Austin Building Permits

Austin 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 Austin DSD (Development Services Department), which administers plan review, code compliance, inspections, and certificates of occupancy.

Austin has adopted the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), 2024 Uniform Mechanical Code (UMC), 2024 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC), and 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), all with local Austin amendments effective July 10, 2025. These regulations are codified in Chapter 25-12 of the Austin City Code.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need an Austin building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs — Accessory Dwelling Units)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) work
• Roof replacements or repairs affecting more than 50% of the roof area, or more than 128 square feet
• Window replacements that change the opening size, and new window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, decks, and retaining walls
• Demolition of any habitable structure
• Signs, site development, and tree work on commercial and multi-family properties

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes, and small repairs below applicable thresholds) may be exempt. DSD (Development Services Department) publishes a separate resource listing work exempt from permits — verify with the department before starting work.

AB+C Portal — The Online Permitting System

Austin Build + Connect (AB+C) is the City of Austin's unified online permitting portal. Through AB+C you can:

• Submit permit applications for building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, signs, and right-of-way work
• Upload plans and project documents for electronic plan review
• Pay fees online by ACH/eCheck (no surcharge) or credit card (2.35% service fee)
• Schedule and track inspections
• Search permit and case history without creating an account (public search)

The portal is accessible at abc.austintexas.gov. An AB+C Manual with step-by-step guidance on registration, submission, payment, and inspection scheduling is available on the DSD website.

For Express Permits (minor residential repairs), a separate web form is used rather than the standard AB+C application flow.

Permit Costs

Austin permit fees are set by the DSD (Development Services Department) fee schedules, which are updated annually. Separate schedules apply to:

• Residential Building Plan Review and Permit — scales with project scope
• Commercial Building Plan Review and Permit — scales with project scope
• Expedited Building Plan Review — additional fee for accelerated review
• Site Plan Review, Tree Review, Zoning Plan Review, and other specialty reviews

The FY 2025-26 fee schedules took effect October 1, 2025. Fee calculations and current rate tables are published as PDFs on the City of Austin fees page (linked in sources). Do not rely on third-party estimates — consult the current official fee schedule before budgeting.

Payments can be made fee-free by ACH/eCheck or in person by cash or check. Credit card payments carry a 2.35% service fee (minimum $2.00) online, or no surcharge for in-person payments under $10,000.

Typical Timeline

Review times reflect the first-review cycle. Second and subsequent resubmittals are typically faster if all comments are fully addressed. Expedited residential plan review is available for an additional fee.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm zoning, overlays, and code requirements for your parcel. Optional preliminary meetings with DSD staff are available for complex projects
2. Plans: Prepare drawings meeting the requirements of the Austin Building Criteria Manual; a licensed Texas architect or engineer stamp may be required for your project type
3. Submit via AB+C: Create an account at abc.austintexas.gov, complete the application, and upload required documents
4. Pay invoice: Once the application is accepted for review, DSD issues an invoice payable through the portal
5. Plan review: DSD reviews plans for compliance with applicable codes (building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, zoning, fire, site, and tree ordinance as applicable)
6. Corrections: Address all reviewer comments and resubmit through AB+C
7. Permit issuance (activation): Pay remaining fees and activate the permit before starting construction
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through AB+C
9. Final and Certificate of Occupancy: Pass all final inspections and, where required, obtain a Certificate of Occupancy before occupying the structure

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Foundation / footings
• Underground plumbing and electrical
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation
• Drywall
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule through the AB+C Portal at abc.austintexas.gov. Inspections are generally performed within 24 hours of scheduling (up to 48 hours during peak workload). Regular inspection hours are Monday–Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. After-hours inspections may be arranged directly with your assigned inspector.

To find your assigned inspector by address, use the DSD inspector lookup tool available on the Building Inspections page.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans do not comply with the adopted 2024 IBC, IRC, or other Austin technical codes and local amendments
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or design-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, use restrictions, overlay districts)
• Missing site plan items (drainage, impervious cover, tree protection)
• Historic district or heritage tree review not completed
• Flood hazard area documentation not provided (FEMA floodplain compliance)
• Incomplete application or missing documents in the AB+C Portal

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Austin Development Services Department and the AB+C Portal before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to DSD, the AB+C portal, permit types, the current fee schedule, and the Building Technical Codes (Chapter 25-12).

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Austin sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with the City of Austin Development Services Department before submitting plans or starting construction.