Fulshear, Texas Building Permit Guide

The City of Fulshear’s Planning Services department, at City Hall, 6611 W Cross Creek Bend Lane, issues building and trade permits inside the city, and applications are filed online through GovWell. A new house under 4,000 sq ft is charged $0.42 per square foot plus a plan review fee of half that amount, a $35 application fee and a $600 inspection fee.

What requires a permit in Fulshear?

The City’s applications list and Master Fee Schedule cover these permits:

Turning a house into a business needs a specific use permit, which goes to the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council and can take up to 60 days.

Fulshear building department: who handles permitting

Planning Services reviews plans, issues permits and inspects construction inside the city limits; meetings about specific use permits are booked with the Building Official. A new business also needs approval from the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal, and food businesses from the City’s Health Department. Outside the city limits, property is in unincorporated Fort Bend County.

GovWell filing and contractor registration

Every permit is applied for in GovWell; the PDF forms on the City’s site are for reference only. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits are pulled separately by licensed contractors registered with the City before work starts.

• Contractor registration: general residential and commercial contractors, irrigators, sign and pool contractors pay $200 a year; electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors register at no charge.
• Master plans: builders can have a house plan approved once; later permits for that plan then need only the application with the master plan number, the water and sewer tap application, site plan, energy report, engineer’s letter, fees and the outdoor lighting form.
• Other forms: property owner affidavit, energy registration, plan revision, pre-development meeting request and the City’s refund policy for building permits.

The City suggests checking a contractor with the Better Business Bureau and asking City staff whether the company has registered and worked in Fulshear before.

Fulshear permit fees

From the City’s Master Fee Schedule; for most building permits the plan review fee is half of the calculated permit fee.

For example, a new 3,000 sq ft house comes to $1,260 for the permit, $630 for plan review, $35 and $600, or $2,525 before trade permits and water and sewer tap fees. Commercial plan review fees are due when plans are submitted, and the valuation includes site work. A certificate of occupancy for a new tenant costs $60.

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits

Trade permits are pulled by licensed contractors registered with the City. Every backflow device must be inspected and certified before the building final, and a commercial tenant’s certificate of occupancy needs the Fort Bend County Fire Marshal’s approval.

Documents for a new home or remodel

Submit one paper and one digital set (USB drive or email to plans@fulsheartexas.gov) along with the GovWell application:

How to get a Fulshear building permit

Inspections in Fulshear

Email inspections@fulsheartexas.gov or call 281-346-8850 with the permit number, address, inspection type and a contact. Inspections run from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and until 2:00 p.m. on Friday. Requests made before 3:00 p.m. are inspected the next business day, later ones in two business days, and cancellations must be in before 8:00 a.m. on the day. Commercial inspections can be booked for a morning or an afternoon.

Work must be complete when the inspection is booked, and the address and permit must be posted on site. Only the permit holder may schedule finals. Firewalls are inspected before cover-up, and before the final the contractor supplies the final survey and the final energy report with the duct leakage test. A re-inspection costs $60, paid before it is scheduled, and a same-day inspection $150. New homes and commercial projects follow the City’s final inspection protocol in force since September 1, 2020.

Outdoor lighting rules

Since January 1, 2016 the City has checked residential permit applications against its outdoor lighting ordinance (2015-1194): exterior fixtures must be fully shielded (low-voltage landscape lights excepted), a shielded fixture may not exceed 630 lumens in zone LZ0 or 1,260 lumens in LZ1 and LZ2 (Cross Creek Ranch and Fulbrook on Fulshear Creek are in LZ1), and lights other than over a garage or entrance need a daylight control such as a photocell or astronomic time switch. Submit the manufacturer’s spec sheet for each fixture for approval before installing it.

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

Fulshear official resources

• Fulshear permit applications and forms
• Master Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Residential building permit requirements and application (PDF)
• Do I need a permit?
• Fulshear inspections
• Scheduling an inspection

Fulshear permit FAQs

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

Under 4,000 sq ft, $0.42 per square foot plus half that for plan review, a $35 application fee and a $600 inspection fee; a 3,000 sq ft house comes to $2,525 before trades and taps.

How do I apply for a permit in Fulshear?

Online through GovWell. The forms on the City website are for reference only.

How much is a pool permit in Fulshear?

$950, including plan review and inspections; a hot tub or spa is $250.

When will my inspection happen?

The next business day if requested before 3:00 p.m., otherwise within two business days.

Do electricians pay for a permit in Fulshear?

The electrical permit itself has no fee, but the electrical inspection costs $95 for a home and $300 for commercial work.

Which codes does Fulshear use?

The City’s permit page lists the 2015 International Codes, the 2014 National Electrical Code and the 2015 energy code, with a 130 mph design wind speed for framing.

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