The Permits and Inspections Division of Hutto’s Development Services Department reviews plans, issues building permits and inspects work in the city, and every application and payment goes through GovWell. A new house costs a flat $1,600 under the 2026 fee schedule, review takes 10–15 business days, and fire reviews go separately to Williamson County ESD No. 3.
What requires a permit in Hutto?
The Building Department lists its most common permit types:
Permit required
- New homes and commercial buildings, additions and remodels that move walls or change wiring, plumbing or mechanical systems
- Turning an attic or garage into living space
- Patio covers and concrete patios
- New driveways, driveway repairs and added paving
- Storage buildings over 200 sq ft
- Pools (in-ground and above-ground)
- New A/C units, water heaters and water softeners
- Irrigation systems and water or wastewater connections
- Hard-wired propane or natural gas generators
- Demolition and signs
- A new tenant, occupant or use in a lease space
- Moving more than 50 cubic yards of soil, or any cut or fill on sites with waterways or slope hazards
No permit
- Garage sales (Unified Development Code rules still apply)
- Plug-in, fuel-powered generators not wired to the house
- Flagpoles up to 35 feet (45 feet in some zoning districts), unless lights are added
- Storage buildings of 200 sq ft or less, except in the Historic/Old Town District
In the Historic/Old Town District, fences and any storage building also need a permit. Homeowners association rules and deed restrictions can apply even where no City permit is needed.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Hutto?
The Permits and Inspections Division of Development Services reviews residential and commercial plans, issues construction permits and inspects work inside the city. Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 3 handles fire-related reviews and inspections through its own portal. Land outside the city limits falls under Williamson County rather than the City.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Building Inspections | 512-759-5973; building@huttotx.gov |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| City Hall | 500 W Live Oak Street, Hutto, TX 78634; 512-759-4015 |
| Applications and payments | GovWell (account and contractor registration required) |
| Fire reviews | Williamson County ESD No. 3, HFRPermits.com |
Hutto permit fees (2026 schedule)
The City’s 2026 appendix fee schedule (last updated September 17, 2026) sets flat fees for homes and a valuation table for commercial work. Valuation is the building’s square footage times the current ICC Building Valuation Data figure for its group and construction type.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home | $1,600 |
| Residential addition or remodel | $75 |
| Master plan set (production builders) | $500 per new home plan |
| Commercial, value up to $5,000 | $25 |
| Commercial, $5,001–$10,000 | $76.92 |
| Commercial, up to $100,000 | $354.19 for the first $50,000 plus $3.85 per $1,000 |
| Commercial, up to $500,000 | $546.69 for the first $100,000 plus $3.08 per $1,000 |
| Commercial, up to $1 million | $1,778.69 for the first $500,000 plus $2.62 per $1,000 |
| Commercial plan review | 65% of the commercial permit fee |
| Storage building | $50 up to 200 sq ft; $100 over 200 sq ft |
| Pool | $25 plus $0.10 per sq ft over 200 sq ft |
| HVAC, water heater, water softener, irrigation, solar | $50 each |
| Demolition | $50 residential; $150 commercial |
| Certificate of occupancy | $100 |
| Building inspection or re-inspection | $85 residential; $100 commercial or multifamily |
After a third failed inspection there is a two-business-day wait, and re-inspections then cost $100 for homes and $125 for commercial work. Fees double if work starts before the permit is issued, and the City may also post a stop work order. Some permits also carry water, wastewater or traffic impact fees, and fire review fees are set by ESD No. 3.
Contractor registration and trade work
Contractors must create a GovWell account and complete the contractor registration process before the application forms open, and permit fees are paid in advance by the licensed party applying. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work is inspected by the City’s building inspectors. A whole-house generator, for example, needs a survey of the home, the manufacturer’s specifications and the gas source (with the propane tank shown on the survey), followed by electrical and gas inspections; extending a natural gas line takes its own permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Hutto enforces the 2024 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical (as amended), Plumbing, Fire, Fuel Gas and Energy Conservation Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
How to get a permit in Hutto
Create an account and finish contractor registration; GovWell’s online help handles account questions.
Use the latest ICC Building Valuation Data table; the Building Department will help with the fee calculation by email.
Site plans and resubmittals are taken every Monday by noon and usually need three reviews of 15 business days each.
Upload the application in GovWell and send fire-related plans to ESD No. 3 at the same time; plans are not approved without the ESD approval letter.
Pay the City fees in GovWell; new homes take 10–15 business days and new commercial buildings about two 15-day reviews.
Complete the City inspections and, for a business, the City and ESD No. 3 certificate of occupancy inspections before moving in.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Hutto
City inspectors check building, energy, mechanical, environmental, drainage, erosion control, plumbing, electrical, refrigeration and zoning compliance on every job up to the final certificate of occupancy. Fire safety inspections are carried out under ESD No. 3’s fees and process.
A new tenant, a change of use, a new owner or a new business name all need a Certificate of Occupancy application and inspections by both the City and ESD No. 3 before the space is occupied; a remodel or new sign needs a building permit as well. Occupying a building before the certificate is issued costs $100 per day, and a temporary certificate costs $300 for the rest of the first month and $750 for each month after.
Local Hutto details
Historic/Old Town District: fences and storage buildings of any size need a permit there, and minor modifications and certificates of appropriateness have their own fees (a certificate of appropriateness is 2% of the project valuation, at least $100).
Trees: a tree removal permit costs $100 for trees of at least 6 inches in diameter on undeveloped or redeveloping sites and 2.5 inches on developed sites; nuisance, diseased, dangerous or dead trees have no fee.
Site work: clearing and grading permit review costs $1,500, and site plans start at $2,500 plus $100 per acre.
Production builders: submitting a master plan set, reviewed once for $500 per plan, speeds up later permits for the same home design.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Official Hutto resources
- Hutto Building Inspections and Permitting
- Hutto building permit applications (GovWell)
- Hutto Building Department FAQ
- Hutto adopted building codes
- Hutto 2026 appendix fee schedule
- Hutto GovWell permit portal
- Williamson County ESD No. 3 fire permits
Hutto permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Hutto?
The Permits and Inspections Division of the City’s Development Services Department (512-759-5973), through GovWell.
How much is a building permit for a new house in Hutto?
A flat $1,600 under the 2026 fee schedule. An addition or remodel is $75.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How long does a Hutto permit take?
New homes take 10–15 business days; new commercial buildings allow 15 business days per review, usually two reviews.
Who reviews fire plans?
Williamson County ESD No. 3, through HFRPermits.com. The City will not approve plans until it has the ESD’s approval letter.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Hutto?
Only if it is over 200 sq ft, or in the Historic/Old Town District. The fee is $50 up to 200 sq ft and $100 above.
What if I start work without a permit?
Permit fees double, and the City may issue a stop work order.
Which codes does Hutto use?
The 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Hutto permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.