Inside Jacksonville city limits, the City’s Development Services Department at 215 E Rusk St. (903-589-3510) reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects the work. A new house up to 2,000 square feet costs $400, larger homes add $0.20 per square foot, and the City has enforced the 2024 International Codes since October 1, 2026.
What requires a permit in Jacksonville?
City code requires a building permit for any building, structure or wall erected in the city unless it costs $100 or less. Re-roofing a single-family home is exempt from the building permit.
Permit needed
- New homes, additions and remodels
- New commercial buildings, remodels, roofing and tenant finish-outs
- Canopies, carports and some patio covers and storage buildings
- Swimming pools and underground lawn sprinkler systems
- Signs
- Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical work
- Fire alarms and fire sprinklers in commercial buildings
- Demolition, house moving and excavation, grading or flatwork
- Cargo or shipping containers over 120 sq ft
No building permit
- Re-roofing a single-family home
- Work costing $100 or less
Shipping containers may be kept as accessory storage only in zoning districts J, K, L, M and O, each with its own building permit. Building Inspections decides whether a patio cover or storage building needs a permit.
Who handles permitting in Jacksonville?
Development Services is the City’s code compliance agency and its official in charge is the building official. The department handles planning and zoning, platting, building permits, sign and vendor permits, and building inspections, and it reviews commercial site plans and fire sprinkler plans. Land outside the city limits is in unincorporated Cherokee County.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Development Services, 215 E Rusk St., Jacksonville |
| Phone | 903-589-3510 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Applications | Online e-sign forms on the City’s Applications page |
Jacksonville applications and contractor registration
The City’s Applications page has online forms for a Residential Building Permit, a Residential Add-On Permit, a Commercial Building Permit, a Demolition Permit (with a Consent to Demolish form), a Fire Alarm and Sprinkler Permit and a Certificate of Occupancy, plus a site plan example. Every contractor working in Jacksonville must register with the City before a permit is issued; the department gives the registration requirements by phone.
Jacksonville permit fees (2026)
These amounts come from the City’s Adopted 2026 Master Fee Schedule, updated through June 10, 2026. The residential fees include plan review.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home up to 2,000 sq ft | $400 |
| New home over 2,000 sq ft | $400 base fee plus $0.20 per sq ft |
| Residential remodel | $150 |
| Commercial, value up to $1,000 | $37.50 |
| Commercial, $1,001–$50,000 | $37.50 plus $4.55 per additional $1,000 |
| Commercial, $50,001–$100,000 | $294 plus $3.64 per $1,000 over $50,000 |
| Commercial, $100,001–$500,000 | $504 plus $2.34 per $1,000 over $100,000 |
| Commercial, over $500,000 | $1,584 plus $1.56 per $1,000 over $500,000 |
| Commercial plan review | Half the permit fee, at least $50 |
| Site development permit (civil only) | 1.5% of valuation |
| Certificate of occupancy / temporary CO | $100 / $250 |
| Demolition | $100 residential; $200 commercial |
| Excavation, grading or flatwork | $100 |
| Re-inspection | First free; $50 each after that |
| After-hours inspection | $50 |
Water and sewer tap fees, where they apply, are paid before the building permit is issued. Signs cost $100 (temporary signs $25), irrigation $50 and a commercial fence $100.
Electrical, plumbing, gas and mechanical permits
Each trade permit is limited to certain holders. Electrical permits go only to a master electrician with a $5,000 bond or to a homestead homeowner; plumbing and gas permits only to a master plumber carrying $300,000 of insurance or to a homestead homeowner; and mechanical permits only to a licensed air conditioning and heating contractor with proof of insurance.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential electrical | $30 |
| Temporary electrical service | $30 |
| Commercial electrical | $100 |
| Plumbing or gas | $100 |
| Gas service test | $40 |
| Mechanical | $20, plus $10 for the first $1,000 of cost and $5 for each additional $1,000 |
| Commercial fire alarm or overhead sprinkler system | $100 |
Jacksonville’s amended residential code deletes the IRC’s sprinkler requirement for houses and townhouses and requires building sewers at least 36 inches below grade.
How to get a permit in Jacksonville
Confirm the lot’s zoning, setbacks, parking and platting, and whether it lies in a flood plain, using the City’s zoning map.
Call Development Services for registration requirements; trade permits need the licence, bond or insurance listed above.
Choose the residential, add-on, commercial, demolition or fire application on the Applications page.
Include the site plan, building plans and energy compliance (REScheck or COMcheck); commercial plans also need fire-resistance details and any required seal.
Pay the permit fees and any water or sewer tap fees, then begin work within 180 days of issue.
Request each inspection at 903-589-3510 or at the counter, and get the certificate of occupancy for commercial space.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Jacksonville
Inspections are requested by phone at 903-589-3510 or in person at 215 E Rusk St. The City’s development guide says inspectors work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and post a green tag for approved work or a red tag where corrections are needed. A first re-inspection is free and later ones cost $50; after-hours inspections cost $50.
Every commercial building and commercial use needs a certificate of occupancy, issued after all final inspections pass. A change in use or occupancy of an existing building needs a new CO application. A permit lapses if work has not begun within 180 days.
Local Jacksonville rules
Manufactured homes and PODs: the City permits manufactured homes only within licensed mobile or manufactured home parks, and portable storage units (PODs) are not allowed in residential districts.
Food businesses: a food establishment also needs a Food Establishment Permit before opening, with construction requirements available from the Cherokee County Health Department.
Penalties: violations of the residential code carry a fine of $500 to $2,000, and each day a violation continues after notice counts as a separate offense.
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 Jacksonville resources
- Jacksonville Building Inspection & Permitting
- Jacksonville building permit applications
- Jacksonville building permit fee types
- Jacksonville Adopted 2026 Master Fee Schedule
- Jacksonville Development Services
- Jacksonville Code of Ordinances
Jacksonville permit FAQ
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Jacksonville, Texas?
The City’s Development Services Department, 215 E Rusk St. (903-589-3510), for property inside city limits.
How much is a building permit for a new house?
$400 for a home of up to 2,000 sq ft, with $0.20 per square foot added for larger homes; plan review is included.
Do I need a permit to re-roof my house?
No. City code exempts re-roofing a single-family home from the building permit. Commercial roofing does need one.
Can a homeowner pull electrical or plumbing permits?
Yes, a homestead homeowner can. Otherwise electrical permits go to a bonded master electrician and plumbing and gas permits to an insured master plumber.
Which codes does Jacksonville use?
The 2024 International Residential, Building, Existing Building and Energy Conservation Codes, adopted in April 2026 and in force since October 1, 2026.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call 903-589-3510 or ask in person at 215 E Rusk St.
Simplify Jacksonville 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.
Ready to break ground in Jacksonville sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Jacksonville permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Jacksonville permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.