Austin building department

Austin Development Services (DSD) reviews plans, issues building and trade permits, and runs inspections for property inside the City of Austin. Its walk-in office is the Permitting and Development Center (PDC) on Wilhelmina Delco Drive. Some properties with an Austin mailing address are actually in unincorporated Travis County or a neighboring city, so confirm the jurisdiction before opening a record.

Work that does not need a permit

The City lists residential (one- and two-family) work that is exempt from a building permit. Exempt work must still meet the building code, City Code, and other ordinances. Key thresholds:

Residential project	Exempt if
Detached accessory structure	No more than 200 sq. ft. and 15 ft. tall, not a dwelling, no plumbing, and not in a flood hazard area
Fence	Not over 7 ft. high and not in a flood hazard area
Retaining wall	Not over 4 ft. tall
Deck	No more than 200 sq. ft. and no more than 30 in. above grade
Prefabricated pool	Less than 24 in. deep
Sidewalk or driveway	Not in the public right-of-way
Drywall, siding, roof decking, or foundation repair	Each limited to 128 sq. ft.
Interior finishes	Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, and countertops

Roof covering replacement is on the exempt list, but asphalt shingle work in the Wildland-Urban Interface has its own restrictions. Commercial exemptions are narrower, for example 120 sq. ft. for accessory structures and 96 sq. ft. for drywall or siding repair. For broader guidance, see do I need a permit for a deck.

Applying through AB+C

The Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) Portal lets registered users apply for some permits, pay fees, upload attachments, and schedule inspections. Anyone can search permits and case history without an account. Some permit types still use other application paths listed on the City’s Types of Permits page.

Residential plan review covers new homes, additions, remodels, and demolitions for single-family homes, duplexes, and two-family houses. Plans must be drawn to scale and show room labels, dimensions, ceiling heights, and door and window sizes. You also need a plot plan, which some projects require to be stamped by a Texas-licensed surveyor. Some projects also need structural plans or a Structural Verification Report, setback-averaging site plans, or visitability documentation. Minor repairs on lots outside the floodplain can use express permits, which the City says are typically issued the same day.

Published residential review timelines (effective July 1, 2026):

Project	Initial review
New construction and additions	10 business days
Interior remodel, demolition, garage conversion or porch enclosure, fence, pool or uncovered deck	5 business days
Update submittals	7 business days

Residential fees (FY 2026-27, effective October 1, 2026)

The residential fee schedule includes:

• Application processing: $112.76
• New construction base fee: $986.15. Homes of 1,001–2,000 sq. ft. pay $1,183.38 plus $0.1972 per sq. ft. over 1,000.
• Additions and remodels: $197.23 base fee, rising in 100-sq.-ft. steps.
• Small projects plan review: $146.15. This covers garage conversions, porch and carport enclosures, amnesty COs, fences, and pools.
• Express residential plan review: $112.76
• Residential plan review resubmittal: $585.77
• Reinspection: $83.85 per inspection. Permit fees include one inspection per required inspection type.
• After-hours inspection: $166.57 per hour, one-hour minimum

Austin Energy and Watershed Protection add their own fees, such as a $200 electric service application fee and floodplain review fees. A card payment through AB+C adds a 2.35% service fee ($2.00 minimum). eCheck and in-person cash or check payments carry no service fee.

Adopted codes

Effective July 10, 2025, Austin enforces these codes with local amendments:

• the 2024 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Energy Conservation, Fire, and Property Maintenance Codes
• the 2024 Uniform Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, rather than the International versions
• the 2023 National Electrical Code

The City lists the 2026 NEC as taking effect September 1, 2026. Flood hazard rules remain in City Code Chapter 25-12, Article 3.

Contractor registration and homeowners

Anyone doing work under a building or trade permit must register with the City before work starts, and that includes homeowners acting as their own contractor. A general contractor needs no state license in Texas. To register as a GC, you set up an AB+C account and submit the City’s web form with a Letter of Authorization, then receive a contractor PIN. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and irrigation contractors must hold the matching state license and also register with the City. Homeowners pulling their own trade permits follow a separate homeowner trade-permit process. See also owner-builder permits.

Inspections

You can schedule an inspection in AB+C or through the IVR at (512) 974-9405. The phone system needs your IVR PIN, the 10-digit permit number, and the 3-digit inspection code. The permit must be Active with all fees paid. The permit holder, the GC, a trade contractor, or an authorized agent can schedule.

Inspectors work Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Inspections usually happen within 24 hours of scheduling but can slip to 48 hours when workload is heavy. Emergency inspections for urgent repairs are available around the clock. Email general questions to [email protected]. The residential inspections division manager is reachable at (512) 974-2729 and the commercial manager at (512) 974-3488. After the final inspection passes, the City issues a Certificate of Occupancy, or a Temporary CO for phased projects.

Contact

• Address: Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, TX 78752. Mail goes to P.O. Box 1088, Austin, TX 78767-1088.
• Phone: (512) 978-4000 or 3-1-1
• Chat and phone help: 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday–Thursday. Staff are not available for chat or phone help on Fridays.
• Appointments: Residential appointments can be requested at [email protected]. Paid consultations for new projects are also available ($409.38 for the first hour).