How to Apply for Austin TX Building Permits

In the City of Austin, any infrastructure improvement or maintenance on your property or a new installation on City of Austin easements or owned property requires a building permit. From adding a shed to your backyard or an addition to your home, you'll need an .

You only need a single form if you have a straightforward project and have not used all of your impervious covers. Filing the Formal General Permit Application proves a simple process if you live in an area with few or no building covenants and you meet other requirements. If you need to amend your application, use the General Permit Correction Request Form. If you think that your work on your property or the Austin easement might qualify for an exemption, you can complete and submit the General Permit Exemption Application form.

Using the DoNotPay solution provides you with an efficient, straightforward way to expedite the application process. At DoNotPay, our automated process alleviates frustration and quickly solves the problem. You can find the process for applying for other areas' building permits, too, including Palm Beach County, Los Angeles, Chicago, or Sarasota.

When Is a Building Permit Necessary in Austin?

Any type of renovation, construction, or building alteration requires an . This extends to the smallest work items, such as knocking out a wall to enlarge a room. If you added an accessory building, such as a shed, garage, carport, pergola, gazebo, storage building, etc. you also need a permit. If you want to build a new structure, you'll need to schedule a pre-construction meeting.

Your work could require only a general building permit (BP), or you might need the BP and any of three other building permit types. These include:

Building Permit (BP)	This type of permit must be granted by a government or other regulatory body before the construction of a new or existing building (residential or commercial) can legally occur.
Mechanical Permit (MP)	This type of permit is required prior to conducting any mechanical work such as heating, ductwork, or cooling.
Electrical Permit (EP)	This type of permit is required prior to doing any electrical work on a building or structure such as installing electrical wiring, transformers, or lighting.
Plumbing Permit (PP)	This type of permit must be granted prior to doing any piping work for the kitchen or bathroom such as sinks, toilets, and drains.

How to Get a Building Permit in Austin

The process of applying for a building permit in Austin, TX, can grow complex. Under some circumstances, such as a new construction project that is the first on a plat of land, you need a site plan. However, if you want to add to existing construction or erect new buildings on a site with an existing building or buildings, you need a plot plan. If you aren't sure which applies to your situation, you can request a free consultation called a residential plan review. The representative from the planning department will go through a checklist that the Austin Planning Department refers to as a Gold Sheet. This tells you which forms you need.

What Are the Required Documents for a Permit?

You will need to assimilate a paper packet that includes:

the permit application or expedited application - with either the site plan or the plot plan
the floor plan of your project
an elevation plan
structural drawings
foundation plan
owner's authorization form (only required if a hired professional engineer, architect, or other site plan professional submits your application)
Certified Tax Certificate or Warranty Deed
Austin Water Utility Form (only required if you increase the number of bathrooms or do work that advances your home's water meter size)
Homeowners authorization letter
SMART Housing Project Information (only required if you participate in SMART housing)
a signed certification letter from Neighborhood Housing and Community Development (NHCD) if you participate in SMART housing
a signed conditional approval letter from Austin Energy Green Building if you participate in SMART housing
demolition application (only required if you change walls, extend your home's current footprint, or add windows or doors
a notarized survey or plot plan signed by the owner to accompany a demolition application
photographs of the proposed demolition area
Building Service Permit Application (BSPA) for building permits, but not for trade or tree permits

Some types of construction require a special permitting process. This includes sheds, interior remodels that don't increase the square footage, decks, and conversions, such as converting a garage to a bedroom.

Who Do I Contact to Get a Building Permit?

The City of Austin provides a dedicated Service Center that handles all building and trade permits. It also registers licensed contractors. You can reach the Service Center via email at dsdhelp@austintexas.gov or telephone at 512-978-4000.

What Fees Are Associated With Getting a Permit?

The fee structure of The City of Austin consists of a complex set of fees. Five types of building permit fees exist, with the cheapest starting at $200.

Interior remodeling, begins at $200
General building permit begins at $200
Shed project begins at $584.48
Deck fees provide a complex structure since they add tree fees and drainage charges.

Next Steps for Applying for a Building Permit if You Can't Do It Yourself

The City of Austin will let you hire an attorney, consultant, architect, or engineer to handle the permitting process for you. You will need to interview the individual and you will need to pay them. That could result in you doubling the amount you need to pay since you still pay the City of Austin fees either way. You could use the easier way. You can solve the problem with the help of DoNotPay.

Solve the Building Permits Application Problem With the Help of DoNotPay

DoNotPay wants to help make the application process easier, so you can successfully get a building permit and start your renovation with ease. Through our new Planning Permissions product, we'll help you:

Check if your project even needs a building permit in the first place.
Contact any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission.
Generate a step-by-step guide on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

Some of the permits and projects we can help with include:

Building a fence
Building a deck or porch
Roofing changes
Interior Remodeling
Demolition
Basement Changes
Residential Addition
New Accessory Dwelling Units
Garage Renovations
Installing a Pool
Installing a Hot Tub
Repair, replacement, or installation of a plumbing/gas system
Repair, replacement, or installation of an electrical system
Repair, replacement, or installation of a mechanical/gas system

All you have to do is:

Go to the Planning Permissions product on DoNotPay.
Choose one of the following options:
1. Check whether your project needs a building permit or if it's exempt
2. Generate a permission request letter to send to your HOA
3. Generate a guide on how to complete the building permit application
Choose the focus of your project (new ADU, pool, shed, fence, etc.) and answer a few questions about your plans, including the size of the structure and estimated cost.
Indicate whether you're hiring a contractor and include the estimated start date and the timeline for the project.
Indicate whether any public sidewalk/street space will be used during construction.
And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.

And that's it! DoNotPay will help guide you through the building permit process by checking if your project needs a building permit, contacting any HOAs you're a part of to request building permission, or generating detailed instructions on how to start and complete your building permit application process.