Dumas, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Dumas city limits, the City’s Building Inspections office at City Hall, 124 W. 6th Street, issues building, electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits, and you can apply and pay online through MGO. Fees are flat amounts in Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances: a new building or addition is $100 and a remodel $80, and every building permit needs a property survey showing where the work will go.

What requires a permit in Dumas?

Section 3.01.001 of the Code of Ordinances requires anyone doing building, electrical, plumbing, gas line or mechanical work on homes or commercial property inside the city limits to get the permits and pay the fees before starting. The fee schedule shows the permits the City issues:

Roofing work on less than 500 sq ft needs no permit. Working without a required permit can bring a fine of $75 to $200.

Who issues permits in Dumas?

The Building Inspections office at City Hall reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside the city limits. Javier Pena is the City Building Official. Electric service in Dumas comes from Xcel Energy rather than the City, and the traffic signals on Dumas Avenue (Highway 287) and First Street (Highway 281) are controlled by TxDOT.

Contractor registration and homeowner permits

Contractors must register with the City before working on anything that needs a permit, and registrations last one year. Each registration needs a bond or insurance certificate and, where the state licenses the trade, a copy of the state licence. Electrical and plumbing contractors also register their master electrician or master plumber separately. The categories are general, electrical, HVAC, irrigation, medical gas, moving, plumbing, roofing, sign, pool and spa, and water treatment contractors. The fee table lists a $90 contractor licence, while the code’s older registration section still states $50 a year.

A homeowner who lives in, or will move into, a single-family house may work on it and its accessory buildings without registering, after signing an affidavit of ownership and residency. Tenants, landlords, developers and speculative builders do not qualify, and anyone who applies as a homeowner at three different addresses within two years is refused at the third.

Dumas permit fees

Permit fees are set in Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances, last amended by Ordinance 1227 in June 2024. They are flat amounts, not based on square footage or valuation.

A temporary manufactured home on a construction site needs a $25 permit, which can be extended once for another 90 days for $25.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits in Dumas

Trade permits are issued by the same office, to registered contractors or to a qualifying homeowner. The fee table sets these amounts:

HVAC contractors must hold a state Class A or B air conditioning licence, and medical gas work needs a plumbing contractor with a medical gas endorsement.

Plans the City asks for

Most residential plans are submitted in two copies and most commercial plans in three. Remodels need existing and proposed floor plans; additions also need site and foundation plans.

How to get a Dumas building permit

Inspections in Dumas

The Building Official’s office at City Hall inspects permitted work, and the Building Inspector’s office takes code questions on 806-935-4101. Each re-inspection costs $50, and the fire department’s re-inspection of alarm or sprinkler work is also $50. The first backflow device inspection is $50.

Local Dumas rules

Finished floor height: every new building must have its finished floor at least 24 inches above the curb and gutter flow line of the nearest street. Without curb and gutter it must be 12 inches above the highest point of the nearest street, and on an unpaved street the city engineer decides. Exceptions need approval from both the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Commission.

Setbacks: the City publishes a residential property line setbacks diagram on the Building Inspections page.

Right-of-way: construction in City right-of-way falls under Ordinance 1180, with a $250 inspection fee.

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

Dumas permit resources

• Dumas Building Permits & Inspections
• MGO online permit application
• Residential plans checklist: new projects
• Residential plans checklist: remodels and additions
• Commercial plans checklist: new projects
• Residential property line setbacks
• Appendix A fee schedule: building and construction
• Code of Ordinances, Chapter 3 general provisions
• Contractor registration (Article 3.03)

Frequently asked questions

How much is a building permit in Dumas?

$100 for a new building or addition and $80 for a remodel, plus a $12.50 technology fee and separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.

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

Yes. A residential re-roof of 500 sq ft or more is $60 and a fence $20. Roofing under 500 sq ft needs no permit.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Dumas?

Yes, for a single-family house you live in or will live in, after signing an affidavit of ownership and residency. Landlords, tenants and builders cannot use the homeowner exemption.

Is a survey required for a building permit?

Yes. The code requires a survey by a certified surveyor or registered engineer showing the lot and the proposed work before a building permit is issued.

Which codes does Dumas use?

The Code of Ordinances adopts the 2012 International Building and Residential Codes, with 2012 mechanical, plumbing, fuel gas and energy amendments and the 2011 National Electrical Code.

What is the Dumas building department phone number?

806-935-4101 at City Hall; the Building Official is at 806-934-7101 ext. 214.

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