Building, trade, fence and roof permits in Balch Springs come from the City’s Permits and Inspections division at City Hall, 13503 Alexander Road (972-286-4477), and inspection requests go by email to inspections@balchspringstx.gov. A new home starts at $950 plus 50 cents per square foot, a fence or re-roof is $50, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit.
What requires a permit in Balch Springs?
The City’s Master Fee Schedule sets a permit for each of these jobs, and working without the required permit can bring fines or delays.
Building and site work
- New homes and commercial buildings
- Residential and commercial remodeling
- Accessory buildings, including those of 120 sq ft or less
- Roofs (per building)
- Fences over 2 feet tall
- Driveways, approaches, patios and slabs (flatwork)
- Excavation, grading and embankment
- Demolition and house moving
- Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs
- Tree removal and signs
Trades, fire and occupancy
- Electrical permits
- Plumbing permits
- Mechanical (HVAC) permits
- Fire alarm and fire suppression systems, through the Fire Marshal
- Tents
- Commercial Certificate of Occupancy
Who issues building permits in Balch Springs?
The Permits and Inspections division, part of the City’s Compliance department alongside Code Enforcement, issues building and trade permits for property inside the city and inspects the work. It shares City Hall with Planning and Zoning, which handles zoning, plats and site plans. Fire permits are approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office but requested and paid for at City Hall.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | City Hall, 13503 Alexander Road, Balch Springs, TX 75181 |
| Phone | 972-286-4477 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Inspection requests | inspections@balchspringstx.gov |
| Fire Marshal’s Office | 12500 Elam Rd., 972-557-6046 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) |
Applying online and registering
The City’s Community Development citizen portal (CivicGov) gives round-the-clock access to permits, licensing and inspections; register an account to apply and track a permit. The Master Fee Schedule lists contractor registration for master electricians, mechanical contractors and electrical sign contractors at no charge, and an annual $100 registration for fire suppression contractors.
Planning and Zoning applications are separate PDFs on the City site: minor, amending, preliminary and final plats, replats, zoning changes, planned developments, development plans, specific use permits, variances and zoning special exceptions. A plat of one to five lots can usually go through the minor plat process; five or more lots need a preliminary and a final plat.
How much does a building permit cost in Balch Springs?
Fees come from the City’s Master Fee Schedule (pages dated September 8, 2025). New homes are charged a base fee plus a rate per square foot that rises with the size of the house.
| House size | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1,350–1,500 sq ft | $950 plus $0.50 per sq ft |
| 1,501–2,000 sq ft | $995 plus $0.55 per sq ft |
| 2,001–2,500 sq ft | $1,050 plus $0.60 per sq ft |
| 2,501–3,000 sq ft | $1,100 plus $0.70 per sq ft |
| 3,001–4,000 sq ft | $1,145 plus $0.75 per sq ft |
| 4,001 sq ft or more | $1,200 plus $0.85 per sq ft |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential remodeling | $45 plus $0.25 per sq ft |
| Commercial remodeling | $90 plus $0.30 per sq ft |
| New commercial, up to 2,000 sq ft | $0.35 per sq ft |
| New commercial, 2,001–10,000 sq ft | $460 plus $0.30 per sq ft |
| Plan review: residential remodel / new home | $50 / $150, non-refundable |
| Plan review: commercial remodel / new building | $250 / $350, non-refundable |
| Impact fee: residential / commercial | $100 / $500 |
| Accessory building 120 sq ft or less / 121–300 sq ft | $25 / $35 |
| Fence or roof | $50 each |
| Swimming pool, spa or hot tub | $250 |
| Demolition | $75 |
| Commercial Certificate of Occupancy | $250 |
Larger commercial buildings pay $2,800 plus $0.25 per sq ft from 10,001 to 25,000 sq ft, and on a sliding scale above that. Flatwork runs from $25 for 120 sq ft or less to $70 plus $0.15 per sq ft over 1,000 sq ft. House moving is $100 plus 25 cents a mile beyond 10 miles, with a $75 inspection. Card payments carry a 5% convenience fee.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
Each trade is permitted separately from the building permit, at these rates:
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical, new construction | $75 plus $0.03 per sq ft |
| Plumbing, new construction | $75 plus $0.04 per sq ft |
| Mechanical, new construction | $75 plus $0.04 per sq ft |
| Electrical, plumbing or mechanical remodel or replacement | $85 |
Fire systems: fire alarm, sprinkler and tent permits are issued by the Fire Marshal’s Office. Plans must first go through a third-party review, then three copies go to the Fire Marshal with the permit form; one approved set stays with the City and two stamped sets come back. A fire suppression permit is $75 including the first inspection and test, and fire plan review is $100 for a home or $100 or $0.02 per sq ft for commercial work.
How to get a permit in Balch Springs
Unplatted land needs a minor or preliminary and final plat, and a change of use may need rezoning or a specific use permit.
Optional, but available every other Tuesday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. for $50 per 30 minutes with a concept plan and narrative; remodels, flatwork on platted land and COs can be handled without one.
Create a CivicGov account, and register your trade licence with the City if you are an electrical or mechanical contractor.
File the building permit and a separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permit, with the plan review fee.
Then file three copies with the Fire Marshal’s permit form at City Hall.
Send each request to inspections@balchspringstx.gov, and for a business, finish with the Certificate of Occupancy.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Balch Springs
Every building inspection request goes by email to inspections@balchspringstx.gov. The first re-inspection costs $50, the second $100 and the third $150. The fee schedule also lists a $100 pre-inspection covering building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work, and a $50 move-in inspection.
The Fire Marshal’s Office carries out commercial fire inspections; call 972-557-6046 to schedule one. If a fire alarm or sprinkler system is out of service, or will be offline for more than 4 hours, the owner must tell Fire Department dispatch (972-557-6000) and may be required to post a fire watch until it is repaired.
A commercial Certificate of Occupancy costs $250, and a 30-day temporary certificate $300.
Fence rules and other local details
Fences: any fence over 2 feet tall needs a permit and a final inspection. Fences can be up to 8 feet tall, but one facing a street or public right-of-way is limited to 4 feet, must be see-through and kept free of vegetation. On a corner lot, 8 feet is allowed from the alley to the front building line and 4 feet from there to the front property line. Barbed wire is only allowed on unplatted acreage or as a top extension on residential fences over 6 feet.
Commercial fences and dumpsters: support columns must be metal or masonry, all sides finished, and dumpster enclosures at least 7 feet tall on an 8-inch concrete pad with three solid sides.
Zoning fees: a zoning change costs $1,000 plus $25 per additional acre, a specific use permit adds $1,000, a Board of Adjustment filing is $500, and a letter verifying zoning costs $50.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Official Balch Springs resources
- Balch Springs Permits and Inspections
- Balch Springs Community Development citizen portal
- Balch Springs Master Fee Schedule
- Balch Springs fencing requirements
- Balch Springs Fire Marshal’s Office
- Balch Springs Development Review Process
- Balch Springs planning and zoning applications
Balch Springs permit FAQs
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Balch Springs, Texas?
The City’s Permits and Inspections division at City Hall, 13503 Alexander Road (972-286-4477).
How much is a building permit for a new house in Balch Springs?
It depends on size: $950 plus $0.50 per sq ft for 1,350 to 1,500 sq ft, rising to $1,200 plus $0.85 per sq ft above 4,000 sq ft. Plan review ($150), the $100 residential impact fee and separate trade permits are added.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Balch Springs?
Yes, for any fence over 2 feet tall. The permit is $50 and the fence is inspected when finished.
Do I need a permit to replace my roof?
Yes. A roof permit is $50 per building.
How do I request an inspection?
Email inspections@balchspringstx.gov. Fire inspections are scheduled with the Fire Marshal’s Office at 972-557-6046.
Do I need a permit for a small shed?
Yes. Accessory buildings of 120 sq ft or less are $25, and 121 to 300 sq ft are $35.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Balch Springs permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.