County Building Permits
Bexar County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Bexar County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated areas of Bexar County. Does not apply to single-family dwellings, duplexes, or triplexes in unincorporated areas.
- Department
- Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office, with Bexar County Public Works permit-verification review
- Address
- Fire Marshal's Office, 9810 Southton Rd., San Antonio, TX 78223; Public Works, 1948 Probandt St., San Antonio, TX 78214
- Phone
- Fire Marshal's Office 210-335-0300; Public Works 210-335-6700
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Obtain Public Works authorization to issue the building permit (required first step)
- Apply to the Fire Marshal for building permit with Public Works authorization
- Fire Marshal performs plan review for compliance with 2021 International Fire and Building Codes and county amendments
- Obtain permit before starting work
Source: Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office, with Bexar County Public Works permit-verification review
General Requirements
Building permits required for new commercial, public-accessible, and multifamily buildings; pre-built buildings placed on property; and substantial improvements in unincorporated Bexar County. Does NOT apply to single-family dwellings, duplexes, or triplexes.
- Building code
- 2021 International Fire and Building Codes and county amendments
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office, with Bexar County Public Works permit-verification review to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2021 International Fire and Building Codes and county amendments
- Verify contractor license: Texas TDLR License Lookup
- Code Enforcement and Inspections
- 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 Bexar County Fire Marshal's Office, with Bexar County Public Works permit-verification review before applying.
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