Building Services

• What is a Building Permit

  The purpose of a building permit is to ensure that construction projects comply with all zoning, fire, and building code requirements as adopted by the City of Lewisville. Building permits are reviewed by City staff and projects are inspected by City building inspectors for compliance. Building permits must be issued and all plans approved before any construction can begin.
  

• Why is a Building Permit Important?

  A building permit is important for many reasons. Most importantly, it protects you and your family by ensuring the work was performed in accordance with building and safety standards. Similarly, it protects the value of your investment. This is important when seeking homeowner’s insurance or selling your home. Lastly, it helps protect you as a consumer when hiring a contractor. Contractors must be registered with the City to pull a permit, which means they must submit and maintain all applicable licenses and insurance.
  

• How do I know if I need a Building Permit?

  For a list of common projects that require a permit, see the Building Permits webpage. Otherwise, we highly recommend calling 972.219.3470 before beginning construction to confirm whether a building permit is required for your project.
  
  Cosmetic projects, such as replacing cabinets or installing carpet, do not require a building permit.
  

• How much does a Building Permit cost?

  The cost of the building permit varies depending on the permit type. Please see the Building Permit Fee schedule for more information.
  

• What forms of payment are accepted?

  Accepted forms of payment include MasterCard and Visa for all online payments less than $1,000. For permit fees that exceed $1,000, ACH or electronic funds transfers are accepted. Cash and check payments are accepted in-person at the Permitting counter.
  

• How long does it take to get a Building Permit?

  The amount of time it takes to get a building permit depends on the type of project. Many miscellaneous permit types are reviewed and issued directly by a Permit Technician within 1 – 2 business days. Other home repair permit types, such as fence and window permits, require plan review. The length of plan review fluctuates depending on the workload of the Plans Examiners and whether any plan revisions are needed. You can call 972.219.3470 for an estimated time of approval of your permit application.
  

• How do I schedule an inspections for my Building Permit?

  Permit inspections must be scheduled online through your MyGovernmentOnline account. Next-day inspections must be requested before 3 p.m. Inspections requested for Monday must be submitted before 10 a.m. on Friday.
  

• How do I know what time my inspections will occur?

  To prevent scheduling conflicts, permit holders are not able to request a specific time for their inspections. Instead, permit holders may call 972.219.3470 between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on the morning of their requested inspection to speak with the City Building Inspector assigned to their inspection.
  

• Can a homeowner pull the permit and perform the work?

  A homeowner may perform work and pull all related permits. For work that normally would require a state-issued license (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and irrigation), a homeowner is exempt from the licensing requirement if they own the property and live there as their primary residence, as shown by a homestead exemption for the property in the records of the Denton County Appraisal District. A homeowner’s permit should not be pulled if a contractor or subcontractor will be hired for work that would otherwise require a state-issued license.
  

• Should I take the Building Permit out for the contractor?

  No, you should never apply for a building permit for your contractor. When a contractor applies for a building permit, their state licenses and insurance are verified by the City through the Contractor Registration process. Additionally, by accepting the permit, the contractor is agreeing to do the work according to code. If you apply for and accept the permit, you may be held liable for correcting any work that fails to meet code standards.
  

• If I'm having problems with my house (i.e. leaking roof or cracking foundation), will the city inspect it and tell me whats wrong?

  The City does not provide homeowners this type of inspection service. Independent inspectors can be hired to do these types of troubleshooting inspections.
  

• Before I start digging, what do I need to do?

  Before you start digging, you must call Texas 811 to arrange for local utility companies to mark buried utility lines in your yard.