Kerrville, Texas Building Permit Guide

For property inside Kerrville city limits, the Building Division of the City’s Development Services department issues building and trade permits, and applications and PDF plans are filed in MyGovernmentOnline (MGO). A new home costs $0.40 per square foot of floor area under roof plus a plan review fee of half that amount, and the City has 10 business days to review each set of plans.

What needs a permit in Kerrville?

The City’s rule of thumb is that most projects need a permit unless the work is very minor, and that each stage of construction is permitted. Carpentry, electrical, plumbing, mechanical and concrete work all fall under it.

Shipping containers are generally not allowed on residential or commercial lots, although one can be used as a structural element of a home that meets the building code.

Who issues permits in Kerrville?

Development Services, at 200 Sidney Baker Street North (830-258-1514, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding major holidays), houses the Building, Planning and Code Enforcement divisions. Aaron Barnes is the Interim Chief Building Official. The Building Division reviews plans, issues building and trade permits, inspects work and issues certificates of occupancy. Fire code review goes through the Fire Marshal’s office (830-258-1205), and drainage and civil questions through Engineering (830-258-1410).

MGO filing and contractor licensing

Create a customer portal account at MyGovernmentOnline and pick City of Kerrville as the jurisdiction. The account is used to apply, upload PDF plans, pay fees, print the permit and the reviewed plans, request inspections and read inspection reports; MGO’s help desk is 1-866-957-3764, ext. 1.

A contractor offering work to the public must hold a City general contractor licence before pulling a building permit:

• $300 for the first year and $100 a year after that, with a $200 late renewal fee; licences expire on December 31.
• A $5,000 surety bond on the City’s form or the insurer’s, kept in force whenever the contractor holds a permit.
• A one-project licence for $150, paid once the permit is approved and valid only for that project.

Mechanical, electrical, sign, plumbing, backflow, irrigation, LPG, medical gas contractors and third-party energy raters register on the same Contractor Registration and Renewal Form, uploading their certificate of insurance and licences, and can name extra staff allowed to pull permits. A homeowner may skip the contractor licence only for repairs or alterations done personally on their own primary residence, and an owner who takes out the permit becomes the only party responsible for the work.

Kerrville permit fees

Fees for fiscal year 2027 are in the fee schedule of the City’s adopted FY2027 budget book, a table still headed “proposed” there; the Code Information page still links the FY2026 schedule, and the building rates below are the same in both. The plan review fee is paid when the application is accepted, and review does not start until it is paid; the rest is due when the permit is approved.

For a 2,000 sq ft new house the building permit is $800 and plan review $400, $1,200 in total before trade permits. Commercial value is the higher of the contractor’s figure and the ICC valuation table. Work begun before the permit is issued costs double the permit fee or $75, whichever is greater, the first time a contractor does it, and double or $250 after that. Card payments carry a 3.5% merchant fee, and a parkland dedication fee of $1,275 per unit or lot is on the schedule.

Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

Trade permits are issued by the Building Division through MGO. The FY2027 schedule raised the electrical, HVAC and plumbing permit charge from $50 to $70 and dropped the old per-item electrical and plumbing charges in favor of a floor-area charge:

Irrigation systems must be designed by a professional engineer, licensed irrigator or landscape architect and installed by a state-licensed installer, inside the city and in its ETJ.

What to upload with the application

The application records the address, legal description, estimated cost, square footage, description of work, and contractor and owner details. The City has 10 business days for the first review and another 10 business days for each resubmittal. Reviewers either accept the plans, ask for a corrected set, or allow small changes initialled by the contractor in the office.

Steps to a Kerrville permit

Inspections in Kerrville

Inspections are requested online in MGO, which lists the inspections each permit requires and emails you when one is completed. The general contractor is responsible for getting every required inspection approved before any part of the building is concealed.

The first re-inspection on a permit is free, the second costs $100 and later ones $150 each. A same-day special inspection during business hours is $100, and scheduled after-hours inspections are $100 an hour with a 2-hour minimum. Moving into a new home without a certificate of occupancy carries a $300 fee.

Kerrville local rules

Grading and floodplain: a City grading permit is needed to disturb an acre or more, more than a quarter acre next to a watercourse, or to stockpile dirt or fill, unless the work is covered by an approved plat, floodplain permit or building permit. Any land disturbance in a special flood hazard area needs a City floodplain development permit.

Outdoor lighting: new or updated outdoor lighting needs a lighting plan filed with the other plans, listing each fixture, lamp, Kelvin rating, lumens and mounting height. The City has 30 days to approve or reject it, and lights may not be installed before approval.

Planning: a minor plat of three or fewer lots on existing streets and utilities takes about 30 days. The Development Review Committee, with City departments, utilities and transportation agencies, gives optional early comments. Annexation is mainly voluntary.

RVs and rentals: an RV can house guests for up to 14 days on temporary hookups. Short-term rentals need a City permit, the local hotel occupancy tax and off-street parking.

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

Kerrville official resources

• Kerrville building and permit information
• Kerrville MyGovernmentOnline page
• Contractor licensing and plan requirements
• Contractor Registration and Renewal Form (PDF)
• Building permit process chart (PDF)
• FY2027 adopted budget book: fee schedule
• City of Kerrville FY2026 fee schedule (PDF)
• Kerrville budget documents
• Building code ordinances
• Building Division staff
• Development Services
• Planning frequently asked questions
• Kerrville Code of Ordinances (Municode)
• Kerr County Environmental Health, septic permits

Kerrville permit FAQs

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

$0.40 per square foot of floor area under one roof, plus a plan review fee of 50% of that. A 2,000 sq ft house pays $800 plus $400.

How long does plan review take?

The City has 10 business days for each review, counted from payment of the plan check fee, and 10 more for each set of revisions.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Kerrville?

Yes. An owner doing repairs or alterations personally on their own primary residence does not need the contractor licence, but the owner then carries sole responsibility for the work.

Do I need a permit for a storage shed?

Storage and accessory buildings over 200 sq ft need a permit, at a flat $100.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

Yes, for any fence over 2.5 ft high and when 50% or more of a fence is repaired or replaced. The permit costs $80 and is applied for in MGO.

How do I become a licensed contractor in Kerrville?

Post a $5,000 surety bond and pay $300 for the first year, then $100 a year; a single-project licence costs $150.

Who handles permits outside Kerrville city limits?

The City publishes no building permit for land outside its limits. Kerr County Environmental Health permits septic systems in the unincorporated county and runs the septic program inside Kerrville as well.

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