Alvin, Texas Building Permit Guide

Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits inside Alvin are issued by the City’s Permits & Inspections office in the Engineering Department building at 1100 West Highway 6, and contractors and homeowners file and track them in MyGov. A new house costs $0.40 per square foot plus a plan review fee of half the permit fee, and every inspection needs 24 hours’ notice.

What needs a permit in Alvin?

The City requires permits and inspections for new construction, remodelling and repairs. It publishes separate applications and procedures for each type of work:

An owner remodelling or repairing their own home must show proof of a homestead exemption before buying any permit. In manufactured home parks, hook-ups and repairs must be done by a hired mechanical service company.

Who issues permits in Alvin?

Permits & Inspections reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects work inside the city limits. It works from the Engineering Department building rather than City Hall, and the City charges its fees under Chapter 28, the Comprehensive Fee Ordinance. A driveway onto a state highway also needs a Texas Department of Transportation permit (979-864-8500).

MyGov, contractor registration and pre-development meetings

Register in MyGov as a contractor or as a homeowner before applying. The account is used to submit applications, follow review comments, print the approved permit, schedule inspections and read results. Existing users were asked to upgrade their old login rather than open a new account.

• Contractor registration – send the City’s contractor information form to permits@alvin.gov with copies of your state licences, your driver’s licence and a general liability certificate naming the City of Alvin as certificate holder. Anyone pulling permits under another contractor’s licence needs a notarised letter of permission.
• Pre-development meeting – required before any development or permit application for new or expanded commercial, industrial, multi-family or institutional buildings, new residential subdivisions, and major exterior or site work on those properties. Meetings are usually on Thursday mornings by appointment, booked with the request form on the City’s Pre-Development Meetings page.
• Standard operating procedures – the City publishes step-by-step requirements for generators, signs, solar panels, storage buildings, carports and patios, swimming pools and window replacement.

Alvin permit fees

Fees are set in Chapter 28 of the Code of Ordinances. Residential and commercial permits have a $50 minimum, and plan review is half the permit fee.

For a new 2,000 sq ft house that is $800 for the building permit and $400 for plan review, before the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.

Commercial plan review is also half the permit fee, and a commercial re-inspection costs $100 in advance.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

Electrical, plumbing and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning work each need their own permit; the building permit does not cover them.

Plan review checklists

New homes and commercial buildings need two sets of engineer-sealed drawings, a survey and a plot plan. The residential checklist asks for two hard copies of the application and plans delivered to 1100 W. Highway 6, containing:

• Survey or plot plan with setbacks, building lines, easements, the foundation footprint, the required road-frontage sidewalk and driveways
• Grading plan showing how the lot drains
• Third-party energy analysis to the 2024 IECC, with a certified third party doing the energy inspections
• Foundation plan sealed by a Texas professional engineer, and engineered truss or I-joist details
• Framing, floor and roof plans with room sizes, windows and doors
• Windstorm details for 140 mph ultimate wind speed, inspected by a certified third party
• Electrical load analysis and layout, mechanical plan with Manual J sizing matching the energy report, and gas, drain-waste-vent and water isometrics
• In a floodplain, an original elevation certificate, the first of three

City ordinance Sec. 5-23(8) requires at least two egress doors in a house. The City does not carry out energy or windstorm inspections itself. Under SB 1202, generator and solar submittals for one- and two-family homes are not reviewed until every item on the City’s minimum list is in, including a letter of no objection from TNMP or CenterPoint Energy.

How to apply for an Alvin permit

Inspections in Alvin

Give 24 hours’ notice for every inspection unless there is an emergency. Request it in MyGov or on 281-388-4271, which has a 24-hour voice mail, and give the company name, project address, inspection type and a phone number. Results are posted in MyGov. For an emergency inspection between 6 p.m. and 7 a.m. or at weekends, call the Alvin Police Department on 281-388-4370.

Third-party windstorm compliance for a solar installation must be in before the electrical inspection can be scheduled, and a generator’s gas line is tested by a TSBPE-licensed plumbing inspector whose licence is filed with the submittal.

Local Alvin details

Driveways and ditches: residential driveways and culverts must be 12 to 24 ft wide and commercial driveways no more than 35 ft. Enclosing the ditch across the front of a property is not allowed.

Flood zones: generators in a FEMA special flood hazard area must sit at least 12 inches above base flood elevation, shown on a surveyor’s elevation certificate, and never inside a utility easement.

Wind design: the City applies 140 mph ultimate wind speed from the code tables to homes and solar arrays.

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

Alvin official resources

• Alvin Permits & Inspections
• Scheduling a permit inspection
• Pre-development meetings
• SB 1202 generator and solar requirements
• Building permit application (PDF)
• Contractor registration form (PDF)
• Residential plan review checklist (PDF)
• Commercial plan review checklist (PDF)
• Chapter 28, Comprehensive Fee Ordinance

Alvin permit FAQs

How much is a building permit for a new house in Alvin?

$0.40 per square foot plus plan review at half that amount, so $1,200 for 2,000 sq ft before trade permits.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Alvin?

Yes, homeowners can register in MyGov, but anyone remodelling or repairing their own home must first show proof of a homestead exemption.

Do I need a permit for a new roof or windows in Alvin?

Yes. A re-roof starts at $75 and window replacement at $70 for the first five windows.

Does Alvin do energy or windstorm inspections?

No. The contractor hires a certified third-party inspector and gives the City the documentation.

How much notice does Alvin need for an inspection?

24 hours, requested in MyGov or on 281-388-4271.

When is a pre-development meeting required?

Before applying for new or expanded commercial, industrial, multi-family or institutional projects, new residential subdivisions, or significant exterior or site work on those properties.

Simplify Alvin 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 Alvin permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.