Kaufman, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Kaufman city limits, the Building Safety Division of the City’s Development Services department permits, reviews and inspects all structures and improvements. Contractors register with the City and apply through MyGov, plan review fees are paid before review begins (the residential checklist asks for an $800 deposit on a new home), and inspection requests made by 3 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day.

What requires a building permit in Kaufman?

The Building Safety Division lists the work it permits and inspects:

Who handles permitting in Kaufman?

Development Services runs the Building Safety Division and the Planning Division from City offices at 209 S. Washington St., Kaufman, TX 75142 (972-932-2216, fax 972-932-6288; weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Johnny Bray, CBO, is the Development Services Director (extension 140). The City’s permits cover land inside the city limits; the City posts an ETJ and City Limits map (August 2026), and property outside the limits is in unincorporated Kaufman County.

The division also supports the Building Standards Commission, which can grant relief from some building requirements and recommends action on unsafe structures.

Contractor registration and how permits are pulled

Every contractor must be registered before a permit is applied for: general contractors, electricians, plumbers, mechanical, sign, backflow, demolition, fence, fire alarm, fire sprinkler, fire suppression, foundation, irrigation, pool and roofing contractors. Registration is done in MyGov and costs nothing; the paper form asks for a state-issued ID and the relevant trade licence.

On large projects the general contractor applies for the permit, and each trade then validates the permit for its own work before the City issues it. On smaller jobs each registered trade applies for and pays for its own permit. The City publishes separate checklists for signs, fences, accessory buildings, solar systems and pools, and each must be submitted with the building permit application.

What permits cost in Kaufman

The City’s website does not post a full permit fee schedule. What it does publish:

• New home plan review: the residential submittal checklist (updated September 2022) asks for an $800 check with the plans. It is credited toward the total permit cost when the permit is issued, and it is not refunded or moved to another project if the house plans change or the job is cancelled.
• Commercial plan review: there is no set fee; give the City the job value, use and square footage to get the amount, which is also credited toward the permit.
• Payment: plan review fees are paid before staff review the project, by cash, check or card; card payments carry a 3% surcharge.
• Contractor registration: free.

Documents for a Kaufman permit

Incomplete submittals are handed back without review. Some older checklists still quote the 2015 codes and 2014 electrical code; the Building Safety Division now lists the 2021 International Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

How to get a Kaufman building permit

Inspections in Kaufman

Since November 1, 2023, the cut-off for next-business-day inspections has been 3 p.m. On new homes and commercial buildings, a form survey sealed by a Texas-licensed surveyor must be on site for the plumbing rough-in inspection. A pool needs the City’s final inspection before it is put into operation, and the City publishes a Commercial Fire and Safety Inspection Checklist for commercial buildings.

Kaufman rules for fences, sheds and pools

Fences: up to 8 ft tall behind the front yard line. Fences are not allowed in the front yard of a house or townhouse, except decorative fences no more than 3 ft high that are at least 50% open (chain link and wire mesh do not count). Gates for vehicles must sit at least 20 ft back from the property line, and electric fences, barbed wire, hog wire and corrugated metal are not permitted.

Accessory buildings: behind the front building line, at least 10 ft from the house and 3 ft from side and rear property lines, covering no more than half of the required rear yard. Plans with footing details are required even for a prefabricated shed.

Pools: at least 5 ft from the house to the water’s edge and 3 ft from side lot lines, with a barrier at least 4 ft high and a stamped location approval from the electric utility.

Utilities: the City’s permit application lists Oncor and TVEC as electric providers and Atmos for gas.

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

Kaufman official resources

• City of Kaufman Building Safety Division
• Kaufman MyGov permit and contractor portal
• Kaufman permits, forms and checklists
• Residential plans submittal checklist (PDF)
• Commercial plans submittal checklist (PDF)
• Residential building permit application (PDF)
• Residential fence checklist (PDF)
• Residential accessory building checklist (PDF)
• Swimming pool and spa checklist (PDF)
• Pre-development meeting application (PDF)
• Kaufman ETJ and city limits map, August 2026 (PDF)

Kaufman building permit FAQs

Who issues building permits in Kaufman?

The City of Kaufman’s Building Safety Division, within Development Services at 209 S. Washington St. (972-932-2216).

How much does it cost to submit plans for a new house?

The residential checklist asks for an $800 plan review check, which is credited toward the permit total and is not refunded if the project is cancelled.

Does Kaufman charge contractors to register?

No. Registration is free and is done in MyGov, but it is required before any permit application.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Kaufman?

Yes. Submit the fence checklist and a survey with the application; fences may be up to 8 ft high behind the front yard line.

Do I need a permit to replace a roof or windows?

Yes. Roof repair and replacement and exterior doors and windows are on the City’s permit list.

When do I need to call for an inspection?

By 3 p.m. to get an inspection the next business day.

What codes does Kaufman use?

The 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Energy, Existing Building, Plumbing, Mechanical, Fuel Gas, Property Maintenance and Swimming Pool and Spa codes, and the 2020 National Electrical Code.

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