Building permits in Fort Worth, TX

Short answer: In Fort Worth, permits are issued by City of Fort Worth Development Services Department; of the 16 common projects we checked, 12 always need a permit, 0 do not, and 4 depend on the details.

Permitting authority: City of Fort Worth Development Services Department. Applies inside Fort Worth city limits. Applicants must be registered contractors or qualify for a homestead permit.

Permit rules in Fort Worth
Project	Answer	Verified
ADU or garage conversion	Permit required Yes. Enclosing a garage for another use needs a building permit; a zoning variance may be needed for lost parking.	2026-10-19
Deck	Permit required Yes for most decks: all platforms, walks and decks over 6 in above grade need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Driveway or patio	Depends on your project Driveway flatwork on your own property needs no permit. New or repaired driveway approaches and sidewalks need a parkway permit pulled by a …	2026-10-19
Electrical panel upgrade	Permit required Yes. Changing, moving or repairing electrical equipment, including electrical services, needs an electrical permit.	2026-10-19
EV charger	Permit required Yes. Installing an EV charger changes the home's electrical equipment, which needs an electrical permit.	2026-10-19
Fence	Depends on your project A building permit is required for solid fences over 7 ft and open fences over 8 ft. Front-yard fences are limited to 4 ft, open picket style…	2026-10-19
HVAC / AC replacement	Permit required Yes. Changing, moving or repairing central heating and air conditioning systems needs a mechanical permit.	2026-10-19
Interior / bathroom remodel	Depends on your project Cosmetic remodels (floor or wall covering, cabinets, countertops) and plumbing fixture replacement need no permit. Moving or repairing walls…	2026-10-19
Pool or hot tub	Permit required Yes. Fort Worth requires a building permit for all accessory structures, including swimming pools.	2026-10-19
Retaining wall	Permit required Yes. Fort Worth lists retaining walls among accessory structures that need a building permit, with no height exemption stated.	2026-10-19
Roof replacement	Depends on your project Shingle-only replacement needs no permit. Replacing decking, sheathing, lathing, rafters or ridge boards needs a building permit.	2026-10-19
Shed	Permit required Yes. Fort Worth says all storage buildings, including shipping containers, need a building permit.	2026-10-19
Siding replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing missing or decayed siding needs a building permit.	2026-10-19
Solar panels	Permit required Yes. Solar panels are listed among accessory structures that need a building permit; the residential remodel application covers solar panels…	2026-10-19
Water heater replacement	Permit required Yes. Changing or installing a water heater needs a plumbing permit.	2026-10-19
Window and door replacement	Permit required Yes. Replacing doors or windows is covered by the Residential Remodel Construction Permit.	2026-10-19

Fee schedule: https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/development-services/permits/residential-information

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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.