County building permit guide
Collin County, Texas building permits — complete guide (2026)
Collin County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in the United States for over a decade, driven by corporate relocations, high household incomes, and exceptional school districts. Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and Allen are among the most affluent suburban cities in America and each operates a modern, efficient permit system. High new construction volume has pushed these cities to streamline residential permitting — most are faster than the Texas average.
Avg cost: $125–$400Processing: 2–4 weeksFastest-growing TX countyPlano/McKinney/Frisco
$125–$400Avg permit cost
2–4 weeksProcessing time
~28,000Permits/year
PartialADU-friendly
Ready to apply for your Collin County, Texas permit?
Apply through your specific city's permit portal. Plano, McKinney, Frisco, and Allen each have separate online systems. Collin County government handles only the small unincorporated fringe.
Collin County, Texas Building Department Online permitting available
DepartmentCity of Plano Building Inspections
Phone(972) 941-7151
Address1520 Ave K, Plano, TX 75074
HoursMon–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm CT
Permit systemMyPlano / Energov online portal
Collin County has no significant unincorporated area — virtually all development is in incorporated cities. Plano is the most established city. McKinney is the county seat and one of the fastest-growing cities in Texas. Frisco has seen explosive commercial and residential growth. Allen and Murphy are fully built-out suburban cities.
Collin County is almost entirely incorporated — the county government issues very few building permits. Every significant city in the county (Plano, McKinney, Frisco, Allen, Garland partially, Murphy, Wylie) operates its own building department. There is minimal unincorporated Collin County land. Always contact your specific city.
Permit fees — Collin County, Texas 2026
| Permit type | Fee range | Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Construction | $600–$2,000 | 2–5 weeks | Collin County cities are among the fastest in Texas for new residential — high volume, efficient staff |
| Room Addition | $320–$750 | 2–3 weeks | Affluent market means high-quality additions; HOA approval often required before permit |
| Pool | $180–$450 | 2–3 weeks | Very high pool permit volume in affluent Collin County; most cities have streamlined the process |
| Roofing | $125–$300 | 1–2 days | Hail season drives volume; most Collin cities issue roofing permits same-day online |
| Electrical | $75–$175 | 1–2 days | High EV charger adoption — Tesla and other EV ownership very common in the county |
| HVAC / Mechanical | $75–$175 | 1–2 days | Like-for-like replacements often issued same-day; efficient systems in all major cities |
| ADU | $250–$600 | 2–4 weeks | ADU rules vary by city — Plano and McKinney allow; some smaller cities still restrictive |
| Solar | $75–$175 | 1–2 weeks | High solar adoption; SolarAPP+ accepted by most Collin cities |
| Fence | $50–$110 | 1–2 days | Simple process; HOA approval typically required before permit in most subdivisions |
| Deck / Patio | $90–$250 | 1–2 weeks | Covered patios very common; efficient permit process in all major Collin cities |
How to get a permit in Collin County, Texas
1
Identify your city in Collin County
Use the Collin Central Appraisal District site to confirm your city. Collin County has many cities and most have different portals, fees, and timelines.
2
Check HOA requirements first
Collin County's affluent subdivisions almost universally have HOAs. Most require HOA architectural committee approval before you apply for a city permit. Get HOA approval first to avoid rework.
3
Apply online through your city portal
Plano uses Energov, McKinney uses its own online system, Frisco uses Accela. All major Collin cities have full online permitting. Many simple permits are issued same-day.
4
Await plan review
Collin County cities are among the fastest plan reviewers in Texas. New construction in Frisco and McKinney can sometimes be approved in 2–3 weeks due to high staff-to-application ratios.
5
Schedule inspections
All major Collin cities offer online inspection scheduling. Frisco and McKinney have geographic inspection zones — confirm yours at permit issuance.
6
Final and HOA sign-off
Get your Certificate of Completion from the city, then notify your HOA. Many HOAs do a final inspection of their own before closing out their approval.
Jurisdictions within Collin County, Texas
Special zone requirements
Corporate Campus Zone
Legacy/Granite Park
Plano and Frisco's corporate campus corridors have special development overlays for office, retail, and mixed-use. Some residential adjacencies have height and setback requirements tied to corporate campus plans.
Flood Zone AE
Eastern creek corridors
Collin County creek corridors including Cottonwood Creek and Rowlett Creek have FEMA flood zones. New construction requires flood elevation compliance.
HOA Covenant Areas
Virtually all of county
Nearly every subdivision in Collin County has HOA deed restrictions that are often stricter than city codes for appearance, fencing, and structure types.
ETJ Expansion
Northern/eastern fringe
McKinney and Frisco are rapidly annexing unincorporated land. Properties in ETJ zones face future city regulations — check annexation status before purchasing or designing major projects.
Frequently asked questions — Collin County, Texas
Why is Collin County permitting faster than most Texas counties?
Collin County cities like Frisco, McKinney, and Plano process enormous volumes of new construction permits. This has forced them to staff up and streamline operations more than most Texas jurisdictions. All major cities have online permitting, electronic plan review, and online inspection scheduling — reducing friction at every step.
Do I need HOA approval before getting a city permit in Collin County?
Technically the city and HOA are separate processes, but practically — yes, get HOA approval first. Most Collin County HOAs require architectural committee approval for any exterior change or new structure. If you get a city permit and then the HOA rejects your design, you may need to redo plans and resubmit to the city. HOA approval first saves time.
Does Frisco still have land for new construction?
Frisco is one of the fastest-growing cities in the US but is approaching build-out in its western portions. New residential construction is increasingly moving to the northern fringe near Prosper and Celina. Frisco's infill redevelopment market is growing as older commercial areas are converted to mixed-use and residential.
Are ADUs allowed in Collin County cities?
It varies by city. Plano and McKinney have updated their ordinances to allow detached ADUs in most single-family districts. Frisco allows ADUs with certain size and design restrictions. Smaller cities like Murphy and Wylie may still have restrictive ADU rules. Check your specific city's zoning ordinance for current ADU regulations.
Sources: Collin Central Appraisal District · City of Plano/McKinney/Frisco fee schedules 2026 · IBC/IRC 2021 · FEMA NFHL · US Census Bureau BPS 2024 · Shovels.ai permit aggregator