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Texas building departments

Find local permit offices, inspection services, and official resources across Texas.

8 department guides · 8 with online permit portals · 254 counties & county equivalents

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How permitting works in Texas

City codes; limited county authority. Texas cities must enforce at least the 2012 IRC and IBC, but counties have only narrow building authority. Outside city limits, IRC standards apply to new homes only in counties that opt in, and there is usually no county building permit.

A county name is only a geographic starting point. Depending on the address, a city, town, borough, township, or county office may issue your permit. How to check who issues your permit.

Texas building codes and licensing

Residential code
No statewide residential code; inside city limits the IRC as of May 1, 2012 is the municipal residential code, with local amendments (Loc. Gov't Code 214.212)
Commercial code
IBC as it existed May 1, 2012 is the minimum municipal commercial building code; cities may adopt later editions or amendments (Loc. Gov't Code 214.216)
Outside city limits
Outside city limits, IRC standards apply to new homes only in counties that opt in under Loc. Gov't Code 233.151-.157: the 2008 IRC or the county seat's IRC, with three builder-arranged inspections and no county fee or prior approval.
Contractor licensing
Anyone doing non-exempt electrical work must be licensed by TDLR and work through a licensed electrical contractor. A homeowner may do electrical work in the dwelling they own and live in when the city does not specifically regulate it (Occ. Code 1305.003). Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (electricians, A/C) and Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners (opens in a new tab)

What is different in Texas

  • City plumbing permits cannot be required for repairing leaks or replacing faucets, ballcocks, garbage disposals, or toilets (Occ. Code 1301.551).
  • Cities with more than 5,000 residents must regulate plumbing by ordinance, and plumbing inspections there must be done by a licensed plumbing inspector (Occ. Code 1301.551).
  • The IRC and IBC do not cover electrical wiring; the National Electrical Code is the statewide municipal electrical code, and cities may not amend it to regulate installation or inspection of residential energy backup systems (Loc. Gov't Code 214.213-.214).
  • The statewide single-family energy code is the IRC energy chapter as it existed May 1, 2015; the State Energy Conservation Office may adopt a newer edition no more than once every six years (Health & Safety Code 388.003).

Texas department guides

Browse Texas counties

Bold counties have at least one researched department guide.

Anderson CountyAndrews CountyAngelina CountyAransas CountyArcher CountyArmstrong CountyAtascosa CountyAustin CountyBailey CountyBandera CountyBastrop CountyBaylor CountyBee CountyBell CountyBexar CountyBlanco CountyBorden CountyBosque CountyBowie CountyBrazoria CountyBrazos CountyBrewster CountyBriscoe CountyBrooks CountyBrown CountyBurleson CountyBurnet CountyCaldwell CountyCalhoun CountyCallahan CountyCameron CountyCamp CountyCarson CountyCass CountyCastro CountyChambers CountyCherokee CountyChildress CountyClay CountyCochran CountyCoke CountyColeman CountyCollin CountyCollingsworth CountyColorado CountyComal CountyComanche CountyConcho CountyCooke CountyCoryell CountyCottle CountyCrane CountyCrockett CountyCrosby CountyCulberson CountyDallam CountyDallas CountyDawson CountyDeaf Smith CountyDelta CountyDenton CountyDeWitt CountyDickens CountyDimmit CountyDonley CountyDuval CountyEastland CountyEctor CountyEdwards CountyEllis CountyEl Paso CountyErath CountyFalls CountyFannin CountyFayette CountyFisher CountyFloyd CountyFoard CountyFort Bend CountyFranklin CountyFreestone CountyFrio CountyGaines CountyGalveston CountyGarza CountyGillespie CountyGlasscock CountyGoliad CountyGonzales CountyGray CountyGrayson CountyGregg CountyGrimes CountyGuadalupe CountyHale CountyHall CountyHamilton CountyHansford CountyHardeman CountyHardin CountyHarris CountyHarrison CountyHartley CountyHaskell CountyHays CountyHemphill CountyHenderson CountyHidalgo CountyHill CountyHockley CountyHood CountyHopkins CountyHouston CountyHoward CountyHudspeth CountyHunt CountyHutchinson CountyIrion CountyJack CountyJackson CountyJasper CountyJeff Davis CountyJefferson CountyJim Hogg CountyJim Wells CountyJohnson CountyJones CountyKarnes CountyKaufman CountyKendall CountyKenedy CountyKent CountyKerr CountyKimble CountyKing CountyKinney CountyKleberg CountyKnox CountyLamar CountyLamb CountyLampasas CountyLa Salle CountyLavaca CountyLee CountyLeon CountyLiberty CountyLimestone CountyLipscomb CountyLive Oak CountyLlano CountyLoving CountyLubbock CountyLynn CountyMcCulloch CountyMcLennan CountyMcMullen CountyMadison CountyMarion CountyMartin CountyMason CountyMatagorda CountyMaverick CountyMedina CountyMenard CountyMidland CountyMilam CountyMills CountyMitchell CountyMontague CountyMontgomery CountyMoore CountyMorris CountyMotley CountyNacogdoches CountyNavarro CountyNewton CountyNolan CountyNueces CountyOchiltree CountyOldham CountyOrange CountyPalo Pinto CountyPanola CountyParker CountyParmer CountyPecos CountyPolk CountyPotter CountyPresidio CountyRains CountyRandall CountyReagan CountyReal CountyRed River CountyReeves CountyRefugio CountyRoberts CountyRobertson CountyRockwall CountyRunnels CountyRusk CountySabine CountySan Augustine CountySan Jacinto CountySan Patricio CountySan Saba CountySchleicher CountyScurry CountyShackelford CountyShelby CountySherman CountySmith CountySomervell CountyStarr CountyStephens CountySterling CountyStonewall CountySutton CountySwisher CountyTarrant CountyTaylor CountyTerrell CountyTerry CountyThrockmorton CountyTitus CountyTom Green CountyTravis CountyTrinity CountyTyler CountyUpshur CountyUpton CountyUvalde CountyVal Verde CountyVan Zandt CountyVictoria CountyWalker CountyWaller CountyWard CountyWashington CountyWebb CountyWharton CountyWheeler CountyWichita CountyWilbarger CountyWillacy CountyWilliamson CountyWilson CountyWinkler CountyWise CountyWood CountyYoakum CountyYoung CountyZapata CountyZavala County

Planning a project in Texas?

Start with what the model codes say, then confirm local rules with the department that serves your address.

Sources

  1. Texas Legislature (Local Government Code 214.212 and 233.153)
  2. Texas Legislature – Local Government Code chapter 233 (Subchapter F, county residential standards)
  3. Texas Legislature – Occupations Code chapter 1305 (electricians)
  4. Texas Legislature – Occupations Code chapter 1301 (plumbing)
  5. Texas Legislature – Health and Safety Code chapter 388 (energy code)
  6. TDLR – Electricians

State facts checked October 21, 2026. Local amendments can change these rules; the department serving your address has the final word.