County building permit guide
Travis County, Texas building permits — complete guide (2026)
Travis County encompasses Austin and is ground zero for Texas's tech and population boom. Austin's permitting environment is the most complex in Texas — the city sits over the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, has a nationally recognized tree preservation ordinance, and processes more ADU permits per capita than almost any other Texas city. Austin has made major investments in streamlining permits since 2020 but still runs longer than most Texas jurisdictions for complex projects.
Avg cost: $175–$600Processing: 3–6 weeksEdwards Aquifer zoneADU capital of Texas
$175–$600Avg permit cost
3–6 weeksProcessing time
~28,000Permits/year
Yes — very ADU-friendlyADU-friendly
Ready to apply for your Travis County, Texas permit?
Apply through Austin's Development Services Department online portal. Travis County handles unincorporated areas separately. Check Austin's Permit Finder tool to determine your jurisdiction.
Travis County, Texas Building Department Online permitting available
DepartmentCity of Austin Development Services Dept
Phone(512) 978-4000
Address6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Austin, TX 78752
HoursMon–Fri 7:45am–4:45pm CT
Permit systemAustin Build + Connect online portal
The City of Austin Development Services covers incorporated Austin — a large and rapidly expanding area. Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources handles unincorporated Travis County. Cedar Park, Round Rock, Pflugerville, and other surrounding cities are in Travis and Williamson counties with their own systems.
Austin has unique environmental regulations found nowhere else in Texas: the Edwards Aquifer Protection Ordinance restricts impervious cover in recharge zones, the Heritage Tree Ordinance requires permits to remove trees over 19" diameter, and Watershed Protection regulations affect all drainage and grading. These can significantly affect your permit timeline and project design.
Permit fees — Travis County, Texas 2026
| Permit type | Fee range | Processing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ADU | $350–$900 | 2–5 weeks | Austin is the ADU capital of Texas — pre-approved plans available; streamlined since 2022 |
| New Construction | $900–$3,000 | 4–10 weeks | Complex environmental review possible; impervious cover limits apply throughout Austin |
| Room Addition | $450–$1,100 | 3–7 weeks | Tree review required if any tree over 19" diameter is affected; may add weeks |
| Pool | $250–$600 | 3–5 weeks | Impervious cover calculation critical — pools count toward lot coverage limits |
| Roofing | $175–$400 | 1–3 days | Straightforward in Austin; hail season drives volume in spring |
| Electrical | $100–$250 | 1–3 days | Austin Energy rebates for EV chargers; permit required for all new circuits |
| HVAC / Mechanical | $100–$280 | 1–3 days | Austin Energy rebates for efficient equipment; permits required for all replacements |
| Solar | $100–$280 | 1–2 weeks | SolarAPP+ accepted; Austin Energy rebate program drives high adoption rate |
| Tree Removal | $200–$500 | 2–4 weeks | Heritage tree (>19" diameter) removal requires separate arborist review and mitigation |
| Fence | $75–$175 | 1–5 days | Straightforward; impervious cover generally not counted for fences |
How to get a permit in Travis County, Texas
1
Check impervious cover limits for your property
Austin limits the percentage of your lot that can be covered by impervious surfaces (roofs, driveways, pools, patios). Check Austin's GIS map for your watershed and its impervious cover limit before designing any addition.
2
Verify tree preservation requirements
Austin's Heritage Tree Ordinance requires a permit and mitigation plan to remove or significantly impact any tree with a trunk diameter of 19 inches or more. This can affect project design and add 2–4 weeks to permitting.
3
Apply through Austin Build + Connect
Austin's online portal handles all permit applications. Upload plans, tree surveys (if applicable), and impervious cover calculations. The portal provides real-time status updates.
4
Environmental review if applicable
Projects in the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, critical water quality zones, or floodplains require additional review by Austin's Watershed Protection Department. Add 2–4 weeks for environmental review on affected projects.
5
Await plan review
Austin has worked to reduce plan review times since 2020. Standard residential additions now take 3–5 weeks. ADUs using pre-approved plans can be permitted in as little as 2 weeks.
6
Inspections and final
Austin offers online inspection scheduling. Environmental inspections may be required for grading and drainage in addition to standard building inspections.
Jurisdictions within Travis County, Texas
Special zone requirements
Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone
SW Travis County
Strict impervious cover limits and water quality protections apply. New construction may require water quality controls and compliance with Austin's SOS Ordinance.
Heritage Tree Zone
Citywide Austin
Trees with trunk diameter 19"+ are protected. Removal or critical root zone disturbance requires a permit and mitigation — often tree replacement at a 2:1 or 3:1 ratio.
Flood Zone AE/Floodway
Creeks and rivers
Austin has extensive creek systems — Barton Creek, Bull Creek, Shoal Creek. Floodplain development is heavily restricted and Watershed Protection review is required.
University Neighborhood
West Campus/UT
High-density overlay districts near UT Austin allow greater density and have streamlined mixed-use permitting compared to standard Austin residential zones.
Frequently asked questions — Travis County, Texas
Why does Austin permitting take longer than other Texas cities?
Austin has multiple layers of review beyond building code compliance: Watershed Protection review for drainage and impervious cover, Heritage Tree review for projects affecting large trees, and environmental review for properties near the Edwards Aquifer or creek corridors. Each layer adds time. Austin has been working to streamline since 2020 and ADU permits are now much faster.
What is impervious cover and why does it matter in Austin?
Impervious cover is any surface that prevents water from soaking into the ground — roofs, driveways, concrete patios, pools. Austin limits impervious cover by watershed to protect water quality and manage stormwater. Typical single-family lots are limited to 45–80% impervious cover. Adding a pool, addition, or large patio may push you over your limit and require mitigation.
How does Austin's ADU program work?
Austin is one of the most ADU-friendly cities in Texas. The city offers pre-approved ADU plans that can be permitted in as little as 2 weeks. Standard ADU permits take 2–5 weeks. Fees are moderate and the process is well-documented on Austin's website. Both attached and detached ADUs are allowed in most single-family zones.
What is the Heritage Tree Ordinance?
Austin's Heritage Tree Ordinance protects trees with a trunk diameter of 19 inches or more at standard measuring height. Removing or significantly impacting a heritage tree requires a separate arborist report, mitigation plan, and sometimes a public hearing. Mitigation typically involves planting replacement trees at a ratio of 2:1 or 3:1. This is unique to Austin in Texas.
Sources: City of Austin Development Services fee schedule 2026 · Travis County TNR · Edwards Aquifer Authority · IBC/IRC 2021 · FEMA NFHL · US Census Bureau BPS 2024 · Shovels.ai permit aggregator