Building Permits in Irving

Irving 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 Irving Building Inspections Department, which operates under the broader Planning & Inspections division and administers plan review, permitting, and field inspections for the city.

Irving has locally adopted construction codes based on the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) with local Irving amendments. Texas has no statewide mandatory building code for cities — House Bill 1736 (2021) established model minimum standards, but each municipality adopts and enforces its own codes. As a result, Irving's specific adopted code editions and local amendments govern all construction within the city.

Irving is located in Dallas County in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The city hosts the Las Colinas mixed-use urban district — one of the largest master-planned business centers in the United States — as well as a significant portion of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW Airport). This combination of large-scale commercial development, corporate headquarters campuses, and established residential neighborhoods makes building permit compliance a critical step for both homeowners and commercial developers operating in the city.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need an Irving building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures (including Accessory Dwelling Units if permitted in your district)
• 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
• Fences above a height threshold (verify with the department)

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact the Building Inspections Department before starting work — unpermitted construction can result in stop-work orders, fines, and required removal.

Irving ePermits — The Online Portal

The City of Irving ePermits Online Customer Portal is the primary channel for submitting and managing building permit applications. Accessible through the Building Inspections Department page at cityofirving.org, the portal allows applicants to:

• Create an account and submit new permit applications
• Upload construction documents for electronic plan review
• Track application and review status in real time
• Respond to plan review correction comments without visiting City Hall
• Pay fees online
• Schedule and track required inspections
• Download approved permits and documents

The portal is available around the clock. For in-person service, visit the City of Irving City Hall, 825 W. Irving Blvd., Irving, TX 75060. The Building Inspections Department can be reached by phone at (972) 721-2401.

Permit Costs

Irving permit fees are established in the official Building Inspections Fee Schedule, published by the City of Irving. 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 stage
• Impact and utility fees — may apply for new construction or additions that add floor area or new utility connections

For large commercial or mixed-use projects in Las Colinas or near DFW Airport, additional site, civil, or fire-protection review fees may also apply.

Do not rely on third-party fee estimates. Always consult the current Irving Building Inspections Fee Schedule — available through the department at cityofirving.org — for exact amounts before budgeting a project.

Typical Timeline

Plan review timelines fluctuate with workload and submission completeness. Incomplete applications or plans that do not meet code will trigger correction notices and additional review cycles, extending the overall timeline. Submitting complete, code-compliant plans at the outset is the most effective way to minimize review time.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm your parcel's zoning district, applicable overlays, setbacks, and the current adopted code editions through the Irving Planning & Inspections Department
2. Plans: Prepare construction documents — drawings stamped by a licensed Texas architect or engineer are required for most commercial projects and many residential ones
3. Submit via ePermits: Create or log in to your account on the Irving ePermits portal, complete the application, upload required documents, and pay the initial plan review fee
4. Plan review: Irving's Building Inspections staff review submitted plans for compliance with the IBC/IRC and local amendments; fire, zoning, and other disciplines may also review
5. Corrections: Respond to review comments in the ePermits portal and resubmit; repeat until all corrections are resolved
6. Permit issuance: Pay any remaining fees and receive the approved permit through the portal
7. Inspections: Schedule required inspections at each construction phase through the ePermits portal or by calling (972) 721-2401
8. Final: Pass all final inspections; obtain a Certificate of Occupancy where required before occupying or operating in 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

Commercial and large mixed-use projects may require additional inspection stages, including fire suppression, life safety, and accessibility reviews. Schedule all inspections through the Irving ePermits portal or by calling (972) 721-2401. Requests should generally be submitted at least one business day in advance.

Las Colinas and Large-Scale Commercial Development

Irving's Las Colinas Urban Center and surrounding business parks attract large corporate tenants and developers, resulting in a significant volume of complex commercial permit activity. Projects in this area often involve:

• Multi-discipline simultaneous plan review (building, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, civil)
• Site plan review and land disturbance permits
• Coordination with Dallas/Fort Worth Airport authority for parcels near DFW Airport boundaries
• FEMA floodplain review for properties in or near flood-hazard zones (Irving has numerous creek corridors draining to the Elm Fork of the Trinity River)

For large commercial projects, early pre-application meetings with Irving Planning & Inspections staff are strongly recommended to identify all required reviews and avoid delays.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't meet the locally adopted IBC, IRC, or Irving's 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)
• Floodplain development issues — property in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area without required floodplain review or elevation certificate
• Historic district or overlay zone review not completed
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in the ePermits portal
• Fire-protection or life-safety review deficiencies (especially for commercial tenant finish-outs)

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with the City of Irving Building Inspections Department and the ePermits Online Customer Portal before submitting plans or starting construction. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for the department home page, the ePermits portal, the Irving Municipal Code on Municode, and the state-law context for local code adoption in Texas.

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