Building Permits in Dallas

Dallas requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work affecting structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City of Dallas Permitting & Inspections Department, part of the Sustainable Development department, which ensures construction meets all applicable city codes and regulations.

Dallas adopted the 2021 International Building Code (IBC), 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), and 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — all with local Dallas amendments, effective May 12, 2023. Texas has no statewide building code; each municipality sets its own requirements.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Dallas building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including ADUs)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) changes
• Reroofing and window or door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure
• Changes of occupancy or use

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Permitting & Inspections Department before starting work.

DallasNow — The Online Portal

DallasNow is the City of Dallas's unified planning and development portal, available at dallas.gov/DallasNow. It consolidates 15 previously separate systems — including permitting, planning, platting, inspections, and engineering — into a single cloud-based platform that replaces the older ProjectDox (PDOX) system.

Through DallasNow you can:

• Create an account and submit new permit applications
• Upload plans for electronic plan review
• Track application status in real time
• Respond to correction comments without a trip to the office
• Pay fees online
• Schedule and track inspections
• Download approved documents and permits

The portal is accessible 24/7. In-person service is available at the Oak Cliff Municipal Center, 320 E. Jefferson Blvd., Room 118, Dallas, TX 75203. The general call center is (214) 948-4480.

Permit Costs

Dallas permit fees are established in the official Permitting & Inspections Fee Schedule, most recently updated effective July 1, 2025. The city also provides a fee estimator worksheet for common project types.

Fees are generally calculated based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation or project type
• Plan review fee — a percentage of or addition to the building permit fee
• Inspection fees — for each required inspection phase
• Impact and utility fees — may apply for new construction or additions that add square footage

In October 2025, Dallas moved to an early-fee collection approach for commercial permit types, reducing the number of payment transactions and expediting record issuance. Residential permits followed the same streamlining over time.

Do not rely on third-party fee estimates. Always consult the current Dallas Permitting & Inspections Fee Schedule linked in the sources for exact amounts.

Typical Timeline

Dallas offers a Q-Team expedited plan review for eligible projects, which can significantly reduce first-review wait times. See the Permitting & Inspections Department for current Q-Team eligibility and scheduling.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm zoning, overlays, and applicable codes for your parcel; contact the department for pre-development consultation if needed
2. Plans: Prepare drawings stamped by a licensed Texas architect or engineer where required; use PDF format per DallasNow submission standards
3. Submit via DallasNow: Create an account at dallas.gov/DallasNow, upload documents, and pay the initial plan review fee
4. Plan review: City disciplines (building, structural, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, zoning, fire) review submitted plans
5. Corrections: Respond to review comments in DallasNow and resubmit; repeat until all corrections are resolved
6. Permit issuance: Pay remaining fees and receive the approved permit through DallasNow
7. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through DallasNow or by calling (214) 670-5313
8. Final: Pass all final inspections; obtain a Certificate of Occupancy where required before occupying the structure

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

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

Schedule through the DallasNow portal (dallas.gov/DallasNow) or the IVR Inspection Line at (214) 670-5313 (supports voice activation). The general call center is (214) 948-4480.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't meet the 2021 IBC, IRC, or applicable Dallas local amendments
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation, or required professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height, lot coverage, use not permitted in the district)
• Missing utility clearances (water, sewer, electrical service)
• Historic district, overlay zone, or landmark commission review not completed
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in DallasNow
• Property in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area without required floodplain review

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Dallas Permitting & Inspections Department and the DallasNow portal before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for the DallasNow portal, the adopted construction codes with Dallas amendments, and the current fee schedule. The Dallas Code of Ordinances (Chapter 52 — Administrative Procedures for the Construction Codes) is available in full at library.municode.com/tx/dallas.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City of Dallas 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 Dallas Permitting & Inspections Department before submitting plans or starting construction.