In most Texas cities, you need a permit before repairing structural, roofing, electrical, plumbing or gas damage after a fire, leak or flood. Cosmetic finish work, such as paint, flooring, tile, cabinets and countertops, often doesn’t need one. The details differ by city, so check yours before the rebuild starts.
This guide compares what each city we cover says on its own website. It lists the permit office number and how to get the fire report for your insurance claim. If you need a restoration company, call (855) 727-0147 and we’ll connect you with an independent company that serves your area.
Key points
- Repairs to the structure or its systems usually need a permit. Sugar Land, Pearland, Frisco and Georgetown all say permits apply to repair work, not just new construction.
- Finish work is often exempt. McKinney and Georgetown both list painting, tiling, flooring, cabinets and countertops as work that doesn’t need a permit.
- Houston adds a step for fire damage. A city fire damage inspection comes before the residential fire damage repair permit.
- Floodplain homes follow the 50% rule. If repairs reach about half of the home’s market value, the building may have to meet current floodplain rules, which can mean elevating it.
- Fire reports are usually public records. Most cities handle them through a public information request. A few, like Southlake, take requests by phone.
Permit rules by city
Each row links to the official page we checked. Rules and phone numbers change, so confirm with the city before work starts.
Houston area
| City | Repair permits and fire reports |
|---|---|
| Houston | A fire damage inspection by Structural Inspections (832-394-8840) comes before a residential fire damage repair permit (Houston Permitting Center). Permit office: 832-394-9000 Fire report: HFD records office, 832-394-6860, or the GOVQA portal (HFD) |
| Harris County, outside city limits | Repair permits go through the county permit office (Harris County Engineering). Permit office: 713-274-3900 Fire report: Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office, (713) 274-7000 |
| Sugar Land | A permit is required to alter, repair, replace or remove parts of a structure. Applications are online only (City FAQ). Permit office: 281-275-2270 Fire report: City Clerk, as an open records request, 281-275-2730 (City FAQ) |
| Pearland | Permits cover repairing an existing structure and electrical, plumbing or mechanical work (City of Pearland). Permit office: 281-652-1638 Fire report: Request for Public Information through the City Secretary (Fire FAQ) |
| League City | Permits are applied for and tracked in the city’s online permit portal (Building). Permit office: 281-554-1429 Fire report: Public information request, or the Fire Marshal’s Office at 281-554-1290 (Fire Marshal) |
| Katy | Permits are required for all new construction, remodeling and roofing, plus HVAC, electrical, plumbing and water heaters (City of Katy). Permit office: 281-391-4830 Fire report: Fire Marshal’s Office, 281-391-4080 (City of Katy) |
Dallas–Fort Worth area
| City | Repair permits and fire reports |
|---|---|
| Frisco | A permit application is required before work to modify, repair or replace. Contractors must be registered with the city first (City FAQ). Permit office: 972-292-5301 Fire report: Public information request through the city |
| McKinney | Permits for reroofing, window replacement, foundation repair, water heaters and stand-alone electrical, plumbing or mechanical work. None for painting, flooring, tile, cabinets or countertops (City of McKinney). Permit office: 469-617-4800 Fire report: Ask the Fire Marshal’s Office, 972-547-2862 (City FAQ) |
| Flower Mound | Permits for roof replacement, foundation repair, water heaters and water or sewer line repairs (Town guidelines). Emergency permits are reviewed within 24 hours (Emergency permits). Permit office: 972-874-6355 Fire report: Public Information Request Center or records@flowermound.gov (Town of Flower Mound) |
| Southlake | Ask Building Inspections, or use the Southlake Serves portal, before work starts (City of Southlake). Permit office: 817-748-8236 Fire report: Call the Fire Marshal’s Office, 817-748-8671 (City of Southlake) |
Austin area
| City | Repair permits and fire reports |
|---|---|
| Austin | Permits are generally required for repairs after fire and smoke, water and plumbing, electrical and gas line damage. Painting and small drywall repairs are often exempt (City of Austin). Permit office: 512-974-1500 Fire report: City of Austin Public Records Center (Austin Fire Department) |
| Leander | Call the residential permit line before repair work (City of Leander). Permit office: 512-528-2962 Fire report: Ask the Fire Marshal’s Office, 512-528-2983 (Leander Fire) |
| Cedar Park | Call Development Services before repair work (City of Cedar Park). Permit office: 512-401-5100 Fire report: Ask the Fire Prevention Division, 512-401-5200 (Cedar Park Fire) |
| Georgetown | A permit is needed to alter or repair a building or its electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems. Finish work and leak repairs are exempt (City of Georgetown). Permit office: Online permit determination request Fire report: Fire Support Services, 512-930-3473, or a public information request (City of Georgetown) |
Brazos Valley
| City | Repair permits and fire reports |
|---|---|
| Bryan | Building permits and inspections go through Development Services and the CitizenServe portal (City of Bryan). Permit office: 979-209-5030 Fire report: Fire Marshal’s Office, 979-209-5960 option 1, or an open records request (Bryan Fire) |
| College Station | Remodels, roofing, foundation work and water heaters need permits. Gas piping repairs need a plumbing permit (City of College Station). Permit office: 979-764-3570 Fire report: Public Records Center or pubrequest@cstx.gov (City of College Station) |
| Navasota | Building permits go through Development Services and the CitizenServe portal (City of Navasota). Permit office: (936) 825-2961, ext. 5021 Fire report: Navasota Fire Department, (936) 825-7388 (City of Navasota) |
| Caldwell | Permits are required before construction begins and must stay posted at the site (City of Caldwell). Permit office: permits@caldwelltx.gov Fire report: Caldwell Fire & Rescue, 979-567-3271, ext. 600 (City of Caldwell) |
What work usually doesn’t need a permit?
Cities that publish exemption lists tend to agree on the basics. These come from McKinney, Georgetown and Austin:
- Painting, wallpaper, tile, carpet and other flooring (McKinney; Georgetown).
- Cabinets and countertops (McKinney).
- Repairing minor leaks without removing, replacing or relocating pipe, and swapping toilets or faucets in the same spot (McKinney).
- Clearing stoppages and repairing leaks in pipes, valves or fixtures (Georgetown).
- Small drywall repairs, in Austin’s case (City of Austin).
Replacing a water heater, rewiring, reroofing, foundation repair and structural work generally do need permits in the cities above. When in doubt, call the permit office before work starts.
Floodplain homes and the 50% rule
If your home is in a mapped floodplain, repair permits come with one more check. When repair costs reach about half of the building’s market value, the home may have to be brought up to current floodplain rules.
- Houston: floodplain homes must contact the Floodplain Management Office (832-394-8854) before any repairs. A substantially damaged building won’t get a repair permit until it is elevated (Houston Permitting Center).
- Pearland: a permit is required for floodplain work, and repairs costing more than 50% of market value trigger floodplain compliance (City of Pearland).
- Sugar Land: buildings from before 1975 lose grandfathered status once repairs reach 50% of market value (City of Sugar Land).
- League City: substantially damaged structures must be brought into compliance. Increased Cost of Compliance coverage on a flood policy can pay up to $30,000 toward elevating or floodproofing (City of League City).
- Bryan and College Station: both require a floodplain development permit for work in the floodplain and use a 50% substantial improvement threshold (Bryan; College Station).
Can repairs start before the permit?
Some cities offer faster routes when a home can’t be lived in. Flower Mound issues emergency electrical and plumbing permits when an occupied home is without power, gas, water or sewer. They are reviewed within 24 hours, and the Town notifies the utility after the inspection passes (Town of Flower Mound). Austin runs an emergency electrical inspection line at 512-974-2030.
Water extraction, drying and board-up are usually the first steps after damage. Ask the restoration company which parts of its scope need a permit in your city, and who will apply for it.
Frequently asked questions
In most cities, yes, for structural, roofing, electrical, plumbing or gas repairs. Houston adds a fire damage inspection before the repair permit. Cosmetic finish work is often exempt.
It depends on the city and the scope. Austin says small drywall repairs are often exempt. Larger repairs, or any work on wiring or plumbing behind the wall, usually need a permit.
Ask the restoration company or contractor whether it will apply. In Frisco, contractors must be registered with the city before a permit is issued.
Most Texas cities treat fire reports as public records, so you request them through a public information request. Some, like Southlake, take requests by phone.
If repairs to a floodplain home reach about half of its market value, the city may require it to meet current floodplain rules. That can mean elevating it.
Find help in your city
See our city pages for local phone numbers, utilities and first steps: Houston, Sugar Land, Pearland, League City, Katy, Frisco, McKinney, Flower Mound, Southlake, Austin, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Bryan, College Station, Navasota and Caldwell.