Travis County permit authority

Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources Development Services and Travis County Fire Marshal's Office is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.

Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact TNR Development Services Permit Desk: 512-854-4215; TNR inspection/enforcement team: 512-854-4438; Fire Marshal: 512-854-4621.

The Fire Code requires issuance or denial of a complete building or system permit application within 30 days after the Fire Marshal receives the application and fee; if no action occurs in that period, the project is approved for Fire Code purposes. A requested final Fire Code inspection must begin within two business days. TNR publishes no single ordinary development-permit review target because review depends on project scope and applicant responses; technical review pauses while comments remain unanswered.

Apply, upload plans, respond to review comments, track status, and receive TNR permits through MGO Connect. Required residential foundation, framing/mechanical, and final inspections are performed by a licensed third-party inspector and the reports are uploaded to the project account. Coordinate OSSF authorization and inspections through the same permit record and call the inspection team at 512-854-4438; do not cover or operate the system before approval. Fire Code applicants use https://www.tcfmopermits.com/ and must request final building or system inspection in writing; the Fire Marshal must begin it within two business days. County development inspectors generally require 48 hours' advance notice for construction-stage inspections identified in the online project record.

Travis County requires county development permits for residential and non-residential projects outside incorporated city limits, including new homes, accessory buildings, additions, renovations, fences, retaining walls, pools, solar installations, driveways, floodplain work, and OSSFs. Professional builders of new or substantially improved one- and two-family dwellings must identify the IRC edition used and submit foundation, framing/mechanical, and final third-party inspection reports under County Code Chapter 480. Effective January 1, 2026, commercial establishments, public buildings, and multifamily dwellings of more than three units must comply with the county-amended 2021 International Fire Code; the IBC is adopted by reference through Chapter 1 of that code. TNR also enforces Chapters 448 (OSSF), 464 (floodplain), and 482 (development/environmental review). Municipalities and ETJs may require additional permits. The Fire Code excludes an industrial facility with an OSHA-compliant fire brigade, and its definition of commercial establishment excludes multifamily dwellings with fewer than four units plus private garages, carports, sheds, and agricultural buildings; those projects may still require a TNR development permit. Travis County publishes permit processes even for residential remodeling without added square footage, accessory buildings, fences, pools, and rooftop solar, so applicants should not assume routine exterior or structural work is exempt. The county publishes no blanket cosmetic-work exemption. Owners repairing damage from the July 2025 flood may request a waiver of development and septic permit fees, but the permits themselves are still required.