Inside Josephine city limits, the City’s Building Inspections Department issues building and trade permits and inspects the work. Applications and inspection requests go through the MyGov Collaboration Portal, where first-time users must sign up as collaborators. A new home is a flat $2,200 under the FY 2026-27 Master Fee Schedule, and the cut-off for inspection requests is 7 a.m.
What requires a building permit in Josephine?
The City requires a permit before any improvement or alteration to a property. Its Building Inspections page names these jobs:
Building work
- New construction, additions, alterations and repairs
- Interior remodels, and interior walls taller than 5 ft 10 in
- Accessory buildings larger than 10 x 12 ft
- Retaining walls
- Decks and patio covers
- Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs
- Certificates of occupancy
Trades and site work
- Plumbing, electrical and mechanical work
- Lawn irrigation systems
- Fences: new, replaced or more than 20 ft repaired (shorter repairs carry no fee)
- Driveways and concrete patio slabs
- Solar panels
- Culverts and demolition
- Signs
In Magnolia Pointe, Waverly Estates and Riverfield, a development agreement between the City and the developer also requires a building permit for any improvement or alteration. Construction work is allowed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Who handles permitting in Josephine?
Building Inspections enforces the City’s adopted building codes and ordinances within the city limits. Most of Josephine lies in Collin County, with a small part in Hunt County; land outside the limits, including the extraterritorial jurisdiction shown on the City’s City Limit and ETJ map, is not covered by the City’s building permits. Planning and zoning applications go to the City Planner (469-717-0056).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Item | Josephine detail |
|---|---|
| Permit office | Building Inspections, City Hall, 201 S. Main St., Josephine, TX 75173 |
| Phone and hours | 972-843-8282, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Mailing address | PO Box 99, Josephine, TX 75164 |
| Permits and inspections | MyGov Collaboration Portal |
| Adopted codes | 2015 IBC, IRC, IFC, IECC, IPC, IMC, IFGC and Property Maintenance Code; 2017 electrical code |
Josephine permit fees (FY 2026-27)
The City Council’s FY 2026-2027 Master Fee Schedule took effect on October 1, 2026 and replaced the 2025 schedule; the older 2024 schedule still linked on the Permits & Forms page no longer applies. Fees are paid before the permit is issued and before work starts.
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit (new home) | $2,200 |
| Certificate of occupancy, residential | $50 |
| Re-inspection | $75 |
| Inspection outside normal business hours | $125 per hour |
| Residential electrical, plumbing or mechanical permit | $100 each |
| Accessory building over 120 sq ft | $225 |
| Fence (new, replaced, or repair over 20 ft) | $125 |
| Driveway or concrete patio slab | $150 |
| Retaining wall | $200 |
| Solar panels | $150 |
| In-ground pool / spa / sprinkler system | $500 / $150 / $150 |
| Demolition | $200 |
| Culvert | $18 |
| Work started without a permit | Double the permit fee |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1 to $5,000 | $200 |
| $5,000.01 to $25,000 | $200 for the first $5,000 + $12 per additional $1,000 |
| $25,000.01 to $50,000 | $440 for the first $25,000 + $8.48 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,000.01 to $100,000 | $652.50 for the first $50,000 + $5.84 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,000.01 to $500,000 | $944 for the first $100,000 + $5.74 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,000.01 to $1,000,000 | $3,234 for the first $500,000 + $4.73 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $5,608 for the first $1,000,000 + $3.65 per additional $1,000 |
Commercial value is the project value or the ICC Building Valuation Table figure, and shell buildings and tenant finish-outs each need their own permit. A $200,000 commercial job, for example, costs $944 plus 100 x $5.74, or $1,518. Commercial certificates of occupancy and temporary COs are $100 each.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Plats, rezoning and site plans carry a base fee plus 100% of the City’s legal and engineering review costs (a preliminary or final plat is $700 plus review costs), and the schedule asks for a $1,000 retainer at submittal that is reconciled against the billed third-party review when the project is complete. Residential water and sewer taps are $2,500 each for a 5/8 to 1 inch connection.
Trade permits and fire review
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits come from Building Inspections through MyGov. On homes each is $100; on commercial jobs they follow the same value table as the building permit. Contractors who hold a state licence register with the City free of charge; contractors without one pay $50 to register.
Commercial projects also go through fire code plan review and fire inspections, priced by project value from $50 (up to $1,000) to $2,650 for reviews, plus $0.30 per $1,000 above $6 million. One- and two-family plan reviews by the fire side cost $110 per review, as do fire sprinkler inspections and fire certificate-of-occupancy inspections (per address or unit). The Josephine Fire Department is at 120 W. Cook St.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a Josephine building permit
Use the City Limit and ETJ map on the Planning & Development page; only property inside the limits is permitted by the City.
New subdivisions and commercial sites go through the Development Application, plat checklists and the City’s development calendar before building permits.
Create your collaborator account in the MyGov Collaboration Portal.
File the building permit and the separate trade permits for the job, and register as a contractor if you are not already listed.
The City collects permit and inspection fees before it issues the permit.
Request each inspection in MyGov, pass the final and receive the certificate of occupancy.
Inspections in Josephine
Inspections are requested in MyGov. The cut-off is 7 a.m. for every inspection, and inspectors work in the field from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; foundation inspections are scheduled as a morning or afternoon slot instead. Under unusual circumstances an inspection may roll to the next business day.
To reach an inspector, call during the office windows of 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. or 3 to 4 p.m. on weekdays. A failed inspection costs $75 to re-inspect, and inspections outside normal business hours are billed at $125 an hour.
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
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Josephine official resources
- City of Josephine Building Inspections
- MyGov Collaboration Portal (Josephine)
- Master Fee Schedule FY 2026-2027 (PDF)
- City of Josephine Permits and Forms
- City of Josephine Planning and Development
- Josephine Development Application (PDF)
- City Limit and ETJ map, December 2025 (PDF)
- City of Josephine Code of Ordinances
Josephine building permit FAQs
How much is a building permit for a new house in Josephine?
A flat $2,200 under the FY 2026-27 schedule, plus $50 for the certificate of occupancy and separate $100 electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Josephine?
Yes, if the accessory building is larger than 10 x 12 ft. The fee for buildings over 120 sq ft is $225.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a fence?
Yes for a new or replacement fence or a repair of more than 20 ft ($125). Repairs under 20 ft in total carry no fee.
How do I apply?
Online in the MyGov Collaboration Portal, after registering as a collaborator. Call 972-843-8282 with questions.
What time do I need to request an inspection?
By 7 a.m. Inspectors work from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and foundation inspections are given a morning or afternoon slot.
What building codes does Josephine use?
The 2015 International Building, Residential, Fire, Energy Conservation, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas and Property Maintenance Codes, with the 2017 electrical code.
What happens if I build without a permit?
The investigation fee is double the normal permit fee.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Josephine permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.