Boerne, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Boerne city limits, the City’s Permitting and Code Compliance Department issues building and trade permits, and every application goes through the My Government Online (MGO) portal. Under the fee ordinance in effect from October 1, 2026, a new home is $0.42 per square foot, and first review of a new house takes about 21 days.

What requires a permit in Boerne?

The department’s permit FAQ answers the common residential questions this way:

Concrete for a driveway approach at the curb needs a right-of-way permit instead. Tree removal, grading, floodplain development and work in the public right-of-way each have their own permit.

Boerne building department: who handles permitting

Permitting and Code Compliance reviews building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas and energy work, registers contractors and inspects construction inside Boerne city limits. Planning handles zoning, platting, historic district and tree permits, and Engineering and Mobility handles grading, floodplain and right-of-way permits; all of them now take applications in MGO. Neighboring Fair Oaks Ranch issues its own permits.

Registering in MGO and choosing a permit

Every contractor must be registered with the City before working in city limits or applying for permits. Registration happens inside MGO:

• Create a free MGO account, or use one you already have with another city.
• Choose Contractor Registration and Licensing; when asked for a site location, give your business address, not a job site.
• Upload the documents listed under Submittals on the licence page. Staff will not process the registration until every submittal is uploaded and checked.
• Contractors who were registered in SmartGov link their existing licence in MGO with Find My Registrations.

Once registered, you can apply for commercial, residential, sign and licence permits in the same portal. Contractors who are not required to register with the state pay a City registration fee of $100 for homestead properties or $150 otherwise, renewed yearly at $50 or $100.

Boerne permit cost

Permit fees are set in the City’s FY2027 Fee Ordinance, effective October 1, 2026.

At $0.42 per square foot, the building permit for a 2,500 sq ft house is $1,050. Starting work before the permit is issued costs 200% of the permit fee, and renewing a permit costs 53% of the original fee.

Boerne trade permits

Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are issued by the same department through MGO, to contractors registered for that trade. Work must meet the 2021 International codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code; the City says to ignore any older handout that cites other editions.

Boerne permit application: how to apply step by step

Inspections in Boerne

Inspections are scheduled and tracked in MGO. Before the pre-pour foundation inspection can be booked, a form survey from a licensed surveyor must be submitted to Permitting and Code Compliance. A failed building inspection costs $100 to repeat, and trade re-inspections are $53. A same-day inspection is $150, and after-hours inspections are $150 an hour with a 2-hour minimum.

Concrete may not be poured before 7 a.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. on Saturday or 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Local Boerne details

Historic District: painting and siding normally need no permit, but properties in the Historic District go through Planning, and items for the Historic Landmark Commission are due 15 days before its meeting.

Other review times: tree removal, floodplain development and single-family right-of-way permits each take about 14 days for first review, and a zoning verification letter about 5 days.

Monthly reports: the department posts a list of permits issued each month.

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

Boerne permit portal and official resources

• Boerne Permitting and Code Compliance
• Boerne permits and MGO filing
• Contractor registration in MGO
• My Government Online portal
• Permit Review Timeline (PDF)
• FY2027 Fee Ordinance, effective October 1, 2026 (PDF)
• Do I need a permit? (City FAQ)
• Boerne Development Services

Boerne permit FAQs

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

$0.42 per square foot under the fee ordinance effective October 1, 2026, so $1,050 for 2,500 sq ft. The ordinance also lists an in-house plan check fee of 53% of the permit fee.

How long does permit review take in Boerne?

About 21 days for the first review of a new house and 14 days for each resubmittal; new commercial buildings take about 30 days.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Boerne?

Yes if you replace more than 50% of the roof. The roof permit is $111.

Do I need a permit for a fence or a deck?

Yes. A fence needs an application with a site plan ($40 for a home), and decks, arbors and gazebos also need a permit.

Do contractors have to register in Boerne?

Yes, through MGO, before applying for permits or working in city limits.

Does Boerne issue permits for Fair Oaks Ranch?

No. The City of Fair Oaks Ranch handles its own permits and inspections.

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