guides to the permits, ground and rules that shape projects around Austin.
Permit guides
What permit each project needs in Austin, how long review takes, what to submit, current fees and how to get approved with fewer comments. See all permit guides.
- Kitchen Remodel
- Bathroom Remodel
- Whole Home Renovation
- Home Addition
- ADU (Additional Dwelling Unit)
- Garage Conversion
- New Garage
- Deck and Patio Cover
- Swimming Pool
- New Home
- Investor and Flip Renovation
Permit guides by city: Austin, Round Rock, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Pflugerville, Leander, Hutto, Manor, Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Dripping Springs, Kyle, Buda, San Marcos, Liberty Hill, Taylor, Bastrop, Lockhart, Marble Falls, Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County, Bastrop County and Caldwell County.
Guides
Do I Need a Permit to Remodel in Austin? A Plain Guide
Structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work usually needs a permit. Cosmetic work usually does not. Who issues it depends on which city, if any, your address is in.
Read the guide GuideClay, Limestone and Sand: How Austin Area Ground Changes Your Project
East of I-35 the ground is expansive clay that moves; west of MoPac it is shallow limestone that is hard to dig. Both change what a project costs and how it is built.
Read the guide GuideBuilding an ADU in Austin Under the HOME Rules
Since 2024, most single family lots in Austin can have up to three units. Setbacks, impervious cover, trees, height limits and private deed restrictions still decide what fits.
Read the guide GuideRenovating an Austin Flip or Rental: A Budget and Permit Checklist
Most budget surprises on Austin flips come from five places: the foundation, old plumbing, old electrical, unpermitted past work and a scope that does not match the street. Check them before you close.
Read the guide GuideAdding Units to Austin Investment Property Under the HOME Rules
Since 2024, most single family lots in Austin can hold up to three units. For investors that can turn one rental into two or three, if the lot, utilities and private restrictions allow it.
Read the guide GuideWhere Austin's Oldest and Most Rented Homes Are, by ZIP Code
Across the Austin metro the median home was built in 2002, but some central ZIP codes have most of their homes built before 1980. Older stock and high rental shares point to where renovation and rental turn work concentrates.
Read the guideWhy these topics
Most surprises on Austin area projects come from three places: the permit rules for a specific address, the ground under the house, and what the city now allows on a residential lot. These guides explain each in plain language, with the local details that change the answer: which city you are in, which side of the Balcones Escarpment you are on, and whether your lot is over the Edwards Aquifer.
Every guide is general information. Rules change, and every lot is different, so we confirm the details for your address during your free consultation.
Looking for a specific project?
Our service pages cover what is included, timelines and local rules for each project type: kitchen remodeling, garage conversions, additions and ADUs, pools and more.
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Free consultation and free quote. Financing options available. Serving the greater Austin metro.