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Building permits in Austin, TX

Permitting authority: City of Austin Development Services Department. Applies inside City of Austin jurisdiction. Flood hazard areas and the Wildland-Urban Interface change several exemptions.

Project	Answer	Verified
Fence	Depends on your project No building permit for most fences 7 ft or lower outside a floodplain. A permit is required over 7 ft, in a floodplain, or over 6 ft along C…	2026-10-19
Deck	Depends on your project Exempt only if 200 sq ft or less, no more than 30 in above grade, not attached to the house, not used for egress, and not in a flood hazard …	2026-10-19
Shed	Depends on your project No building permit for a one-story detached shed up to 200 sq ft and 15 ft tall with no plumbing, not a dwelling, and not in a flood hazard …	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Unverified, confirm locally We could not find an official Austin page that explicitly states whether a like-for-like water heater replacement needs a permit. Austin iss…	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Depends on your project Replacing asphalt shingles with asphalt shingles, or any roof covering that does not affect the roof structure, is exempt unless the home is…	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Finish work (paint, tile, cabinets, countertops) is exempt. An Interior Remodel Building Permit is required if the remodel changes structura…	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/fees

Not legal advice. Always confirm with your local building department. Rules change, and your parcel's zoning, HOA, historic district, floodplain or utility work can change the answer. We show the official source and the date we last checked it so you can verify for yourself.