Sealy, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Planning and Community Development Department, Building - Health - Code Enforcement

Street address

405 Main Street, Sealy, TX 77474

Phone

979-885-1669

Coverage

Applies within the City of Sealy city limits. Verify parcel location if a tract is near the city boundary or ETJ.

Online portal

City of Sealy Building and Inspection

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Sealy

Building permits include residential, commercial, accessory structures, signs, roofs, fences over 7 feet in height, MEP work, fire systems, pools and spas, commercial safety inspections, variance requests, multifamily licensing, and manufactured home placement and safety inspections. The ordinance set also requires permits for regulated electrical, plumbing, gas, and mechanical work.

Scope of work

Permit?

Ordinary minor construction, alteration, or repairs may be made without a permit upon approval of the building official, provided no inspection is required and the total valuation stays within the ordinance's minor-work standard

Exempt

Exempt Ordinary minor construction, alteration, or repairs may be made without a permit upon approval of the building official, provided no inspection is required and the total valuation stays within the ordinance's minor-work standard

Note: No single public exempt-work list was found on the building page.

Required documents

Permit application
Appropriate documents and plan review checklist materials
Residential and commercial plan review checklists
Permit-specific forms for building, mechanical, plumbing, sign, roof, swimming pool, and manufactured home work

Building code: 2018 IBC, 2018 IEBC, 2018 IRC, 2018 IMC, 2018 IPC, 2018 UPC, 2018 IPMC, 2018 IECC, 2018 IFC, 2018 IFGC, 2018 ISPSC, and 2017 NEC, with local amendments.
Owner-builder: Homeowners working on their own homestead and performing the work themselves are exempt from needing to be licensed by the city.
Contractor requirements: Sealy ordinance requires licensed maintenance and construction/trades personnel where state or local law regulates licensing; where state law or local ordinance does not regulate licensing, the contractor and/or trade personnel must provide the city a permit and license bond in the amount of $10,000. The city also charges a yearly contractor registration fee.

§ 03

Application process

Application → plan check → issuance → inspection → final

01

Download the correct application from the Sealy Document Center or Permit and License Applications page.
02

Submit the application for construction or repair with the appropriate supporting documents and plan review materials to the Planning Department at 405 Main Street.
03

City staff coordinates permit processing, while Bureau Veritas handles most residential and commercial inspections and CURT Services handles fire reviews and inspections.
04

Pay permit, contractor registration, and any applicable review fees.
05

Complete the required inspections through the city's coordinated inspection process.
06

Obtain certificate of occupancy or other final approval where required.

Source: Planning and Community Development Department, Building - Health - Code Enforcement ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Sealy building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$35.00 permit issuance fee. For commercial building permits, valuation under $1,000.00 without inspection is listed as no fee; with inspection, the schedule lists $30.00 plus permit issuance fee.

Plan check fee

Permit and inspection fees are embedded in the master fee schedule by permit type

Permit fee formula

New single-family and duplex residential construction is $0.70 per square foot, rounded up, plus the $35.00 permit issuance fee. Commercial building permits are valuation-based.

Trade permit fee

Separate trade permits have their own fee formulas

Reinspection fee

Contractor registration is $100.00 yearly. Reinspection fees are $75.00 for the first, second, and third reinspection under many permit categories. Fees are doubled if work begins before a valid permit is issued.

Penalty (no permit)

Fees are doubled if work begins before a valid permit is issued

Master fee schedule is approved by ordinance. Reinspection fees must be paid before reinspection.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

Planning Department (in-person)

Typical sequence: Permitting and inspections are coordinated through the Planning Department; third-party inspections are primarily performed by Bureau Veritas, with fire inspections by CURT Services. Application, plan review, permit issuance, staged trade and building inspections, then certificate of occupancy or final approval as applicable.

Source: Planning and Community Development Department, Building - Health - Code Enforcement ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Sealy permits

01 Do I need a building permit in Sealy, TX? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in Sealy, TX? ▸

Building permit fees in Sealy, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $35.00 permit issuance fee. For commercial building permits, valuation under $1,000.00 without inspection is listed as no fee; with inspection, the schedule lists $30.00 plus permit issuance fee.. Fees are calculated as: New single-family and duplex residential construction is $0.70 per square foot, rounded up, plus the $35.00 permit issuance fee. Commercial building permits are valuation-based.. Plan check fee: Permit and inspection fees are embedded in the master fee schedule by permit type.

03 How do I apply for a building permit in Sealy, TX? ▸

To apply for a building permit in Sealy, TX, follow these steps: 1. Download the correct application from the Sealy Document Center or Permit and License Applications page. 2. Submit the application for construction or repair with the appropriate supporting documents and plan review materials to the Planning Department at 405 Main Street. 3. City staff coordinates permit processing, while Bureau Veritas handles most residential and commercial inspections and CURT Services handles fire reviews and inspections. 4. Pay permit, contractor registration, and any applicable review fees. 5. Complete the required inspections through the city's coordinated inspection process. 6. Obtain certificate of occupancy or other final approval where required.

04 What work is exempt from building permits in Sealy, TX? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Sealy, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary minor construction, alteration, or repairs may be made without a permit upon approval of the building official, provided no inspection is required and the total valuation stays within the ordinance's minor-work standard. Note: No single public exempt-work list was found on the building page. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

05 How do I schedule a building inspection in Sealy, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Sealy, TX via: Planning Department.

last verified April 2026 source Planning and Community Development Department, Building - Health - Code Enforcement ↗ entry id permits/texas/austin/sealy-city

Report a correction

Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Planning and Community Development Department, Building - Health - Code Enforcement before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Sealy

Other jurisdictions in Austin County.