Fort Worth building department

Fort Worth Development Services issues building and trade permits, reviews plans, inspects construction, and handles certificates of occupancy, zoning, platting, and infrastructure plan review for property inside the City of Fort Worth. Customers are served at City Hall at 100 Fort Worth Trail, and nearly all permit applications go through Accela Citizen Access (ACA). Unincorporated Tarrant County and the many suburban cities around Fort Worth have their own building authorities, so confirm the jurisdiction before opening an ACA record.

What needs a permit

According to Fort Worth’s residential permitting guide, a permit is needed for any new construction and for work that changes, moves, or repairs walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, or electrical, mechanical, or plumbing systems. Specific residential triggers include:

Project	Fort Worth rule
Interior remodel	Permit needed when wall, floor, or drywall changes total 16 sq. ft. or more
Decks	Permit needed for platforms more than 6 in. above grade
Storage buildings and shipping containers	Permit always required
Detached garages and additions	Permit always required
Fences	Permit needed for solid fences over 7 ft. or open fences over 8 ft. Front-yard fences are limited to 4 ft., open picket only, with chain link not allowed.
Retaining walls	Permit needed over 4 ft., measured from the bottom of the footing
Roofing	Decking, sheathing, or rafter work needs a permit. Shingle-only work, within layer limits, does not.
Water heaters, shower pans, HVAC systems and ductwork, electrical service changes	Trade permit required
Pools, gazebos, fireplaces, fountains, solar panels, wind turbines	Permit required
Driveways and sidewalks	Work in the public right-of-way must be done by a bonded contractor. Flatwork entirely on your own property is exempt.

Cosmetic work (flooring, wall coverings, cabinets, countertops, shelving), plumbing fixture swaps, and freestanding above-ground storm shelters with no utilities are exempt. Zoning setbacks and accessory-structure rules are in the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 5. See also do I need a permit for a deck.

Who can pull a permit

The applicant must be either a registered building contractor or a homeowner who qualifies for a homestead permit. To qualify, the homeowner must own and occupy the building as their primary residence, shown by an appraisal district homestead exemption. Fort Worth registers building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, parkway, and sign erector contractors using a single new-or-renewal application.

Applying

Before you apply, the CFW Permit Assist tool at cfwpermit.fortworthtexas.gov can tell you which permits you need, estimate costs, and check basic zoning. It shares a single sign-on with Accela. More than 30 permit types can be submitted online in ACA, including building, trade, change-of-use and CO, sign, and moving or razing permits. Planning cases such as concept plans, plats, zoning changes, and historic certification (HCLC) follow separate review tracks. Expedited plan review is handled by the City’s XTEAM, whose coordinator is reachable at (817) 392-2301. The current Development Services fee schedule took effect October 1, 2026.

Adopted codes

Fort Worth’s permits page lists the 2021 ICC codes, effective April 1, 2022, with these exceptions:

• the 2026 National Electrical Code, effective September 1, 2026
• the 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, effective September 1, 2020
• the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code, which remains in effect

The City Code is published in American Legal Publishing’s code library. Evan Roberts is the Building Official, (817) 392-7843.

Inspections

Schedule inspections in your ACA profile or through the IVR at (817) 392-6370. Requests received before 6:30 a.m. are scheduled for that same day. Requests at or after 6:30 a.m. are scheduled for the next business day. Fill in the “inspection contact” field in ACA so the inspector can reach someone on site. The City publishes separate residential and commercial inspection lists covering foundation, framing, the electrical, plumbing, and mechanical stages, parkway inspections, and building final. For an overview of typical stages, see building inspection stages.

Contact

• Development Services: City Hall, 100 Fort Worth Trail, Fort Worth, TX 76102. Phone (817) 392-2222. Walk-in visits use the Qless appointment and queue system.
• Zoning and land use: (817) 392-8028, [email protected]
• Infrastructure Plan Review Center: [email protected]
• Stormwater Development Services: [email protected]
• After-hours gas well inspections: (817) 392-2884