Somerville, TX — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville

Street address

150 8th Street, Somerville, TX 77879

Phone

979-596-1122

permittingcos@somervilletx.gov

Coverage

Applies within the City of Somerville. Burleson County's permit page directs city residents to Somerville for floodplain information rather than the county.

Online portal

Permits Page

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Somerville

The city fee schedule states permits are required for new construction, including placement of manufactured homes and certain accessory buildings, alterations or additions to existing buildings or structures, demolitions, and relocation of buildings. The city states permits are not required for ordinary repairs or minor work as defined in the adopted codes.

Scope of work

Permit?

Ordinary repairs or minor work as defined in the adopted codes

Exempt

Exempt Ordinary repairs or minor work as defined in the adopted codes

Note: No broader standalone public exempt-work list was found beyond the city's statement tying exemptions to ordinary repairs or minor work under the adopted codes.

Required documents

Building permit application
Dimensional site plan
Property lines, easements, setbacks, and existing and proposed structures
Existing and proposed floor plan if altering
Scope of work and inspector requirements
Trade permit applications where applicable

Building code: The city's 2023 fee schedule states Somerville's building codes are the 2018 editions of the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Energy Conservation Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fire Code, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, and International Existing Building Code, plus the 2017 National Electrical Code.
Permit validity: The building permit application states the permit becomes null and void if work does not commence within 180 days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after commencement.
Owner-builder: No separate public owner-builder summary was found in the reviewed materials.
Contractor requirements: The fee schedule states any person, firm, or corporation performing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or fire protection services must hold the appropriate unexpired Texas license and meet state and city insurance requirements. All contractors must provide proof of insurance to the city in the amount of at least $300,000.00.

Source: Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville ↗

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Minimum 10 business days for plan review and resubmittals, according to the building permit application. SafeBuilt inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and are only available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

01

Contact the city permit office or download the applicable permit form from the city permit page.
02

Prepare the permit package. The building permit application requires a dimensional site plan, all property lines, easements and setbacks, all existing and proposed structures including paving, existing and proposed floor plans if altering, scope of work, and attached inspector requirements.
03

Submit the application to the city permit office. The city lists Melissa Williams as the contact and states applications can also be picked up at City Hall.
04

Allow at least ten business days for plan review. The building permit form states that resubmittals are subject to the same timeframe.
05

Pay the applicable base permit fee, plan review fee, permit fee, and any trade permit fees. The city states no paid fees will be refunded or transferred.
06

Post the permit at the jobsite, complete all required trade and building inspections, and schedule inspections through SafeBuilt at least 24 hours in advance.
07

Obtain final approval before occupancy. The city fee schedule and permit forms indicate that separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas permits may also be required.

Typical processing time: Minimum 10 business days for plan review and resubmittals, according to the building permit application. SafeBuilt inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and are only available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Source: Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Effective 2023

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$25.00

Plan check fee

$75.00 residential plan check fee. Commercial plan review fees are valuation-based, starting at $50.00 for valuations from $1.00 to $10,000.00 and increasing from there.

Permit fee formula

Somerville uses a mixed fee model. Residential fees are flat or square-foot based depending on project type, with a separate base fee and inspection fee. Commercial work uses both project-type fees and valuation-based plan review fees. The fee schedule says all building permit fees consist of a basic fee, inspection fees, and a calculated amount tied to project size or complexity.

Trade permit fee

Separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas permits may be required

Reinspection fee

Re-inspection fee is $50.00, second inspection $75.00, third inspection $100.00.

Penalty (no permit)

Work started before permit issuance may be charged double the total fee and all work must cease until the permit is issued.

The city accepts after-hours payments through a 24/7 drop box outside City Hall and asks applicants to include name, project address, and permit number with payments. The building permit application states paid fees will not be refunded or transferred.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ (effective 2023) before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

SafeBuilt (Third-party Inspection Service) (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance through the city or the city's stated inspection service workflow.
Inspection hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays only. No inspections available on City Hall holidays.

Typical sequence: The city publicly confirms required inspections through SafeBuilt and separate trade permits for electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, or air conditioning. A full city-published inspection sequence was not found in the reviewed materials.

Source: Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville ↗

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about Somerville permits

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

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

Building permit fees in Somerville, TX are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $25.00. Fees are calculated as: Somerville uses a mixed fee model. Residential fees are flat or square-foot based depending on project type, with a separate base fee and inspection fee. Commercial work uses both project-type fees and valuation-based plan review fees. The fee schedule says all building permit fees consist of a basic fee, inspection fees, and a calculated amount tied to project size or complexity.. Plan check fee: $75.00 residential plan check fee. Commercial plan review fees are valuation-based, starting at $50.00 for valuations from $1.00 to $10,000.00 and increasing from there..

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

To apply for a building permit in Somerville, TX, follow these steps: 1. Contact the city permit office or download the applicable permit form from the city permit page. 2. Prepare the permit package. The building permit application requires a dimensional site plan, all property lines, easements and setbacks, all existing and proposed structures including paving, existing and proposed floor plans if altering, scope of work, and attached inspector requirements. 3. Submit the application to the city permit office. The city lists Melissa Williams as the contact and states applications can also be picked up at City Hall. 4. Allow at least ten business days for plan review. The building permit form states that resubmittals are subject to the same timeframe. 5. Pay the applicable base permit fee, plan review fee, permit fee, and any trade permit fees. The city states no paid fees will be refunded or transferred. 6. Post the permit at the jobsite, complete all required trade and building inspections, and schedule inspections through SafeBuilt at least 24 hours in advance. 7. Obtain final approval before occupancy. The city fee schedule and permit forms indicate that separate electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and fuel gas permits may also be required.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in Somerville, TX? ▸

Building permit processing times in Somerville, TX typically run Minimum 10 business days for plan review and resubmittals, according to the building permit application. SafeBuilt inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance and are only available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in Somerville, TX? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in Somerville, TX. The following work is generally exempt: Ordinary repairs or minor work as defined in the adopted codes. Note: No broader standalone public exempt-work list was found beyond the city's statement tying exemptions to ordinary repairs or minor work under the adopted codes. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in Somerville, TX? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in Somerville, TX via: SafeBuilt (Third-party Inspection Service). Inspections must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance through the city or the city's stated inspection service workflow..

last verified April 2026 source Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville ↗ entry id permits/texas/burleson/somerville

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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Building and Manufactured Home Permits, City of Somerville before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

City of Somerville

Other jurisdictions in Burleson County.