Hewitt, Texas Building Permit Guide

Hewitt’s Building Department, part of Planning & Community Development at 103 N Hewitt Drive, issues building and trade permits for the city, and every permit can be applied for online through GovWell. Under the FY 2026–2027 fee schedule a new house costs $0.25 per square foot under roof (minimum $320), plus $0.10 per square foot each for the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.

What needs a permit in Hewitt?

The City’s FAQ points to the fee schedule as the list of work that needs a permit. It includes:

A storage building needs an application and a site plan showing it meets setbacks, and a permit for any accessory building is issued only where the lot already has a main use. Water, gas or electric service is not extended to new construction until its building permit has been paid for and issued.

Who issues building permits in Hewitt?

The Building Department reviews plans, issues permits and inspects work inside Hewitt city limits. It sits within Planning & Community Development, which also handles plats, zoning changes, variances and special permits; Tracy Lankford is the Community Development Director. The City Manager, or a designee, is the floodplain administrator.

The City’s subdivision ordinance also covers land in Hewitt’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, so dividing land there goes through the City’s plat process. The City’s pages do not describe building permits outside the city limits, which lie in McLennan County.

Applying through GovWell

Since May 7, Hewitt has taken all permit applications online in GovWell, and an email address is needed to apply. After you submit, the City processes the application and emails a payment invoice; once it is paid, the permit is emailed back to you. The same GovWell record is used to follow the permit’s status, pay invoices and request inspections. Applications are also accepted in person at the Building Department.

Planning and zoning applications (plats, zoning amendments, variances, special permits and right-of-way abandonment) are also filed in GovWell under Planning and Zoning. They must be submitted by the first Friday of the month, and the City asks applicants to talk to the department about feasibility before filing.

Plumbers working in Hewitt must hold a state licence and keep a performance bond of at least $1,000 on file with the City Secretary before starting work. A business moving into a commercial space completes the Commercial Occupancy Permit Application before it opens.

Hewitt permit fees (FY 2026–2027)

Fees come from the City’s Master Fee Schedule for FY 2026–2027. The City Code says no action is taken on an application until its fees are paid.

For a 2,000 sq ft single-storey house, the building permit is $500 and the three trade permits are $200 each, so $1,100 in all before utility taps. Water taps start at a $2,000 base fee and sewer taps at $1,000, both quoted on cost, and a 5/8 by 3/4-inch meter set is $450.

Two older documents give lower figures: the City Code still lists a $200 grading fee and the 2018 commercial occupancy form says $50. The FY 2026–2027 schedule ($250 and $100) is the current one.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

For new buildings the trade permits are priced by area, as above. For other work each trade permit starts at $50 and adds unit charges:

The Fire Chief is one of the reviewers in the City’s plat review, alongside the City Manager, Engineering, the Utilities Director and the Building Official.

How to get a building permit in Hewitt

Inspections and work hours in Hewitt

Most permits need at least one inspection. Request it through GovWell or by calling 254-666-6173, at least one day before you need the inspector. A failed inspection that has to be repeated costs $50, then $75, then $100 and so on.

Building, excavation, demolition, alteration and repair work in residential and business districts is limited to 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Work outside those hours is allowed only in an urgent public-safety case with a City Manager permit, renewable for up to three days at a time. Construction sites without toilets must have portable toilets from the start of work.

Hewitt rules that affect the design

New houses: the City Code requires every new single-family home to have an enclosed two-car garage, a roof pitch of at least 6 in 12, and a foundation fascia so that no more than 12 inches of foundation is exposed. Interior concrete spot piers need four #4 bars tied into a 12 by 24 by 24-inch footing with three #5 bars. A garage converted to living space must keep 64 sq ft of storage and parking for two cars outside the required yards.

Pools and spas: a pool needs a permit before it is built and a 6-foot fence of wood, chain link or masonry with a gate kept closed and latched, its latch at least 3½ feet above the ground; a fully fenced back yard meets the rule. A spa can instead have a lockable cover that holds 50 pounds.

Clearing and grading: the application needs a site plan in duplicate, must sit with the City for at least 7 working days before the permit is issued, and the inspector visits the site first. The permit must be posted facing the street and is valid for 6 months.

Fences: commercial or industrial property next to residential zoning must have a permanent screening fence.

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

The Building Department says it enforces the 2015 International Building Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code. The City Code adopts newer code editions automatically six months after publication unless the City Council acts otherwise.

Hewitt official resources

• Hewitt Building Department
• GovWell permit portal
• Hewitt Master Fee Schedule
• City of Hewitt FAQs
• Planning & Community Development
• Planning and zoning applications
• Development Process Overview (PDF)
• Commercial Occupancy Permit Application (PDF)
• Hewitt Code of Ordinances (Municode)

Hewitt permit FAQs

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

$0.25 per square foot under roof, with a $320 minimum, plus $0.10 per square foot for each of the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits. A 2,000 sq ft single-storey house comes to $1,100.

Can I apply for a Hewitt permit online?

Yes. All permits can be applied for in GovWell, and the City emails a payment invoice and then the permit. You can also apply in person at 103 N Hewitt Drive.

Do I need a permit for a fence or a storage shed in Hewitt?

Yes. A fence permit is $50, and a storage building needs an application with a site plan showing the setbacks.

How do I schedule an inspection in Hewitt?

Request it in GovWell or call 254-666-6173 at least a day before the inspection is needed.

How much is a roof permit in Hewitt?

$100 under the FY 2026–2027 fee schedule.

What hours can construction work happen in Hewitt?

7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in residential and business districts, unless the City Manager issues an emergency permit.

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