Austin Area Permit Guides for Remodeling and Building

Guides by project

Austin review times

Source: City of Austin Residential Plan Review, review times effective July 1, 2026.

How permitting works in Austin

• Prepare the application, checklist documents and plans for your project type
• Check the property's permit history and file an Acknowledgment of Expired Permits if needed
• Submit through the residential building permit web form; the city invoices the review fee and review starts once it is paid
• Answer any comments in the Master Comment Report and resubmit the full plan set
• Once approved, the registered contractor activates the permit in the Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) portal and schedules inspections

Austin rules worth knowing

• Homeowners can act as their own general contractor and, on their own homestead, pull electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, except for the main electric service, refrigerant work on ducted systems, LP gas and auxiliary water systems.
• The city does not inspect residential foundations; a registered design professional's report confirming the foundation must be provided at the final inspection.
• Insulation cannot be installed until the framing inspection is approved.
• A permit expires on the 181st day if no inspection has been scheduled or received.
• Trees 19 inches or more in diameter on or next to the lot trigger tree review; floodplain review applies within 100 feet of the 100 year floodplain; historic review applies to houses 45 years or older when the exterior is demolished or modified.
• New dwelling units can owe Austin Water capital recovery (impact) fees, set by meter size and the plat date.

Austin builds to the 2024 International Residential Code with City of Austin local amendments, effective July 10, 2025. Read the full Austin permit guide.

Getting approved with fewer comments

Check the permit history first

Search the property on the City of Austin Public Search. If old permits expired, file the Acknowledgment of Expired Permits with your application; unresolved permits are a common reason for delays.

Know which rules apply to the lot

Use the city's Property Profile to see zoning, Subchapter F (the residential design standards that set height and setback planes in much of central Austin), floodplain and historic status. Floodplain review is required within 100 feet of the 100 year floodplain.

Check deed restrictions and the HOA yourself

The city does not enforce private deed restrictions; the applicant is responsible for them, and HOA approval is a separate step.

Make the floor plans complete

The city lists what reviewers look for: scale, room labels and square footage, wall dimensions, ceiling heights, door and window sizes, smoke and carbon monoxide alarm locations, plumbing fixtures, and handrail and guardrail locations, with existing and proposed plans when anything changes.

Get the structural documents right

New construction needs foundation, wind bracing and framing plans. For some projects, such as interior remodels without additions, a Structural Verification Report from an engineer can be used instead.

Deal with trees up front

Trees 19 inches or more in diameter on or next to the lot trigger tree review. Locating them on the site plan before design avoids redesigns later.

Submit clean files

The city recommends vector based PDFs and requires one combined PDF; partial or informal updates are not accepted.

Answer every comment precisely

Respond to each comment in writing, say where and how it was addressed with the code section, cloud the changes, and resubmit the full plan set after paying any generated fees. The fee schedule lists a residential resubmittal fee of $585.77, so a complete first submittal saves money as well as time.

Ask before you submit

A Preliminary Plan Review meeting (consultation fee $409.38 for the first hour) can settle zoning or design questions before review starts. Reviewers are not available by phone, email or appointment on Fridays.

Permits by city

Every city in the metro runs its own portal, adopts its own code editions and sets its own fees. Each city guide lists where to apply, the adopted codes, published review times and fees, local rules and the official sources.

Outside city limits: Travis County, Williamson County, Hays County, Bastrop County and Caldwell County permits for unincorporated land.

Outside city limits

Texas counties generally do not issue building permits, but they do issue development, floodplain and septic (OSSF) permits, and some require a county permit number before any other approval.

• Travis County: A Travis County Basic Development Permit is required for land development anywhere in the county outside city limits.
• Williamson County: Septic (OSSF) permits in unincorporated Williamson County are handled by the County Engineer's Department of Infrastructure, online only, through MyGovernmentOnline..
• Hays County: Hays County requires a development permit for any development in unincorporated areas, including houses, pools, outbuildings, grading and creek crossings, because it participates in the National Flood Insurance Program..
• Bastrop County: All development in unincorporated Bastrop County requires permitting, including homes, manufactured homes and accessory structures such as decks, porches and sheds..
• Caldwell County: In unincorporated Caldwell County, septic permits and site construction permits are handled by the county Sanitation Department in Lockhart, and the two are linked..

Texas licensing for remodeling trades

Sources: TDLR: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Contractors; TDLR: Electricians; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners; City of Austin Homeowner's Permit.

This guide is general information gathered from official city sources on October 18, 2026. Rules and fees change, usually each October; we confirm them for your address during the free consultation.