Alice, Texas Building Permit Guide

In Alice, building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, sign and fence permits are issued by the Building Inspection division of the City’s Community Development Department at City Hall, 500 E. Main St., and applications and inspection requests are filed online through Vertex Plans. The City still builds to the 2012 International Codes, and contractors pay a $125 annual registration fee before they can pull permits.

What needs a permit in Alice?

Building Inspection enforces the City’s codes for commercial and residential construction, mechanical, electrical and plumbing work, signs and fences. Between the City’s homeowner notice and its fee schedule, these jobs need a permit:

If a contractor skips the permit, the homeowner becomes the responsible party, so the City suggests calling 361-668-7275 to check that a contractor is registered with Alice before work starts.

Who issues permits in Alice?

Building Inspection handles permitting and inspections, registers contractors and subcontractors, and administers zoning. Its parent Community Development Department oversees land use in Alice and its extraterritorial jurisdiction, and the Building Official and Fire Marshal jointly inspect buildings before a certificate of occupancy is issued.

Filing in Vertex Plans and registering contractors

The City moved permit applications and inspection requests to Vertex Plans and posts three short tutorial videos from AOKA: setting up an applicant login, adding a permit to an existing project, and starting a new project with its first permit.

• Contractor and builder registration – every contractor, builder and swimming pool contractor working on permitted jobs registers with the inspection division on or before January 1 each year; the fee is $125 whether you register in January or mid-year. Mechanical contractors and house movers register separately at $125 a year.
• House movers also file a liability policy of $100,000/$300,000 with at least $50,000 property damage cover, and the building is inspected before a moving permit is issued.
• City Right of Way Contractor Registration – a separate form, linked from the Community Development page.
• Fee exemption – nonprofit, charitable and government programmes building or rehabilitating owner-occupied homes for low- and moderate-income families can apply to the city manager for an exemption from permit and inspection fees, decided within 10 business days.

Alice permit fees (FY2026)

Fees are set in Appendix C of the Code of Ordinances, in the schedule of fees in force from October 1, 2025. Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee.

Commercial buildings larger than 100,000 sq ft continue on the same pattern ($3,220 plus $0.21 per sq ft to 300,000 sq ft, then $7,110 plus $0.20).

Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits

Trade permits are separate from the building permit and are priced in the same Appendix C schedule:

Alice follows the electrical code adopted by the State of Texas, and its plumbing, fuel gas and mechanical codes are the 2012 International editions. Electrical work must be supervised by a registered electrician, except where an owner personally does repair, maintenance or electrical work on premises they own.

How to get a permit in Alice

Inspections and certificates of occupancy

Inspections for an issued permit are requested through the City’s Vertex Plans inspection page, which the City also prints as a QR code on its inspection request flyer.

A certificate of occupancy confirms what a building is used for, that it is fit to occupy and that it meets the building codes. Alice requires one for new construction, property conversions, changes of ownership and major construction, and the City notes that lenders and insurers often ask for a current certificate. The commercial certificate fee is $150.

Local Alice details

Code editions: the City adopted the 2012 International Building and Residential Codes in 2014 (Ordinance 1978) and the 2012 energy code the same year; plans should be drawn to those editions.

Commercial demolition plans must include site schematics, a stormwater pollution prevention plan, asbestos and lead remediation plans, traffic control and dust control. A square-footage plan review fee applies, which the city manager and director can waive after looking at the size, scope and location of the job.

Moved buildings are inspected before the moving permit is issued, and a structure that does not meet code must be brought into compliance within 120 days.

Backflow: the City runs a backflow prevention programme through Community Development.

Texas building code

Texas has no single statewide building code: state law makes the International Residential Code the base code for homes in cities and the International Building Code the base for commercial buildings, with each city choosing the edition and its own amendments, while the National Electrical Code and the energy code apply statewide. Outside city limits most counties issue no building permits for homes. Texas building code rules

Alice official resources

• Alice Building Inspection
• Community Development Department
• Alice inspections portal page
• Vertex Plans permit application
• Vertex Plans inspection requests, City of Alice
• Appendix C fee schedule
• Chapter 18, Buildings and Building Regulations
• Certificate of occupancy notice (PDF)
• Homeowner notice on permitted work (PDF)

Alice permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Alice, TX?

The Building Inspection division of the City’s Community Development Department, at 500 E. Main St. (361-668-7275).

How do I apply for a permit in Alice?

Online in Vertex Plans, which also handles contractor registration and inspection requests.

How much is a roof permit in Alice?

$125 for a home and $175 for a commercial building.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Alice?

Yes. Fences are on the City’s permit list and the fence application fee is $50.

What building code does Alice use?

The 2012 International Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Energy Codes, and the electrical code adopted by the State of Texas.

What happens if work starts without a permit?

The permit fee is doubled, and the homeowner, not the contractor, can be left responsible for the unpermitted work.

Simplify Alice permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in Texas. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Alice permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.