Building Permits in Arlington, Texas

Arlington requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work that affects structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Arlington Community Development & Planning — Building Inspections Division, which also administers plan review, code enforcement, and field inspections.

Texas has no mandatory statewide building code for the majority of its municipalities, though HB 1736 (2021) established minimum residential model code standards. Arlington fills that gap by locally adopting the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), together with locally enacted amendments codified in the Arlington Code of Ordinances. Arlington is located in Tarrant County within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need an Arlington building permit for:

• New construction of any habitable structure or accessory structure
• Additions, room conversions, and enclosed porch or garage conversions
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical service upgrades, new circuits, and panel replacements
• Plumbing changes including new fixtures, water heaters, and gas line work
• Mechanical (HVAC) system installations and replacements
• Reroofing (not like-for-like shingle replacement in all cases — confirm with the division)
• Window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, hot tubs, and most detached fences above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) — verify ADU permittability in your zoning district

Minor cosmetic work such as painting, floor coverings, and cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Building Inspections Division before starting work — unpermitted construction can trigger costly stop-work orders and retroactive compliance requirements.

MyGov — Arlington's Online Permitting Portal

Arlington uses MyGov as its primary online permitting platform, accessible through the Building Inspections section of arlingtontx.gov. Through MyGov you can:

• Create a personal or contractor account
• Submit new permit applications for residential and commercial projects
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Respond to plan review correction comments without an in-person visit
• Pay permit and plan review fees online
• Track application status and review cycle progress
• Request and monitor field inspections

The portal is the preferred submission method and reduces turnaround time compared to paper submissions. In-person service is also available at the City of Arlington Community Development & Planning offices.

Permit Costs

Arlington permit fees are established in the City of Arlington Development Fee Schedule, published by the Community Development & Planning Department. Fees are typically calculated based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation
• Plan review fee — a percentage of the building permit fee
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
• Impact fees — for new construction or square footage additions (water, wastewater, transportation, parks — confirm applicability with the City)

Always verify current fees with the official Arlington Development Fee Schedule linked in the sources above. Third-party estimates may be outdated.

Typical Timeline

Second and subsequent correction cycles are typically shorter than the initial review if the applicant fully addresses all plan review comments. Incomplete submittals restart the review clock.

The Permit Process

1. Pre-application: Confirm zoning classification, overlays, and applicable code edition for your parcel using the Arlington zoning map and Code of Ordinances
2. Plans: Prepare construction documents drawn to scale; a licensed Texas architect or engineer stamp is required for many project types
3. Submit via MyGov: Upload documents, select the permit type, and pay initial fees
4. Plan review: City reviewers check for IBC/IRC compliance, zoning conformance (setbacks, height, lot coverage), and trade code compliance
5. Corrections: Respond to all review comments in MyGov and resubmit revised plans
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining balance and download or receive the issued permit
7. Post permit: Post the permit card at the job site as required
8. Inspections: Schedule each required inspection phase through MyGov before that phase of work is covered or enclosed
9. Final inspection: Pass final inspection; obtain a Certificate of Occupancy if required for the project type

Inspections

Typical field inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Footing and foundation (before pouring concrete)
• Underground plumbing and electrical (before backfill)
• Framing (before insulation and sheathing)
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical (before drywall)
• Insulation (before drywall in conditioned space)
• Drywall (in some jurisdictions — confirm with Arlington)
• Final building and trade inspections

Request inspections through the MyGov portal at least one business day before the inspection is needed. Have the permit number and project address ready. Inspectors will note deficiencies that must be corrected and re-inspected before work proceeds.

Common Reasons for Corrections or Denial

• Plans do not comply with the currently adopted IBC, IRC, or Arlington local amendments
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation (IECC), or required engineer or architect stamps
• Zoning conflicts — setback violations, height exceedances, lot coverage limits, or use not permitted in the district
• Incomplete submittal — missing site plan, floor plans, elevations, or specifications
• Missing or incorrect trade permit applications for electrical, plumbing, or mechanical scope
• FEMA floodplain compliance not addressed for properties in a Special Flood Hazard Area (check the FEMA Flood Map Service Center)
• HOA or deed restriction conflicts (note: HOA approval is separate from — and does not substitute for — a city permit)

Official Sources

Always verify current code editions, fee schedules, and submittal requirements with the City of Arlington Community Development & Planning — Building Inspections Division and the MyGov portal before submitting an application or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to the Building Inspections Division, the online permitting portal, the Arlington Code of Ordinances on Municode, and the Development Fee Schedule.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Arlington and State of Texas sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code editions, fee schedules, and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Arlington Building Inspections Division before submitting plans or starting construction.