What does a new house permit cost in Austin?
Updated November 11, 2026 · Built from official fee schedules and city permit records
How Austin figures the fee
Austin charges a plan review fee based on the new square footage, plus a $112.76 application processing fee. For new houses the review fee starts at $986.15 up to 1,000 sq ft and adds about 20 cents per extra square foot.
| House size | Plan review | Plan review + application |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 sq ft | $1,281.98 | $1,395 |
| 2,086 sq ft | $1,397.57 | $1,510 |
| 2,612 sq ft | $1,501.30 | $1,614 |
| 3,218 sq ft | $1,620.83 | $1,734 |
| 4,000 sq ft | $1,775.04 | $1,888 |
On top of plan review, Austin charges inspection permit fees when the permit is issued. For houses these start from base fees of $318.48 building, $183.69 electrical, $127.68 mechanical, $220.47 plumbing and $72.38 energy ($922.70 together), with per-square-foot amounts added for larger homes.
The typical new house permitted in Austin over the last 12 months added 2,612 sq ft (middle half 2,086 to 3,218).
How long it takes
Across 2,248 new house permits Austin issued in the last 12 months, the median wait was 53 days. A quarter took 26 days or less, and a quarter took 116 days or more.
What else you will pay
- Austin Energy's electric service application ($200) and a building service planning review ($200) apply to new homes.
- Tree review, floodplain review, driveway review and water/wastewater tap fees are separate when they apply.
- A resubmittal after corrections costs $585.77 in plan review.
More Austin permit guides
- Building permit cost in Austin
- How long permits take in Austin
- Remodel and addition permit cost
- Pool permit cost
Sources
- Fees: Austin Residential Building Plan Review & Inspection Permit Fees (effective October 1, 2026)
- Permit data: Austin Issued Construction Permits (data.austintexas.gov), permits issued November 1, 2025 to October 31, 2026. Processing time is measured from application date to issue date.
This is an independent guide built from public records. It is not affiliated with the City of Austin Development Services Department. Fees change, and the city calculates your final fee when you apply; confirm the amount with the city before you budget.
Common questions
How much is a building permit for a new house in Austin?
For a 2,612 sq ft house, plan review and application fees are about $1,614, plus at least $923 in inspection permit fees.
How long does a new house permit take in Austin?
The median was 53 days from application to issue over the last 12 months.