City of Caldwell

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.

Note: No standalone public exempt-work list was found on the city's current permit page or guidance PDF. Caldwell instead directs applicants to the adopted codes and project checklists.

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.

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.

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.

Source: Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services ↗

1. 01
   Confirm whether the property already has a 911 address and whether it is in the floodplain.
2. 02
   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. 03
   Review the city's adopted codes, applicable checklist, and plan review submittal requirements.
4. 04
   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. 05
   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. 06
   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. 07
   After plans are approved, pay the invoiced plan review and permit fees. The city states fees are due before permit issuance.
8. 08
   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. 09
   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 ↗

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 periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective Current fee schedule) before budgeting.

• 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 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.

Source: Planning & Development Department, Building and Inspection Services ↗