Henderson, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Henderson city limits, permits are issued by the City’s Community Development Department at the Henderson Municipal Services Complex, 300 West Main Street (903-392-0786). Every contractor registers with the City before applying, and land that must be platted needs an approved plat before any building permit is issued. The City allows 7 to 10 business days to review a new house and 15 to 30 for new commercial buildings.

What requires a permit in Henderson?

The City asks for a permit for any new construction, demolition or structural alteration, including small structures such as decks and pools, interior and exterior remodeling, and electrical, plumbing and mechanical work. The Community Development forms cover:

No work may start before approval, and that includes dirt work. If a permit you need is not on the list, Community Development staff will advise, and they are available for a consultation before you apply.

Henderson building department: who handles permitting

Community Development runs building services, planning and zoning, plats and code enforcement. Applications go to the Building Official, and depending on the project the Inspection Department, Health Department and Fire Department may each look at it before the permit is issued.

City permits cover land inside Henderson only. Outside the city limits there is no City building permit, and septic systems are inspected by Rusk County’s designated representative. The County’s septic authority does not reach into Henderson: TCEQ lists the city among those its Tyler regional office (Region 5, 903-535-5100) covers.

Henderson permits: forms and contractor registration

Most forms are on the City’s Permits page as fillable PDFs, and contractor registration, demolition and house moving can also be done through online forms. Paper copies are at the Community Development help desk.

• Contractor registration: required of every contractor who needs a permit, before the application is filed.
• Building contractors: not required to be licensed or bonded by the City.
• Electricians: must hold a City licence to contract and work in Henderson. They apply to the Community Development director with their state electrical contractor and master licences and proof of insurance, and renew the City licence each year by January 1.
• Plumbers, HVAC contractors and irrigators: must hold their state licences and get the required City permits.

Henderson permit cost

Henderson does not post its permit fee schedule online. Under the City code, building, moving and demolition fees are set by the city manager or a designee and kept on file at City Hall, and plumbing, gas and mechanical fees are set the same way. The code adds two rules that affect every budget:

• Plan checking: when the job is valued over $1,000 and plans are required, a plan-checking fee of half the building permit fee is paid when the plans are submitted.
• Double fees: work started before the permit is issued pays double the normal fee.

An extra inspection trip because work was not ready can also be charged another permit fee.

Henderson trade permits

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each has its own City permit form, and the residential application lists the electrical, plumbing and mechanical contractors on the job. Trade work is checked against the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2021 International Plumbing, Mechanical and Fuel Gas Codes. Generators and solar systems use a separate installation application.

On a new home, the trades are inspected at three stages: plumbing under the slab and the temporary power pole before the foundation pour; plumbing top-out and mechanical and electrical rough-in before drywall; and electrical, plumbing and mechanical finals before the building final.

What to submit for a new home

• Two complete plan sets including mechanical, electrical and plumbing, at least 18 by 24 inches and drawn at 1/8 inch scale or larger, plus one PDF set emailed to the building inspector; one paper set is returned and must be kept on site
• Two plot plans, separate from the building plans, at a minimum 1 to 30 scale, showing existing and proposed buildings and every setback
• A site plan with lot and block, platted boundaries, street address, zoning, easements, an erosion control plan and arrows showing drainage
• Foundation details and structural drawings, including a side view with the foundation
• Two copies of REScheck energy compliance
• Water and sewer tap information and the subcontractor list

Before applying, check that water and sewer are actually available, whether fire hydrants are within 200 feet, and where CenterPoint gas lines and SWEPCO power lines run; access to a state road needs TxDOT approval. Parcel maps from the Rusk County Appraisal District can stand in for a survey drawing. Renovations and demolitions may also call for an asbestos survey.

Henderson permit application: how to apply step by step

Inspections in Henderson

Once the permit is issued, book each inspection with the Community Development administrative assistant at least 24 hours ahead, giving your name, the correct address, whether you are the owner or renter and the work being done. If the work will not be ready, call to reschedule before the inspector arrives.

The City’s residential packet sets out four phases: pre-pour (temporary pole, under-slab plumbing and foundation formwork), framing and rough-in (framing, top-out, HVAC and electrical rough-in and the exterior envelope), insulation with third-party blower door testing, and the finals. At the final building inspection the termite protection statement and the third-party energy, insulation and duct report must be on site. The certificate of occupancy is issued when every system passes.

Plats, roofing and other Henderson rules

Plats: an approved plat, recorded with Rusk County, is required before any building permit is issued and before a parcel can be divided and sold. The process starts with a sketch plat and a preliminary conference with Community Development; preliminary plats go to the Planning and Zoning Commission at a public hearing, with notice to owners within 200 feet, and required changes must be resubmitted within 30 days.

Roofing: wood shingles are prohibited unless pressure treated for fire resistance.

Fences: fences must use conventional materials such as chain link, masonry or treated pine, cedar or redwood; plywood, railroad ties, corrugated steel, cattle panels and hog wire are not allowed.

Waste: construction debris goes to an approved disposal site; the City’s municipal hauling contract is with Republic Services and the Pine Hill Landfill in Kilgore.

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

Henderson official permit resources

• Henderson permits and forms
• Henderson Building Services
• Residential construction permit packet (2026)
• Commercial construction permit packet
• Professional contractor registration form
• Henderson plats
• Henderson Code of Ordinances

Henderson permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Henderson?

The City’s Community Development Department at the Municipal Services Complex, 300 West Main Street; call 903-392-0786.

How long does plan review take in Henderson?

The City allows 7 to 10 business days for a new house and 15 to 30 business days for a new commercial building.

Do contractors need to register or be licensed?

Every contractor registers before applying. General building contractors need no City licence, electricians need a City licence, and plumbers, HVAC contractors and irrigators need their state licences.

Can I start site work before the permit is approved?

No. The City says no work may start before approval, including dirt work, and work begun without a permit pays double fees.

How do I schedule an inspection in Henderson?

Call Community Development at least 24 hours ahead with your name, address and the work being done.

Do I need a plat before a building permit?

Yes, where the land has not been platted. An approved plat recorded with Rusk County must be in place first.

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