County Building Permits
Travis County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Travis County, Texas. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
All properties in unincorporated Travis County outside incorporated city limits.
- Department
- Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources, Development Services
- Address
- 700 Lavaca, Suite 540, Austin, TX 78701
- Phone
- 512-854-4215
Online Permit Portal
Platform: • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Application Process
Source: Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources, Development Services
General Requirements
Development permits are required for all development in unincorporated Travis County, including structures/buildings, driveways, right-of-way work, on-site sewage facilities, land division, mining, dredging, filling, grading, excavation, and similar site work. Permits are required for repairs on flood-damaged structures and new structures.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources, Development Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Additional Resources
- Verify contractor license: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- 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 Travis County Transportation and Natural Resources, Development Services before applying.
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