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- Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Who requires a permit?
- An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure.
- When installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
- The installation or alteration of fire extinguishing systems.
- Moving, changing, or constructing access to or from any public street from a driveway including repair, removal, or installation of curbs or culverts.
Why get a permit?
- The adopted building code, technical codes and state licensing laws require that permits be obtained for specific types of work. For more information about specific types of work, read who requires a permit.
- Permits protect you, occupants, structure, and financial investment.
- Inspections ensure that work is done in compliance with the minimum code requirements. If installed incorrectly, this action can result in fires, safety and health hazards, and/ or structural problems.
- Inspections help find problems that could potentially lead to costly repairs, liability, and life safety.
- When selling a property, the buyer, realtor, or lender may require that unpermitted work be properly permitted, corrected, and inspected before closing.
Who can obtain a permit?
- Commercial building permits can be obtained by a building owner, registered contractor and authorized representative.
- Commercial electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fire related systems must be obtained by individuals who are licensed by the state of Texas.
Where do I get a permit?
- Permits can be obtained at the City Service Center located at 448 SH 75 N Huntsville, Texas. Customers are welcome to come in with preliminary drawings and questions before applying for the permits.
- Want to skip the line? To get your permit application online at huntsvilletx.gov, select Government, Departments, Development Services, Building Permits, Permits, Forms and Applications, all permits.
What are building permits?
- A building permit is required to build a new structure, alter or add to an existing structure, for lease space finish-outs, and change tenants.
How do I obtain a permit?
Permit applications and plans can be submitted in person or be mailed in. Once received, permit applications and plans will be distributed to the plan’s examiner for review. When you are ready to apply for a building permit, please include the following:
- Completed Building Permit Application
- One set of drawn-to-scale plans showing all the work on the building and the property and a digital copy of the building plans.
- A description of all the mechanical, electrical and plumbing work you will be doing.
- Development Permit Applications, for new structures or additions to an existing structure.
- Plan Review Fee is required for projects valued over $35,000.
Online Permitting:
- Visit civicgov4.com/tx_huntsville/portal. Once on the page you can use Sign In/ Register to log in or create a portal account. Once signed in, go to my My Account to link to your company. Contact the permitting office with questions, please give us a call at 936-294-5717
- Apply for permits through the website and request and track your inspections.
Mechanical Permits:
Permits are required for the new system installation and for replacements of any air handling unit and/or ducts and condensers.
Electrical Permits:
Permits are required for all new electrical system installation, electrical system/ equipment replacement, and major repairs.
Plumbing Permits:
Permits are required for all new plumbing systems, water and/ or waste piping replacements and/ or additions or remodels (which include showers).
Building Codes:
The City of Huntsville has adopted the following documents related to building and construction. For more information, please refer to this link: https://huntsvilletx.gov/1143/Codes-used-by-the-City-of-Huntsville
What is required for Building Inspections:
- Setbacks and elevation inspection (to be verified by a foundation form survey performed by a licensed surveyor).
- Temporary electrical pole.
- Pier, foundation, and ground plumbing.
- Framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing top-out, HVAC duct, and energy.
- Drive approach, parking, sidewalks, driveways, and grading.
- Final building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and fire systems.
- Brick-ties.
- Job check inspections will be performed by an inspector to verify compliance of codes that the contractor is not required to call specific inspections for. These would include but not limited to erosion control, portable restroom, posting of permits, address posting, and site cleanliness and safety.
- Construction may require additional or different inspections such as fire partitions, masonry, and fire alarms.
- Please contact the Permit Office with any questions.
How much are the fees and charges:
The cost of fees differ. For more information on your specific fee, see the schedule of fees and charges on huntsvilletx.gov.
If I have more questions or concerns:
Contact us!
- 448 SH 75 N Huntsville, TX 77340
- Phone: 936-294-5717
- Email: permits@huntsvilletx.gov
What requires a permit?
- An owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure.
- When installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
- The installation or alteration of fire extinguishing systems.
- Moving, changing, or constructing access to or from any public street from a driveway including repair, removal, or installation of curbs or culverts.
Why get a permit?
- The Adopted Residential Building Code and Texas Licensing Laws require that permits be obtained for certain types of work as listed above.
- Permits protect you, your family, home, and financial investment.
- Inspections ensure that work is done safely and meets the minimum requirements. Incorrect installations can result in house fires, flood damage, and/ or structural problems.
- Minor problems that could lead to costly repairs. Liability and life safety issues can also be detected during inspections and brought to your attention before the situation worsens.
- When selling a property, the buyer, realtor, or lender may require that unpermitted work be properly permitted, corrected and inspected before closing. This leaves you in the position of scrambling to get unpermitted work permitted.
Who can obtain a permit?
- If the property is an owner-occupied homestead, the property owner may obtain the required permits.
- A licensed electrical, mechanical and/ or plumbing contractor will need to obtain the trade permits.
Where do I get a permit?
- Permits can be obtained at the City Service Center located at 448 SH 75 N Huntsville, Texas. Customers are welcome to come in with preliminary drawings and questions before applying for the permits.
- Want to skip the line? To get your permit application online at huntsvilletx.gov, select Government, Departments, Development Services, Building Permits, Permits, Forms and Applications, all permits.
What are building permits?
A building permit is required to build a new structure, or to alter or add to an existing structure.
How do I obtain a permit?
Permit applications and plans can be submitted in person or be mailed in. Once received, permit applications and plans will be submitted to the building official and plans examiner for review. When you are ready to apply for a building permit, please include the following:
- Completed Building Permit Application.
- One set of drawn-to-scale plans showing all the work on the building and the property and a digital copy of the building plans.
- A design plan of all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work you will be doing.
- Development Permit Application for new structures or additions to existing structures, and a letter size site plan.
- Plan Review Fee is required for projects valued over $35,000.
Online Permitting:
- Visit civicgov4.com/tx_huntsville/portal. Once on the page you can use Sign In/ Register to log in or create a portal account. Once signed in, go to My Account to link to your company. Contact the permitting office with questions.
- Apply, request, and track permits and inspections through the website.
Mechanical Permits:
Required for new or replacement of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems.
Plan submittal required if involved:
- New system installation
- Replacement of air handler and/ or ducts
Electrical Permits:
Required for all new electrical system installation, electrical system/ equipment replacement and major repairs.
Plumbing Permits:
Required for all new plumbing systems, water and/ or waste piping replacements and/ or additions or remodels (including showers).
What are the job site requirements?
- The building address and permit must be posted on site and must be visible from the street.
- The city of Huntsville stamped plans (contractor plans) must be kept on site and maintained in a dry and good condition.
- The site must have erosion control installed and maintained before the lot is cleared.
- A portable restroom must be placed and maintained on site from the beginning of the project until the final plumbing inspection is approved.
- The jobsite must be kept clean of trash and debris that may be blown or washed off the site by weather and streets must be kept clean from mud that is tracked by vehicles and machinery.
- Safety, in accordance with OSHA standards, must be always maintained.
Building Codes:
The City of Huntsville has adopted the following documents related to building and construction. For more information, please refer to the following link: https://huntsvilletx.gov/1143/Codes-used-by-the-City-of-Huntsville
What is required for Building Inspections?
- Setback inspection (to be performed simultaneously with ground plumbing or pier inspection). Form and elevation survey.
- Temporary electrical pole.
- Pier, foundation, and ground plumbing.
- Framing, electrical rough-in, plumbing top-out, HVAC dust, energy.
- Brick-ties.
- Duct seal test by 3rd party required.
- Final building, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, energy.
- Air tightness test on finished home required by a 3rd party.
- Job check inspections will be performed by an inspector to verify compliance of codes that the contractor is not required to call specific inspections for. Include but not limited to erosion control, portable restroom, posting of permits, address postings, and site cleanliness and safety.
- This is a list of minimum inspections required for standard construction. The contractor must arrange special inspections with a building inspector.
How much are the fees and charges:
The cost of fees differs. For more information on your specific fee, the schedule of fees and charges on the huntsvilletx.gov.
If I have more questions or concerns:
Contact us!
- 488 SH 75 N Huntsville, TX 77340
- Phone: 936-294-5717
- Email: permits@huntsvilletx.gov