The City of Borger’s Planning and Development Department reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects construction inside city limits, with applications, contractor registration and inspection requests handled in MyGov. A new house pays $0.15 per square foot for the building permit, $0.05 per square foot for each trade and a $75 plan review fee.
What requires a permit in Borger?
The City says permits are needed for nearly all improvements to homes and businesses, and lists these examples:
Permit required
- New buildings, additions, alterations, relocations and repairs
- Finishing unfinished space or converting a garage to living space
- Foundation repair and underpinning
- Re-roofing and re-siding
- Sheds and accessory buildings over 120 sq ft
- Fences 7 feet and taller; retaining walls over 4 feet
- Pools more than 24 inches deep
- Driveway approaches and sidewalks
- Water heaters, furnaces, air conditioners, wood stoves and fireplaces
- New circuits, panel replacements and moved plumbing fixtures
- Demolition and signs
Usually no permit
- Painting, wallpaper, flooring, tile and carpet
- Cabinets and countertops
- Minor electrical repairs that do not touch the service
- Replacing a faucet
- Swings and playground equipment
- Wall-mounted awnings projecting 54 inches or less
- Fences under 7 feet; sheds under 120 sq ft (no fee)
Who handles permitting in Borger?
Planning and Development provides plan review, building permits, construction inspections and code enforcement for Borger, and also runs zoning, subdivisions and the Operation Facelift demolition program. Larry K. Byrd is Director of Planning & Development. Fire alarm, sprinkler and hood suppression plan reviews are priced under Fire Prevention in the City’s fee schedule.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Office | City Hall, 600 N Main Street, Borger (mail: PO Box 5250, Borger, TX 79008-5250) |
| Permit Technician | 806-273-0910 ext. 1080 |
| Building Inspector | 806-273-0910 ext. 1053 |
| Director | 806-273-0910 ext. 1061 |
| Online | MyGov: permits, inspections and contractor registration |
Borger permit fees
Fees come from the City Services Fee Schedule, whose cover is dated Fiscal Year 2027. New-construction permits include the required inspections.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house or residential addition | $0.15 per sq ft, $100 minimum |
| Electrical, plumbing and mechanical, new house | $0.05 per sq ft each, $40 minimum |
| Residential plan review | $75 per structure |
| Technology fee | $10 per permit (residential); $25 (new commercial) |
| New commercial building or addition | $0.20 per sq ft, $250 minimum; trades $0.10 per sq ft, $60 minimum |
| Commercial plan review | $250, plus $0.10 per sq ft over 3,000 sq ft |
| Residential remodel | $0.10 per sq ft, $50 minimum |
| Commercial remodel | $0.003 times the estimated value, $100 minimum |
| Accessory building 120 sq ft or more | $0.10 per sq ft, $50 minimum |
| Roof | $40 residential; $60 commercial |
| Fence 7 ft or taller | $40 |
| Pool | $50 above ground; $100 in-ground |
| Driveway or right-of-way | $40 |
| Demolition | $50, with a $100–$500 cash bond |
| Inspection or re-inspection | $40 each; $100 per hour after hours |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →For example, a 1,800 sq ft house is $270 for the building permit, $90 for each of the three trade permits and $75 for plan review, plus technology fees. Working without a permit costs twice the permit fee plus a $250 administrative fee for a first offense.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits
Trade permits are issued by Planning and Development. On a new house they are priced by square foot; on remodels and replacements they are flat fees:
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical, plumbing or mechanical remodel | $40 residential; $60 commercial, plus $5 technology fee |
| HVAC change-out | $20; $40 over 2,000 CFM |
| HVAC electrical hook-up, T-pole or meter loop | $40 each |
| Gas test | $40 residential; $60 commercial |
| Irrigation system | $40 |
| Trade re-inspection | $50 |
| Fire alarm plan review | $100 + $50 per 10 devices |
| Sprinkler plan review, up to 25 heads | $200 + $50 per additional 25 heads |
| Kitchen hood suppression plan review | $100 |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →All contractors must register before working in the city. General registration is $95 a year including the technology fee; state-licensed electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors register at no charge.
How to get a permit in Borger
New commercial and apartment projects need a $150 site plan review; plats, rezonings, special use permits and variances use the City’s Universal Development Application.
Create a MyGov account and register as a contractor; the City posts a how-to guide for contractors and collaborators.
File the permit in MyGov. Accessory buildings, fences and pools need a site plan with the application.
Planning and Development reviews the plans against the 2018 codes and zoning.
Use MyGov to request each inspection on the issued permit.
Pass the finals. A change of business tenant triggers a free certificate of occupancy inspection when the water account changes hands.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Borger
Inspections are requested through MyGov. The permit fees for new homes and commercial buildings include the required inspections; a repeat visit is $40 for building work and $50 for trades, and after-hours inspections are $100 an hour.
Homes are inspected against the City’s energy requirements for climate zone 4: R49 ceiling insulation, R20 (or R13 plus 5) walls, R19 floors and R10 slab-perimeter insulation, with a 20 psf snow load and 90 mph wind load.
Certificate of occupancy inspections are free. For businesses, one is done when the water account moves to a new tenant, including a zoning check; for homes, when the house has been vacant for 6 months or more.
Local Borger details
Asbestos: nearly any commercial demolition or remodel needs an asbestos survey under state rules, with 10 working days’ notice to the state health department. Private homes and apartment buildings of 4 units or fewer are exempt unless they are part of a public or commercial project.
Moving a building: $75 plus a $65 escort fee, with proof of insurance and a foundation inspection.
Oil and gas wells: drilling inside the city needs a $250 application and a $500 permit.
A Seat at the Table: each quarter, Planning and Development, permitting, the Fire Marshal and other City offices answer residential and commercial questions in one room at the Dome, from 1 to 7 p.m.; the remaining 2026 date is October 29. Text 806-395-0310 for an appointment.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Borger permit search and official resources
Borger’s permit pages and documents:
- Borger — When Are Permits Required?
- Borger — Planning & Development
- Borger — Permits, Building Inspections & Code Information
- Borger MyGov (permits, inspections, contractor registration)
- How to use MyGov (contractor guide)
- City Services Fee Schedule
- Universal Development Application
Borger permit FAQs
How much is a building permit for a new house in Borger?
$0.15 per square foot ($100 minimum), plus $0.05 per square foot for each of the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, $75 for plan review and a $10 technology fee per permit.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a fence in Borger?
Only for fences 7 feet or taller, which cost $40. Lower fences need no permit.
Does a storage shed need a permit?
Sheds of 120 sq ft or more need a permit at $0.10 per square foot with a $50 minimum; smaller ones cost nothing.
Do I need a permit to replace a water heater or air conditioner?
Yes. Both are on the City’s list of work that needs a permit; an HVAC change-out is $20.
How do contractors register in Borger?
Through MyGov. The fee is $95 a year, but state-licensed electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors pay nothing.
Which codes does Borger use?
The 2018 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Energy, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Property codes, the 2018 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and the current National Electrical Code.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Borger permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.