Andrews, Texas Building Permit Guide

Permits inside the City of Andrews are issued by the Building Inspections Division of Planning and Community Development, whose office is at 101 NW Ave A; applications are filed on the City’s online forms or emailed to inspections@cityofandrews.org. New construction and remodels cost $0.10 per square foot with a $35 minimum, most residential plan reviews finish within a week, and an inspection called in before 10 a.m. is done the same day.

What needs a permit in Andrews?

Even where no permit is needed the City’s rules still apply: fences may be 7 ft at the back and sides, 3 ft solid or 4 ft see-through in the front yard, and old shingles must be stripped before a new roof goes on. The master fee schedule still carries a $25 fence permit fee, although the Building Department’s fencing page says no permit is required.

Who issues permits in Andrews?

Plan review, building and trade permits and field inspections for property inside the city limits all sit with the Building Inspections Division. Appeals from a Building Official’s ruling go to the Board of Construction, Adjustments and Appeals, filed within 20 days of the notice; carports in a front yard need a variance from the Board of Adjustments.

Applications, registration and homeowner permits

The City offers online versions of its Construction / Structure Application, Contractor Registration, Manufactured Home Permit Application and Registered Contractor Trade-Only Application, and PDF forms for handyman registration, the Homeowner Affidavit, signs, temporary uses, front-yard carport variances, zone changes and appeals.

• Homeowners who live in the home and have a homestead exemption from the appraisal district can do their own work without registering, but still need a permit and must sign the Homeowner Affidavit with plans that show any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. A rental property or a home without the exemption needs a registered contractor.
• Residential builders, roofers, fascia installers and remodelers register with the City. For work over $10,000 they also provide a $25,000 surety bond and a copy of builder’s risk insurance.
• Liability insurance: general, mechanical, electrical and plumbing contractors file a certificate showing at least $100,000 per person, $300,000 aggregate and $50,000 property damage before working in the city; residential builders on jobs of $10,000 or less are exempt from this.
• Trade contractors must hold their Texas licence, be insured and register with the City; plumbing contractors pay no registration fee.

No building permit is issued on land where the owner owes the City delinquent property taxes.

Permit fees in Andrews

The adopted fees are in Appendix A, the Master Fee Schedule, last amended by Ordinance 1796 on September 11, 2025. The Building Department’s Permit Fees web page still shows the older rates ($0.08 per sq ft for new construction and $25 flat trade fees), so budget from the adopted schedule.

Water and sewer tap fees are due when the building permit is issued. Starting work without a permit doubles the fee, and moving into a new building before the certificate of occupancy is issued brings a $200 penalty and disconnection of City utilities. The City takes checks and cards, with a surcharge on card payments.

Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work

The Building Inspections Division issues and inspects all trade permits. An electrical permit can only go to a licensed master electrician or the owner of a homestead property, and Oncor will not restore power to a property whose wiring was altered or repaired until the City inspects and sends a release.

Gas work follows the same rule with a licensed plumber or homestead owner, and Texas Gas reconnects only after a City-inspected gas test: an air test of at least 10 psi on a diaphragm gauge held for 2 hours, or a 64-ounce gauge held for 30 minutes. The plumber must have a new water heater inspected straight after installation, and water heaters may not go in an attic unless reached through a full-size door from a second floor. Irrigation plans come from a registered irrigator or plumber, with the backflow device within 5 ft of the meter.

What to submit

A typical application includes the completed form, a detailed scope of work, the owner’s and contractor’s names and phone numbers, a site plan, drawing or floor plan, and proof of contractor registration or a homestead exemption. Two plan sets are normally required for commercial buildings and new homes.

• Accessory buildings: drawing plus site plan showing the square footage of the lot, house and patio cover so lot coverage can be checked; metal spans over 24 ft or wood spans over 20 ft need engineer-sealed plans, and pre-engineered trusses need the maker’s sheets.
• Decks: application, site plan and a plan showing the lumber and span between supports.
• Pools: site plan with distances to property lines and two copies of the pool plan showing size, depth, plumbing and electrical, plus separate plumbing and electrical permits.
• Solar panels: electrical permit, residential or commercial application and engineer plans.
• Sidewalks and approaches in the right-of-way: a drawing with dimensions, rebar size and spacing.

Most residential plan reviews are completed within one week, depending on workload.

How to get a permit in Andrews

Inspections in Andrews

Request inspections on 432-523-4820. Calls before 10 a.m. are inspected that day and later calls the next day. A permit stays valid for six months, or six months after the most recent inspection, up to one full year.

Pools have four set inspections: belly steel and placement before gunite; deck steel, the electrical bond, underground wiring and a 20 psi plumbing test; the P-trap and gas line; and the pool final, which must pass within 45 days of the pre-plaster approval. A temporary fence at least 36 inches high must surround the pool during construction.

Local Andrews rules

Metal roofs must be standing seam, 26-gauge or heavier, with a factory finish in an earth tone; corrugated, galvanized and zinc finishes are not allowed. Roofers must arrange their own disposal because old shingles cannot go in City dumpsters or alleys.

Carports cannot sit in the required front yard without a Board of Adjustments variance, which weighs garage access, the carport’s size and design and other carports on the block; backyard carports only need the permit.

Accessory buildings may not be placed in an easement or right-of-way.

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

Andrews official resources

• Andrews Building Inspections Division
• Building Department FAQs
• Applications and forms
• Permit information by project
• Adopted codes
• Master Fee Schedule, Appendix A
• Chapter 10, contractor insurance and registration
• Swimming pool requirements
• Roofing requirements

Andrews permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Andrews, TX?

$0.10 per square foot for new construction and remodels, with a $35 minimum; electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are $0.05 per square foot each.

Do I need a permit for a fence or a new roof in Andrews?

No permit is needed for a fence or a straight re-roof, but changing the roof framing or pitch does need one.

Can I do my own work in Andrews?

Yes, if you live in the home and have a homestead exemption; you sign a Homeowner Affidavit and still get a permit.

Is a permit needed for a storage shed?

Yes. Every accessory building, including sheds and garages, needs a building permit.

How fast are inspections?

Same day when you call 432-523-4820 before 10 a.m.

How long is a permit good for?

Six months, or six months after the last inspection, up to one year.

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