How much does a building permit cost in Caldwell, TX?

The minimum permit fee is $785.00. Fees are calculated as: Residential new construction plan review and inspection fee starts at $785.00 for 0 to 1,500 square feet, plus a $30.00 administrative fee. Commercial valuation-based fees start at $76.92 plus a $30.00 administrative fee for valuations from $1.00 to $10,000.00.. Plan check fee: Included within the city's plan review and inspection schedules. Separate commercial plan review and inspection schedules and residential plan review and inspection schedules are published..

How do I apply for a building permit in Caldwell, TX?

1. Confirm whether the property already has a 911 address and whether it is in the floodplain. 2. If a 911 address is needed, obtain the 911 Address Verification Letter and post a temporary address sign visible from the road before moving deeper into the permit process. 3. Review the city's adopted codes, applicable checklist, and plan review submittal requirements. 4. Submit the permit application and electronic plans through Cloudpermit or by sending an electronic copy of plans and the permit application to permits@caldwelltx.gov, depending on the application path the city directs you to use. 5. If the applicant is a contractor or trade contractor, complete contractor registration before permit issuance. The city requires contractor registration, proof of insurance, driver's license, and applicable professional licenses. 6. Wait for city plan review. The city states residential plan reviews usually take about 5 to 7 business days and commercial reviews about 21 business days. 7. After plans are approved, pay the invoiced plan review and permit fees. The city states fees are due before permit issuance. 8. Post the issued permit on site, begin construction within 180 days, and request inspections through Bureau Veritas and, for certain public works items, through the city. 9. Obtain the required final inspection and, where applicable, Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy or use.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Caldwell, TX?

Inspections can be scheduled via: Bureau Veritas, permits@caldwelltx.gov. Inspection requests received by Bureau Veritas by 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, are scheduled for the next business day..

City Building Permits

Caldwell, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Caldwell, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

Texas Burleson County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Applies within the City of Caldwell. Floodplain questions inside Caldwell city limits are handled through the city rather than the county.

Department: Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services
Address: 107 S. Hill St., Caldwell, TX 77836
Phone: 979-567-3271 ext. 400
Email: permits@caldwelltx.gov
Website: https://www.caldwelltx.gov/permits/

Online Permit Portal

Open Cloudpermit

Platform: Cloudpermit • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online or in-person

Additional resources:

Application Process

Confirm whether the property already has a 911 address and whether it is in the floodplain.
If a 911 address is needed, obtain the 911 Address Verification Letter and post a temporary address sign visible from the road before moving deeper into the permit process.
Review the city's adopted codes, applicable checklist, and plan review submittal requirements.
Submit the permit application and electronic plans through Cloudpermit or by sending an electronic copy of plans and the permit application to permits@caldwelltx.gov, depending on the application path the city directs you to use.
If the applicant is a contractor or trade contractor, complete contractor registration before permit issuance. The city requires contractor registration, proof of insurance, driver's license, and applicable professional licenses.
Wait for city plan review. The city states residential plan reviews usually take about 5 to 7 business days and commercial reviews about 21 business days.
After plans are approved, pay the invoiced plan review and permit fees. The city states fees are due before permit issuance.
Post the issued permit on site, begin construction within 180 days, and request inspections through Bureau Veritas and, for certain public works items, through the city.
Obtain the required final inspection and, where applicable, Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy or use.

Typical processing time: Residential plan review approximately 5 to 7 business days; commercial plan review approximately 21 business days; trade and other permits vary by project.

Source: Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services

General Requirements

Caldwell's adopted codes require permits for work regulated by the city's building, residential, plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical, electrical, fire, and related code program. The city also states a building permit is required for any alteration or construction work and requires a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy of new residential buildings and before various nonresidential uses and changes.

Required Documents

Permit application
Electronic building plans
City checklist for the project type
Contractor registration materials where applicable
911 address verification letter and posted temporary address where applicable
Floodplain materials if the parcel is in the floodplain

Permit validity: Work must begin within 180 days after permit issuance. At least one building inspection must occur during each 180-day period after issuance or the work is considered abandoned and a new permit with new review and fees is required.
Building code: Ordinance No. 1-21-2025-A, passed January 21, 2025, adopts the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 International Fire Code, and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Owner-builder: No separate public owner-builder summary was found in the materials reviewed.
Contractor requirements: Contractors and subcontractors are required to register before obtaining permits. The permit applications require registration materials including driver's license, certificate of liability insurance, and applicable professional licenses. Ordinance No. 1-21-2025-A also added contractor registration provisions to the city's technical code program.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: $785.00
Plan check fee: Included within the city's plan review and inspection schedules. Separate commercial plan review and inspection schedules and residential plan review and inspection schedules are published.
Permit fee formula: Residential new construction plan review and inspection fee starts at $785.00 for 0 to 1,500 square feet, plus a $30.00 administrative fee. Commercial valuation-based fees start at $76.92 plus a $30.00 administrative fee for valuations from $1.00 to $10,000.00.
Trade permit fee: Valuation-based per the city fee schedule
Reinspection fee: $40.00 per building re-inspection under the residential schedule
Penalty (no permit): Investigation fee for unpermitted or unsafe construction per master fee schedule
Payment note: The city states payment of the plan review and permit fee is due at the time of invoice issuance, after the application is complete and plans have been reviewed and approved. Fees must be paid before permit issuance.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Current fee schedule).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Bureau Veritas (phone)
permits@caldwelltx.gov (email)

Scheduling deadline: Inspection requests received by Bureau Veritas by 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, are scheduled for the next business day.
Inspection hours: Monday-Friday, excluding holidays
Time windows: Fire protection inspections should be allowed about three business days. Certificate of Occupancy inspections require the space or building to be open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the inspection day.

Typical inspection sequence: The city publishes a typical sequence including temporary pole, water service, yard sewer, gas underground, plumbing rough-in, form board survey, foundation pre-pour, electrical rough-in, mechanical rough-in, plumbing top-out, gas rough-in, frame inspection, insulation, electric meter inspection, plumbing final, gas final and release, electrical final, energy final, mechanical final, and building final or Certificate of Occupancy inspection.

Additional Resources

Building code: Ordinance No. 1-21-2025-A, passed January 21, 2025, adopts the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Existing Building Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, 2021 International Fire Code, and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Zoning information: View zoning info
Permits Page
Floodplain Development
Master Fee Schedule
2025 Code Adoption Ordinance
License lookup guide: Texas Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: Texas Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
Texas hub: Texas Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

Caldwell Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Caldwell, TX?: Caldwell's adopted codes require permits for work regulated by the city's building, residential, plumbing, fuel gas, mechanical, electrical, fire, and related code program. The city also states a building permit is required for any alteration or construction work and requires a Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy of new residential buildings and before various nonresidential uses and changes.
How much does a building permit cost in Caldwell, TX?: The minimum permit fee is $785.00. Fees are calculated as: Residential new construction plan review and inspection fee starts at $785.00 for 0 to 1,500 square feet, plus a $30.00 administrative fee. Commercial valuation-based fees start at $76.92 plus a $30.00 administrative fee for valuations from $1.00 to $10,000.00.. Plan check fee: Included within the city's plan review and inspection schedules. Separate commercial plan review and inspection schedules and residential plan review and inspection schedules are published..
How do I apply for a building permit in Caldwell, TX?: 1. Confirm whether the property already has a 911 address and whether it is in the floodplain. 2. If a 911 address is needed, obtain the 911 Address Verification Letter and post a temporary address sign visible from the road before moving deeper into the permit process. 3. Review the city's adopted codes, applicable checklist, and plan review submittal requirements. 4. Submit the permit application and electronic plans through Cloudpermit or by sending an electronic copy of plans and the permit application to permits@caldwelltx.gov, depending on the application path the city directs you to use. 5. If the applicant is a contractor or trade contractor, complete contractor registration before permit issuance. The city requires contractor registration, proof of insurance, driver's license, and applicable professional licenses. 6. Wait for city plan review. The city states residential plan reviews usually take about 5 to 7 business days and commercial reviews about 21 business days. 7. After plans are approved, pay the invoiced plan review and permit fees. The city states fees are due before permit issuance. 8. Post the issued permit on site, begin construction within 180 days, and request inspections through Bureau Veritas and, for certain public works items, through the city. 9. Obtain the required final inspection and, where applicable, Certificate of Occupancy or Completion before occupancy or use.
How long does it take to get a building permit in Caldwell, TX?: Typical processing time is Residential plan review approximately 5 to 7 business days; commercial plan review approximately 21 business days; trade and other permits vary by project..
How do I schedule a building inspection in Caldwell, TX?: Inspections can be scheduled via: Bureau Veritas, permits@caldwelltx.gov. Inspection requests received by Bureau Veritas by 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding holidays, are scheduled for the next business day..

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from the permit authority listed above. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.

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