Fredericksburg, Texas Building Permit Guide

The City of Fredericksburg’s Building Division, part of Development Services at City Hall (2818 E. U.S. Hwy. 290), reviews plans and issues building and trade permits for every property in the city, and all applications, inspections and contractor registrations run through the MGO Customer Connect portal. A new house costs $0.40 per square foot plus a $75 plan review fee under the schedule effective March 25, 2026, and exterior work on historic properties also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

What requires a permit in Fredericksburg?

The City’s 2026 fee schedule shows the work it permits:

Every exterior change to a property in the Historic District or to a designated landmark also needs a Certificate of Appropriateness.

Fredericksburg building department: who handles permitting

The Building Division enforces the City’s adopted codes inside the city limits. Michael Erwin is the Building Official. The Building Services Coordinator handles all building permitting, including inspection scheduling, and the MGO portal. Planning and zoning, historic preservation and short-term rental permits are separate teams within Development Services.

The City also hands out a sheet of Gillespie County contacts: the county Sanitation Department issues septic permits outside the city limits (county rules require an approved wastewater system on every property, whatever the acreage), the County Engineer handles county floodplain permits and construction in county road right-of-way, and TxDOT’s Fredericksburg office permits driveways onto state highways at no charge. Inside Fredericksburg, TCEQ names no local septic agent and lists the city among those its San Antonio regional office (Region 13, 210-403-4078) serves.

MGO portal and contractor registration

Create an account in MGO Customer Connect to apply, upload plans, pay, request inspections and follow the permit. Certificates of Appropriateness for historic properties are filed in MGO as well.

• General contractors and builders need a City licence, renewed each January: $400 the first year and $200 to renew, with a $5,000 surety bond payable to the City. An owner working only on the home they live in is exempt.
• Trade contractors register by emailing permits@fbgtx.org a certificate of liability insurance, their state master licence and driver’s licence; the City replies with the link to its online application for that trade.
• Journeymen applying under a master need a signed letter from the master, with the licence number, on file first.

Fredericksburg permit fees (effective March 25, 2026)

For example, a 2,000 sq ft house carries an $800 building permit and a $75 plan review fee before trade permits, the CO and utility charges. The City’s Residential Construction page still shows a $25 certificate of occupancy; the 2026 schedule sets it at $150.

The same page lists water and sewer impact fees of $3,575 and $3,425 for a 5/8-inch meter (rates as of July 1, 2021), a $300 transformer fee for electric service up to 200 amps ($600 up to 320 amps) and $75 for a temporary meter loop.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

Each trade permit is pulled in MGO by a registered contractor holding a state master licence. The City adopted the 2021 Plumbing and Mechanical Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code. The Fire Marshal’s Office sits on the Development Review Committee and publishes a fire department site plan checklist and inspection guidelines for businesses, restaurants and bed and breakfasts.

How to get a Fredericksburg building permit

Inspections in Fredericksburg

Inspections are requested through MGO Customer Connect, and the Building Services Coordinator (830-990-2056) schedules them; inspection reports go to the single email address each contractor gives at registration. A re-inspection costs $75, and engineering re-inspections of public improvements $80, with a $100 no-show fee. Residential certificates of occupancy cost $150 and commercial ones $250.

Historic district review and floodplain

All exterior changes to a historic property need an approved Certificate of Appropriateness. Staff decide whether to approve it administratively ($50) or send it to the Historic Review Board ($150), which meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Staff measure applications against the Historic District Design Guidelines and Standards adopted July 19, 2021.

A floodplain development permit costs $50 for a single residential lot and $100 for commercial or other development; a Letter of Map Amendment review is $300.

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

Fredericksburg official resources

• Fredericksburg Building Division
• MGO Customer Connect portal
• Fee schedule, effective March 25, 2026
• Residential construction
• Commercial construction
• Development Review Committee
• Historic preservation and Certificates of Appropriateness
• General contractor registration (PDF)
• Sub-contractor registration (PDF)
• Gillespie County development requirements (PDF)

Fredericksburg permit FAQs

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

$0.40 per square foot plus a $75 plan review fee and a $6 technology fee. Trade permits start at $150 each, and the certificate of occupancy is $150.

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

Yes. A fence permit is $50 and a roof permit $100.

Do I need approval to change the outside of a historic building?

Yes. Any exterior change to a property in the Historic District or a landmark needs a Certificate of Appropriateness, filed in MGO.

Can a homeowner build without a contractor licence?

The City’s general contractor licence rule exempts an individual who works only on the dwelling where they live.

Can I get a pool permit during drought restrictions?

In drought Stages 1 to 3 the permit is $300 and in Stage 4 it is $400; no pool permits are issued in Stage 5.

Who handles septic permits near Fredericksburg?

Outside the city limits, Gillespie County’s Sanitation Department (830-997-8191) issues septic permits. TCEQ has no local agent inside Fredericksburg, so a septic system in the city goes to TCEQ’s Region 13 office in San Antonio.

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