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§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Bandera
Building permits required for commercial new construction, additions, and major remodeling. Listed mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and irrigation work requires a permit and inspection. Residential permits cover additions, accessory buildings, demolition, electrical, foundation, HVAC, irrigation, mechanical, patios, plumbing, portable buildings, remodels, retaining walls over 4 feet, roofs, solar panels, swimming pools, and window replacement.
Emergency repairs (permit application submitted by next working business day)
Cabinetry
Carports not attached to a building
Countertops
Door replacement without framing changes
Exterior trim board replacement
Residential fences no higher than 7 feet
Fixture replacement
Flooring such as tile, carpet, wood, and vinyl
Painting and papering
Window reglazing, minor repairs, and pane or seal replacement
Minor electrical repair work including lamp replacement and connecting approved portable equipment to approved receptacles
Temporary systems for testing or servicing electrical equipment
Patios only if not attached to the house and not covered or enclosed
Portable heating appliances and minor gas-part replacement that does not alter approval or safety
HVAC repairs and certain listed minor mechanical work
Residential portable buildings smaller than 200 square feet unless plumbed or wired
Residential alarm/security system installation
Garage sales and garage sale signs, subject to the city's restrictions
Minor landscaping projects
Retaining walls under 4 feet that do not support a surcharge or impound regulated liquids
Shadecloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes on residential property
Grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons meeting published dimensional limits
Certain window awnings for Group R-3 and U occupancies
- Exempt Emergency repairs (permit application submitted by next working business day)
- Exempt Cabinetry
- Exempt Carports not attached to a building
- Exempt Countertops
- Exempt Door replacement without framing changes
- Exempt Exterior trim board replacement
- Exempt Residential fences no higher than 7 feet
- Exempt Fixture replacement
- Exempt Flooring such as tile, carpet, wood, and vinyl
- Exempt Painting and papering
- Exempt Window reglazing, minor repairs, and pane or seal replacement
- Exempt Minor electrical repair work including lamp replacement and connecting approved portable equipment to approved receptacles
- Exempt Temporary systems for testing or servicing electrical equipment
- Exempt Patios only if not attached to the house and not covered or enclosed
- Exempt Portable heating appliances and minor gas-part replacement that does not alter approval or safety
- Exempt HVAC repairs and certain listed minor mechanical work
- Exempt Residential portable buildings smaller than 200 square feet unless plumbed or wired
- Exempt Residential alarm/security system installation
- Exempt Garage sales and garage sale signs, subject to the city's restrictions
- Exempt Minor landscaping projects
- Exempt Retaining walls under 4 feet that do not support a surcharge or impound regulated liquids
- Exempt Shadecloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes on residential property
- Exempt Grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons meeting published dimensional limits
- Exempt Certain window awnings for Group R-3 and U occupancies
Note: Confirm edge cases with the City of Bandera Permitting office before proceeding.
Required documents
- Completed permit application
- Construction documents
- Contractor registration form and supporting documents (if contractor not already registered)
- Copies of state-issued ID and state licenses if applicable
- Certificates of liability insurance
- Additional floodplain documents if site is in the floodplain
- Texas Historical Commission approval if property is a registered historic building
- Building code
- 2018 International Building Code for commercial work and 2018 IRC for residential work, plus local amendments in City of Bandera Code of Ordinances Chapter 3 for 2018 IBC, 2018 IRC, 2017 NEC, and related 2018 model codes (IPC, IMC, IFGC, IEBC, ISPSC).
- Permit validity
- Permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement.
- Owner-builder
- Property owners may perform listed work themselves without needing to register as contractors.
- Contractor requirements
- All contractors must be registered with the City of Bandera. Registration requires completed contractor registration form, copies of state-issued ID, state licenses if applicable, and certificates of liability insurance. Annual contractor registration fee is $50.
Source: Permitting, City of Bandera ↗
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: At least 10 business days for plan-reviewed projects. Same-day issuance is not guaranteed. Applications submitted after 3:00 PM are not processed until the next business day.
- 01 Confirm the property is inside Bandera city limits and identify the parcel's place type and character district from the city's planning and zoning materials.
- 02 For new construction, additions, and major remodels or renovations, request the required pre-application meeting before formal submittal.
- 03 Submit a complete permit application with construction documents and any applicable fees. Contractors must be registered with the city before permit issuance.
- 04 City staff reviews the submittal, assigns a permit number, and routes plan-reviewed projects to third-party review as necessary.
- 05 If comments are issued, provide corrections or clarifications. Allow at least 10 business days for plan-reviewed projects.
- 06 After approval, the contractor on record picks up the permit, signs for it, and pays the permit fee before work starts.
- 07 Post the permit on site, schedule interim inspections as required, and obtain the final inspection before project closeout.
Typical processing time: At least 10 business days for plan-reviewed projects. Same-day issuance is not guaranteed. Applications submitted after 3:00 PM are not processed until the next business day.
Source: Permitting, City of Bandera ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Effective 2024-2025
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$25 for some residential items under 75 sq ft; $50 for other residential permits; $75 for some commercial items; $100 for other commercial permits
02
Plan check fee
Third-party actual cost for plan review
03
Permit fee formula
New residential homes: $0.60 per square foot. New commercial buildings, additions, and remodels: $0.75 per square foot. Residential additions/remodels: $50 per trade. Many smaller trade items are flat-fee or inspection-fee based.
04
Trade permit fee
Residential additions/remodels $50 per trade
05
Reinspection fee
Not clearly published in public city fee schedule
06
Penalty (no permit)
Work done without a permit: 2x the original permit fee. Multiple offenses may result in contractor being barred from working in the city for up to 6 months.
Work cannot start until the permit has been paid for, signed, and picked up. Permit fees are collected when the permit is issued.
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2024-2025) before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- 830-522-3126 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- No specific inspection window published. Inspections performed by the Building Inspector.
Typical sequence: Interim inspections as required by the scope of work, followed by a final inspection upon completion. Permits must remain posted until work is complete and final inspection has passed.
Source: Permitting, City of Bandera ↗
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about Bandera permits
01 Do I need a building permit in Bandera, TX? ▸
Building permits required for commercial new construction, additions, and major remodeling. Listed mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and irrigation work requires a permit and inspection. Residential permits cover additions, accessory buildings, demolition, electrical, foundation, HVAC, irrigation, mechanical, patios, plumbing, portable buildings, remodels, retaining walls over 4 feet, roofs, solar panels, swimming pools, and window replacement.
02 How much does a building permit cost in Bandera, TX? ▸
Building permit fees in Bandera, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $25 for some residential items under 75 sq ft; $50 for other residential permits; $75 for some commercial items; $100 for other commercial permits. Fees are calculated as: New residential homes: $0.60 per square foot. New commercial buildings, additions, and remodels: $0.75 per square foot. Residential additions/remodels: $50 per trade. Many smaller trade items are flat-fee or inspection-fee based.. Plan check fee: Third-party actual cost for plan review.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in Bandera, TX? ▸
To apply for a building permit in Bandera, TX, follow these steps: 1. Confirm the property is inside Bandera city limits and identify the parcel's place type and character district from the city's planning and zoning materials. 2. For new construction, additions, and major remodels or renovations, request the required pre-application meeting before formal submittal. 3. Submit a complete permit application with construction documents and any applicable fees. Contractors must be registered with the city before permit issuance. 4. City staff reviews the submittal, assigns a permit number, and routes plan-reviewed projects to third-party review as necessary. 5. If comments are issued, provide corrections or clarifications. Allow at least 10 business days for plan-reviewed projects. 6. After approval, the contractor on record picks up the permit, signs for it, and pays the permit fee before work starts. 7. Post the permit on site, schedule interim inspections as required, and obtain the final inspection before project closeout.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Bandera, TX? ▸
Building permit processing times in Bandera, TX typically run At least 10 business days for plan-reviewed projects. Same-day issuance is not guaranteed. Applications submitted after 3:00 PM are not processed until the next business day.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in Bandera, TX? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in Bandera, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Emergency repairs (permit application submitted by next working business day); Cabinetry; Carports not attached to a building; Countertops; Door replacement without framing changes; Exterior trim board replacement; Residential fences no higher than 7 feet; Fixture replacement; Flooring such as tile, carpet, wood, and vinyl; Painting and papering; Window reglazing, minor repairs, and pane or seal replacement; Minor electrical repair work including lamp replacement and connecting approved portable equipment to approved receptacles; Temporary systems for testing or servicing electrical equipment; Patios only if not attached to the house and not covered or enclosed; Portable heating appliances and minor gas-part replacement that does not alter approval or safety; HVAC repairs and certain listed minor mechanical work; Residential portable buildings smaller than 200 square feet unless plumbed or wired; Residential alarm/security system installation; Garage sales and garage sale signs, subject to the city's restrictions; Minor landscaping projects; Retaining walls under 4 feet that do not support a surcharge or impound regulated liquids; Shadecloth structures for nursery or agricultural purposes on residential property; Grade-supported water tanks up to 5,000 gallons meeting published dimensional limits; Certain window awnings for Group R-3 and U occupancies. Note: Confirm edge cases with the City of Bandera Permitting office before proceeding. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Bandera, TX? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Bandera, TX via: 830-522-3126.
last verified April 2026
source Permitting, City of Bandera ↗
entry id permits/texas/bandera/bandera-city
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Permitting, City of Bandera before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.