Georgetown issues building permits through Development Services, running applications, payment, and inspection scheduling on My Government Online. The city has adopted the 2021 International Codes, including the 2021 International Residential Code and the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Georgetown has an ETJ rule that catches people. If the project address is located within the ETJ or the county and the City of Georgetown is the water, wastewater, or electric provider, then building permits apply. Utility service, not city limits, is the trigger.
The city also does not issue a Certificate of Occupancy for residential homes. The building final inspection serves as the Certificate of Occupancy, and the permit holder can print the building final report from their My Government Online account.
Applies inside Georgetown city limits, and extends into the ETJ and unincorporated Williamson County wherever the city is the water, wastewater, or electric provider. Round Rock, Cedar Park, Leander, Hutto, and Liberty Hill permit independently. Confirm both the parcel and the utility provider before assuming jurisdiction.
Utility service can pull a county parcel into city permitting. If the project address is in the ETJ or the county and Georgetown provides water, wastewater, or electric service, building permits apply. That is a different test from city limits, and it is the single most misunderstood thing about permitting in this corridor.
What requires a permit in Georgetown?
A building permit is required in Georgetown to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system.
That is a broad trigger reaching the full range of trade work, and it applies inside city limits and — via the utility-provider test — into the ETJ and county as well.
Permit required
- Construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish a building or structure
- Change the occupancy of a building or structure
- Erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert, or replace electrical systems
- The same range of work on gas, mechanical, and plumbing systems
- ETJ or county projects where Georgetown is the water, wastewater, or electric provider
- Reroofing and exterior envelope work
- Signs and accessory structures
Confirm before assuming
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, and floor coverings
- Cabinet and countertop replacement
- Note: the stated trigger is broad — contact permits@georgetowntexas.gov before assuming
- Routine maintenance not affecting structure or systems
Georgetown building department: who handles permitting
Development Services handles building permits and inspections, with My Government Online carrying account creation, application, document upload, payment, and inspection scheduling. Permit questions go to permits@georgetowntexas.gov.
Note the notification address: once a permit is issued you receive an email from "no-reply@scpdc.org" with the permit amount. That is an unfamiliar domain and it is worth whitelisting so the issuance notice does not land in spam.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | City of Georgetown Development Services |
| permits@georgetowntexas.gov | |
| Online portal | My Government Online — account, application, upload, payment, inspections |
| Adopted codes | 2021 IRC, 2021 IECC, and 2023 NEC |
| Residential plan review | 15 to 20 business days from acceptance of the application |
| Inspection scheduling | By 3 p.m. for the next available business day — not guaranteed |
| Issuance notification | Email from no-reply@scpdc.org with the permit amount |
| ETJ rule | Permits apply where Georgetown is the water, wastewater, or electric provider |
Georgetown is explicit that inspection turnaround depends on volume and type, and that it cannot guarantee next business day for all inspections requested by 3 p.m. Treat the cutoff as a target rather than a commitment when building a schedule.
In 2025, building permits issued in Georgetown authorized 1,770 new privately owned housing units, 1,462 of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Georgetown permits: record types and what each covers
A building permit is one record among many, and Georgetown states its trigger broadly — constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, moving, demolishing, or changing occupancy, plus erecting, installing, enlarging, altering, repairing, removing, converting, or replacing any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system. The prior question is jurisdictional, because utility service can bring an ETJ or county address into city permitting.
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures over the exempt threshold | Full plan review (structural, energy, zoning) | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural or load-bearing changes, layout changes, substantial repair | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement and most major roof repair | Local reroof inspections; TDI windstorm inspection in the coastal catastrophe area | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV installation or replacement | Structural plus electrical review | Flat or system-size based |
| Solar thermal | Passive water heating or pool heating systems | Plumbing and structural review | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, most wiring alterations | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, gas piping | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts that are not like-for-like, ductwork, refrigeration | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Windows and doors | Replacement units and opening protection | Windstorm review for wind-borne debris on the coast | Valuation or per-opening |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barrier and enclosure work | Plan review plus barrier and electrical bonding | Valuation-based |
| Fence and accessory | Fences, sheds, decks, and carports over the exempt threshold | Zoning plus structural where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification required | Flat |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily | Full multi-discipline plan review | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups | Plan review across affected disciplines | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Change of use | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Zoning, life-safety, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement | Plan review plus fire review where applicable; TDI windstorm inspection on the coast | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount PV | Structural, electrical, and often fire review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, and gas systems | Trade review | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, and suppression systems | Fire prevention plan review | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Demolition | Full or partial commercial demolition | Utility disconnect and environmental clearance | Flat or valuation-based |
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Master permit with trades filed against it
- Owners may do some work on their own home; many cities ask for a homestead affidavit
- Windstorm rules drive roofing and opening protection on the coast
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans for larger projects; many cities require them for all commercial work
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to change of use
- Impact fees can apply on top of permit fees
Roofing permits in Georgetown
Georgetown sits in Williamson County north of Austin, far inland of the designated catastrophe area and outside any TDI windstorm requirement. Hail governs, and Central Texas spring storm cells drive concentrated reroof demand across the corridor.
Texas has no single statewide building code and no general contractor licence: state law sets base codes and each city adopts its own edition and amendments, while most counties issue no building permits for homes outside city limits. The statewide solar, HOA and roofing rules are on the Texas page. Texas rules
Georgetown permit cost and fees
Georgetown publishes a current permit fee schedule, with fees remitted through My Government Online once the permit is approved. The issuance email carries the permit amount.
Residential plan review runs 15 to 20 business days from acceptance, so on a schedule-sensitive project that review window is the larger commitment rather than the fee.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Per the published city fee schedule |
| Trade permits (E / P / M / gas) | The permit trigger reaches installation, alteration, repair, and replacement |
| Payment | Remitted through My Government Online after approval |
| Residential plan review | 15–20 business days from acceptance |
| Planning or Engineering approvals | May be required before a building permit application |
| Residential CO | Not issued — the building final serves as the Certificate of Occupancy |
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Want a precise number for a specific Georgetown project? Send us the scope and valuation and we’ll return a fee estimate alongside a realistic review timeline.
Georgetown trade permits
Electrical, gas, mechanical, and plumbing work each fall within the city’s permit trigger, which reaches erection, installation, enlargement, alteration, repair, removal, conversion, and replacement of those systems. Electrical work runs under the 2023 NEC as adopted.
Electrical
Permitted under the 2023 NEC as adopted. Performed by a TDLR-licensed electrician.
Plumbing
New plumbing, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, and gas piping — performed by a TSBPE-licensed plumber. The trigger reaches repair and replacement.
Mechanical / HVAC
Installation, alteration, repair, conversion, and replacement all fall within the stated permit trigger.
Gas
Gas systems are named explicitly alongside electrical, mechanical, and plumbing in the permit requirement.
Georgetown permit application: how to apply step by step
Check city limits, and separately check whether Georgetown provides water, wastewater, or electric service to an ETJ or county address. Either can bring the project into city permitting.
Georgetown encourages contact if you are unsure of requirements, and may refer you to staff to determine whether Planning or Engineering approvals are needed first.
Complete the permit application and upload the required construction documents through the portal.
Residential plan review runs 15 to 20 business days from the time the application is accepted.
Return to My Government Online to remit payment once approved. Watch for the issuance email from no-reply@scpdc.org.
Schedule inspections through MGO by 3 p.m. for the next available business day. On residential, the building final serves as the Certificate of Occupancy — print the report from MGO.
Inspections in Georgetown
Inspections are requested online through My Government Online by 3 p.m. for the next available business day; the city does not take inspection requests by telephone, and notes that turnaround depends on the volume and type of inspections requested and cannot be guaranteed. Inspections are carried out Monday to Friday, 8:00am to 3:30pm.
Georgetown does not issue a Certificate of Occupancy for residential homes. The building final inspection serves as the Certificate of Occupancy, and the permit holder can print the building final report from their My Government Online account.
Keep the permit and approved documents on site, and clear correction notices before requesting a re-inspection.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Georgetown permit search and official resources
- City of Georgetown — building permits and inspections
- Georgetown — residential permits
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Georgetown?
City of Georgetown Development Services issues building permits for everything inside Georgetown city limits, handling plan review, permit issuance, and construction inspections. Work outside the city limits falls to Williamson County, and Texas counties have sharply limited building authority in unincorporated areas.
How do I get a permit in Georgetown?
Confirm the scope triggers a permit and that zoning allows it, prepare the plan set and site plan, file through My Government Online with contractor licensure in place, respond to plan review comments, pay fees and take issuance, then run the inspection sequence through final. Contractor credentialing is the step most often missed and it blocks everything downstream.
What codes apply in Georgetown?
Texas has no mandatory statewide building code. Municipalities adopt and amend model codes themselves, so Georgetown enforces the 2021 International Building, Residential, Energy Conservation, Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Fire, Swimming Pool and Spa, and Property Maintenance Codes, with the 2023 National Electrical Code; since 1 August 2024 all pools must be engineered. The local amendments are where the binding requirements live, and they differ from neighboring cities working off the same model code.
Do I need a Georgetown permit if I am outside city limits?
Possibly. If the project address is located within the ETJ or the county and the City of Georgetown is the water, wastewater, or electric provider, then building permits apply. That test turns on utility service rather than municipal boundaries, so a parcel that is plainly outside city limits can still fall under city permitting. Confirm the service provider before assuming county rules govern.
Does Georgetown issue a residential Certificate of Occupancy?
No. The City of Georgetown does not issue a Certificate of Occupancy for residential homes — the building final inspection serves as the Certificate of Occupancy. If you are the permit holder, you can print the building final report from your My Government Online account. Raise this with a lender or title company early, because they will often ask for a residential CO that does not exist here.
How long does plan review take in Georgetown?
Residential plan review runs 15 to 20 business days from the time your application is accepted — note that the clock starts at acceptance rather than submission. Once the permit is issued you receive an email notification from no-reply@scpdc.org carrying the permit amount, and you return to My Government Online to remit payment. Inspections are then scheduled through MGO by 3 p.m. for the next available business day, subject to volume.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Georgetown?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in Georgetown are permitted under a dedicated solar record type reviewed on both a structural and an electrical track. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a separate record. Under Tex. Prop. Code §202.010, a homeowners' association cannot ban a solar energy device outright, but it may still require prior architectural approval and impose reasonable placement conditions, so run the HOA submittal alongside the permit. Since September 1, 2025, Tex. Local Gov't Code §247.0025 (SB 1202) also permits third-party plan review and inspection of home backup power installations — generators and energy storage for one- and two-family dwellings at 600 volts or less — in place of jurisdiction review. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate still run in parallel.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in Georgetown?
Yes, in most cases. A roof covering replacement requires a permit in most Texas municipalities including Georgetown, though minor repairs can fall below the local threshold. Texas has no statewide product approval system and no central product listing, so compliance runs against the locally adopted code edition and its local amendments. Hail rather than wind is the governing risk inland, and Tex. Prop. Code §202.011 bars an HOA from prohibiting wind or hail resistant shingles.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Georgetown?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in Georgetown runs concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning, requires signed and sealed plans for every affected discipline, and can carry impact fees on top of permit fees. Change of use adds accessibility and life-safety review.
Do trade permits need to be pulled separately in Georgetown?
Yes in most cases. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is permitted separately by the licensed contractor for each trade and filed against the master building permit. Each trade permit carries its own fee and its own inspection sequence.
What happens if I file under the wrong permit type in Georgetown?
Usually the department asks you to correct the application or withdraw it and file again under the right type, which adds time. Confirm the record type with the building department before filing.
Can I apply for all Georgetown permit types online?
Yes. Create an account and log into My Government Online, complete the permit application, and upload the required construction documents. Once the permit is approved you return to MGO to remit payment, and inspections are scheduled through the same system by 3 p.m. for the next available business day. The city encourages contacting permits@georgetowntexas.gov before submitting if you are unsure of requirements.
Simplify Georgetown permitting with Alliance Permitting
A utility-provider test that pulls county parcels into city permitting, a 15 to 20 business day residential review, online-only inspection requests, and no residential Certificate of Occupancy — Georgetown has several rules that do not travel from other Central Texas cities. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Georgetown: we settle the jurisdiction test first and file to the adopted editions.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Georgetown because we deliver:
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction through issuance. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of July 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with City of Georgetown Development Services before filing. This is not legal advice.