Austin residential building permit

Having trouble understanding something? Check out our Resources section to help you navigate the permitting process. Residential Permitting An official resource of the City of Austin. Process Overview Work with the City of Austin to make sure your next building or renovation project is safe, sustainable, and permitted. Define 1. Consult 2. Apply 3. Review 4. Inspect 5. Featured Projects Are you changing or adding to your home? Shed A simple, enclosed structure that is physically detached from your house and will be used for storage.

Interior remodel The process of fixing or updating appearance or functionality within an existing home without adding or removing square footage. This can be initiated by a licensed contractor, homeowner if listed at general contractor on permit, official agents registered under contractor, or a master trade contractor.

Permits are only active for days. On the st day the permit will expire if a project has not received any inspections. If you let the permit expire this must be resolved before they city will issue a new permit.

To check if your property has an expired permit call You can also view issued construction permits and the online user manual for public search assistance. The city of Austin provides this tool so registered users can apply for permits online, pay for permits, schedule inspections, apply for right of way permits and assign permits. Receive a free list of available spaces custom to your needs complete with lease rates, photos, and floor plans:.

Call The permit can be Before a permit is issued all building plans must be reviewed by Residential or Commercial Building Plan Review. An OSSF review is needed whenever a property has a septic system and conditioned space is being added to the property, adding bedrooms, increasing the footprint of development of the property adding a pool, patio, garage, etc. Fire Prevention. Any structures 45 years old or older will be forwarded for review by the Historic Preservation Office.

Properties that are zoned historic or are in a historic district will also be forwarded for review by the Historic Preservation Office. Historic Applicability. The information can also be used to fill out all other Residential Permit Applications.

Please review this document when filling out the permit application. Setbacks are the area of a property that are to remain free and open to the sky above.

Limited items can be built in the setback and are outlined in the LDC section However, other residential zoning classifications have different setbacks. Please refer to LDC section for setbacks per zoning classification. Limited items can project or be built in a setback. Please note that mechanical units and pool equipment are allowed in a required yard setback. FAR is the ratio of floor area to lot size. It determines how much building area can be built on certain properties. The answer is yes.

The same set of drawings will be used for both applications; no need to duplicate the required submittal copies. We will create one folder for the review of both applications. They will both be considered small projects and each will incur in a small project reduced plan review fee.

Only one Plan Review PR folder will be created in our database and only one set of permits will be created for both applications. The review time will match the review time of the application type with the longest review time. Current information for review fees and review times can be found on our website.

Carports shall be open on not less than two sides. Carports not open on two or more sides shall be considered to be a garage and shall comply with code requirements for garages. Reference code section: IRC R Raising the roof of a house is considered an addition. When raising the roof of a house, a Residential New Construction and Addition application shall be submitted. If the house is located in a condominium regime site plan, a Residential New Condominium Permit Application shall be submitted and a Site Plan exemption may be required.

Check with the Development Assistance Center DAC if your home is located in a condominium regime site plan to find out if your work will require a site plan exemption. A deck with this description is not required to file an application for a building permit, as long as it is not located in a flood hazard area. Reference code section: R Be aware that work exempt from permit must still comply with the Residential Code and all other applicable laws and City Code requirements.

We require foundation plans, wind bracing plans and framing plans for new construction. However, we allow a Structural Verification Report in lieu of structural drawings for the following project types:.

Conversion of a carport with existing foundation open on no more than 2 sides to a single story habitable space Interior remodels where no additions to the building are proposed.

Sidewalks and driveways not located in the Public Right of Way do not require a building permit. However, be aware that work exempt from permit must still comply with the Residential Code and all other applicable laws and City Code requirements. Drawings can be done by hand as long as they are legible, drawn to scale, and they provide the required information to perform a responsible review.

Schedule an appointment for general questions. Starting in January , the Residential Plan Review Team will be unavailable on Fridays for phone and email inquiries. In an effort to reduce overall project review times, team members will be focused exclusively on reviewing project updates.

If an appointment is needed to address review comments, please schedule with your assigned Reviewer. We respond to calls and emails in the order received. Under normal conditions, we typically respond within 24 hours.