City Building Permits
Bowie, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Bowie, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Bowie operates a full municipal permit and inspection program for residential and non-residential work inside city limits.
- Department
- Building Permits and Inspections
- Address
- 307 N. Mason St., Bowie, TX 76230
- Phone
- 940-872-1114 ext. 131
Online Permit Portal
Platform: CivicPlus • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Identify the permit type from the city permit application page and complete the applicable application or registration form.
- Submit permit documents and fees to the city. Complete submittal documents are needed to expedite review.
- If plan review is required, Bureau Veritas performs residential and commercial plan review and contacts the applicant if revisions are needed.
- Pay permit and any plan review fees.
- Schedule inspections with the city or Bureau Veritas, depending on the inspection type.
- Complete required inspections and obtain final approval and certificate of occupancy when applicable.
Typical processing time: No general permit issuance timeline posted. Next-business-day inspections are available if city inspection requests are submitted by 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and Bureau Veritas inspection requests by 4:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Source: Building Permits and Inspections
General Requirements
Bowie requires permits for residential building, non-residential building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, moving, demolition, fire protection, and curb/street cut work.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application or registration form
- Permit documents as specified for the permit type
- Applicable fees
- Permit validity
- No public general building permit expiration rule was located.
- Building code
- 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Existing Building Code, 2018 International Fire Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, and 2017 National Electric Code
- Contractor requirements
- Bowie requires contractor registration. Annual building contractor license fee is $35.00 and requires either a contractor bond with a $20,000 minimum or a $300,000 minimum general liability policy.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Residential accessory structure permit $35.00; fence permit $20.00; non-residential valuation fee schedule starts at $25.00 for $1,000 and less
- Plan check fee
- Equal to the building permit fee when plan review is required
- Permit fee formula
- Mixed. Residential permits are mostly flat fees. Non-residential building permits use a valuation schedule.
- Trade permit fee
- Flat fees for moving, demolition, certificate of occupancy, curb/street cut, and fire protection permits
- Reinspection fee
- $25.00 each
- Penalty (no permit)
- Work started before permit issuance is charged at double permit fees
- Payment note
- Permit documents and fees are submitted to the city; no dedicated online permit-payment workflow was clearly described
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Building Permits and Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- City: 940-872-1114 ext. 131 (phone)
- Bureau Veritas: 817-335-8111 or 877-837-8775 (phone)
- Scheduling deadline
- City inspection requests must be submitted by 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday for next-business-day inspections. Bureau Veritas requests must be submitted by 4:00 PM Monday through Friday for next-business-day inspections.
Typical inspection sequence: Submittal, plan review if required, permit issuance, trade and building inspections, and final approval or certificate of occupancy as applicable
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2018 International Building Code, 2018 International Existing Building Code, 2018 International Fire Code, 2018 International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 International Mechanical Code, 2018 International Plumbing Code, 2018 International Residential Code, 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, and 2017 National Electric Code
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Building Permits and Inspections
- Directory
- 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 Building Permits and Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bowie Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Bowie, TX?
- Bowie requires permits for residential building, non-residential building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, moving, demolition, fire protection, and curb/street cut work.
- How much does a building permit cost in Bowie, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is Residential accessory structure permit $35.00; fence permit $20.00; non-residential valuation fee schedule starts at $25.00 for $1,000 and less. Fees are calculated as: Mixed. Residential permits are mostly flat fees. Non-residential building permits use a valuation schedule.. Plan check fee: Equal to the building permit fee when plan review is required.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Bowie, TX?
- 1. Identify the permit type from the city permit application page and complete the applicable application or registration form. 2. Submit permit documents and fees to the city. Complete submittal documents are needed to expedite review. 3. If plan review is required, Bureau Veritas performs residential and commercial plan review and contacts the applicant if revisions are needed. 4. Pay permit and any plan review fees. 5. Schedule inspections with the city or Bureau Veritas, depending on the inspection type. 6. Complete required inspections and obtain final approval and certificate of occupancy when applicable.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Bowie, TX?
- Typical processing time is No general permit issuance timeline posted. Next-business-day inspections are available if city inspection requests are submitted by 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday, and Bureau Veritas inspection requests by 4:00 PM Monday through Friday..
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Bowie, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: City: 940-872-1114 ext. 131, Bureau Veritas: 817-335-8111 or 877-837-8775. City inspection requests must be submitted by 5:00 PM Monday through Thursday for next-business-day inspections. Bureau Veritas requests must be submitted by 4:00 PM Monday through Friday for next-business-day inspections..
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