City Building Permits
Big Sandy, TX - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Big Sandy, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies inside the incorporated city limits of Big Sandy in Upshur County.
- Department
- City of Big Sandy / City Secretary
- Address
- 119 E Gilmer Street, Big Sandy, TX 75755
- Phone
- (903) 636-4343
- city@bigsandytx.gov
Application Process
- Before starting new construction, demolition, remodeling, or installation of a structure in city limits, complete the city building permit application.
- Prepare the required package. The application instructions require all application questions to be completed and require an accurate legal description, contractor information, valuation, and two complete plan sets drawn to scale.
- Required plans include a site or plat plan, floor plan, foundation plan, elevation plan for all four sides, and a drainage plan.
- Submit the original signed application to the City Secretary during City Hall business hours.
- The application is reviewed by the Mayor, Public Works Director, and/or the City of Big Sandy Zoning Commission.
- If approved, pay the applicable fees and obtain the permit before work starts. Inspections are then arranged with the city.
Typical processing time: Up to 30 days for review and/or approval
General Requirements
A building permit is required before new construction, demolition, remodeling, or installation of a structure within the corporate city limits.
Required Documents
- Completed application
- Legal description
- Contractor information
- Valuation of work
- Two complete scaled plan sets including site-plat, floor, foundation, elevation, and drainage plans
- Building code
- The city code contains building, plumbing, and electrical adoption sections, but the current public sources reviewed did not clearly state the current adopted edition for the building code set. Applicants should confirm the currently enforced code editions with City Hall.
- Contractor requirements
- The reviewed public pages did not show a general contractor registration program. State licensing still applies to regulated trades. Big Sandy's code also contains separate electrical licensing provisions.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- $50 minimum
- Permit fee formula
- Square-foot based. New construction, additions, accessory buildings, decks, and relocated buildings are $0.15 per square foot, with a $50 minimum.
- Reinspection fee
- Approximately $100 per inspection
- Penalty (no permit)
- All building permit fees are doubled if work starts before obtaining a permit
- Payment note
- Permit issuance upon payment of applicable fees at City Hall. No public online permit payment workflow was identified.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Big Sandy / City Secretary to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Inspection hours
- 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
Additional Resources
- Building code: The city code contains building, plumbing, and electrical adoption sections, but the current public sources reviewed did not clearly state the current adopted edition for the building code set. Applicants should confirm the currently enforced code editions with City Hall.
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- City Code Library
- HUD Code Manufactured Home Application
- Water-Sewer Tap 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 Big Sandy / City Secretary before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Big Sandy Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Big Sandy, TX?
- A building permit is required before new construction, demolition, remodeling, or installation of a structure within the corporate city limits.
- How much does a building permit cost in Big Sandy, TX?
- The minimum permit fee is $50 minimum. Fees are calculated as: Square-foot based. New construction, additions, accessory buildings, decks, and relocated buildings are $0.15 per square foot, with a $50 minimum..
- How do I apply for a building permit in Big Sandy, TX?
- 1. Before starting new construction, demolition, remodeling, or installation of a structure in city limits, complete the city building permit application. 2. Prepare the required package. The application instructions require all application questions to be completed and require an accurate legal description, contractor information, valuation, and two complete plan sets drawn to scale. 3. Required plans include a site or plat plan, floor plan, foundation plan, elevation plan for all four sides, and a drainage plan. 4. Submit the original signed application to the City Secretary during City Hall business hours. 5. The application is reviewed by the Mayor, Public Works Director, and/or the City of Big Sandy Zoning Commission. 6. If approved, pay the applicable fees and obtain the permit before work starts. Inspections are then arranged with the city.
- How long does it take to get a building permit in Big Sandy, TX?
- Typical processing time is Up to 30 days for review and/or approval.
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