City Building Permits
Shepherd, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Shepherd, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Texas San Jacinto County Updated March 2026
Permit Authority
All properties within the incorporated City of Shepherd. The city maintains an active municipal permit program for residential, commercial, and manufactured-home work, with plan review and inspections handled through Bureau Veritas and permit intake handled through the city.
- Department
- City of Shepherd
- Address
- 16 N. Liberty Street, Shepherd, TX 77371
- Phone
- (936) 628-3305
- permits@shepherdtx.org
- Website
- https://www.shepherdtx.org/
Application Process
- Determine whether the project is residential, commercial, or manufactured-home work and download the matching city packet from the permits page.
- Register any applicable trade contractor with the city by submitting a copy of the driver's license and state license.
- Prepare the permit submittal package. For commercial projects, submit readable electronic PDF plans plus site plans, grading, energy compliance, plan sets, and fire lane/fire suppression/fire alarm materials as applicable.
- Submit documents and fees to the city. Residential and commercial plan review is performed by Bureau Veritas.
- Respond to any plan review comments or revisions requested by Bureau Veritas.
- After permit issuance, request inspections from Bureau Veritas. Requests received by 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are performed the next business day.
- Complete required inspections and obtain a certificate of occupancy for commercial projects before the building is occupied.
Source: City of Shepherd
General Requirements
A building permit is required for new residential construction, residential remodel/addition, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, pools, fences, accessory buildings, commercial work, and manufactured homes within the City of Shepherd. Commercial occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy before the building is occupied.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Site plans
- Energy code compliance documentation
- Foundation plans (residential)
- House plans (residential)
- Driveway/drainage plans as applicable (residential)
- Parking lot layout (commercial)
- Grading plans (commercial)
- Multiple plan sets (commercial)
- Fire lane/fire suppression/fire alarm materials (commercial)
- Permit validity
- A permit becomes null and void if work is not commenced within 180 days, or if work is suspended or abandoned for 180 days after work begins.
- Building code
- The permit plan checklists expressly reference the IRC, IBC, and energy code compliance. The exact edition year should be confirmed from Ordinance #308 and related city records.
- Owner-builder
- The permit forms allow the applicant/owner or authorized agent to sign. No separate public owner-builder policy was found.
- Contractor requirements
- City contractor registration is required for listed trades including electrical, master/journeyman electrician, master sign electrician, HVAC, irrigator, backflow, master/journeyman plumber, and other contractor categories. Registration requires copies of the driver's license and state license.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $125 for one inspection (MEP); $440 (manufactured-home building permit)
- Plan check fee
- Included in the posted residential fee schedule under the Review column. Example: under 1,000 square feet, plan review is $250
- Permit fee formula
- Residential building permit and plan review fees are based on total covered area per the R-3 fee schedule. Residential MEP permits use a $50 base fee plus $75 per inspection up to 5,000 square feet. Manufactured-home form lists flat line items for building permit, road bore if needed, water tap, sewer tap, and deposit/connect fee. Commercial form includes line items for building permit fee, plan review fee, water tap fee, sewer tap fee, meter deposit fee, and admin fee.
- Payment note
- The city has an online payments page, but the public permit materials reviewed do not show a self-service permit application portal
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Shepherd to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Bureau Veritas inspection request by phone (phone)
- Bureau Veritas inspection request by email (email)
- Scheduling deadline
- Requests received by 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are performed the next business day
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday
Typical inspection sequence: Residential: foundation, rough framing, rough energy, and building final are included in the permit fee. Additional common stages include plumbing rough, electrical rough, mechanical rough, insulation, flatwork, finals, and building final. Commercial: building, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing stages plus final inspections.
Additional Resources
- Building code: The permit plan checklists expressly reference the IRC, IBC, and energy code compliance. The exact edition year should be confirmed from Ordinance #308 and related city records.
- Contact Page
- Ordinances Page
- Contractor Registration Form
- Residential Permit Package
- Commercial Permit Package
- Commercial Submittal Requirements
- Manufactured-Home Permit Application
- 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 City of Shepherd before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shepherd Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Shepherd, TX?
- A building permit is required for new residential construction, residential remodel/addition, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, pools, fences, accessory buildings, commercial work, and manufactured homes within the City of Shepherd. Commercial occupancy requires a certificate of occupancy before the building is occupied.
- How much does a building permit cost in Shepherd, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $125 for one inspection (MEP); $440 (manufactured-home building permit). Fees are calculated as: Residential building permit and plan review fees are based on total covered area per the R-3 fee schedule. Residential MEP permits use a $50 base fee plus $75 per inspection up to 5,000 square feet. Manufactured-home form lists flat line items for building permit, road bore if needed, water tap, sewer tap, and deposit/connect fee. Commercial form includes line items for building permit fee, plan review fee, water tap fee, sewer tap fee, meter deposit fee, and admin fee.. Plan check fee: Included in the posted residential fee schedule under the Review column. Example: under 1,000 square feet, plan review is $250.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Shepherd, TX?
- 1. Determine whether the project is residential, commercial, or manufactured-home work and download the matching city packet from the permits page. 2. Register any applicable trade contractor with the city by submitting a copy of the driver's license and state license. 3. Prepare the permit submittal package. For commercial projects, submit readable electronic PDF plans plus site plans, grading, energy compliance, plan sets, and fire lane/fire suppression/fire alarm materials as applicable. 4. Submit documents and fees to the city. Residential and commercial plan review is performed by Bureau Veritas. 5. Respond to any plan review comments or revisions requested by Bureau Veritas. 6. After permit issuance, request inspections from Bureau Veritas. Requests received by 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are performed the next business day. 7. Complete required inspections and obtain a certificate of occupancy for commercial projects before the building is occupied.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Shepherd, TX?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Bureau Veritas inspection request by phone, Bureau Veritas inspection request by email. Requests received by 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday are performed the next business day.
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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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