In Leon Valley, the City’s Planning & Zoning Department at City Hall, 6400 El Verde Road (210-684-1391), issues building permits and the plumbing, electrical, mechanical and irrigation trade permits, and every application is filed and paid in MyGovernmentOnline. A new home is charged an $800 minimum building permit fee plus $0.50 per square foot, with plan review at 25% of that fee, and a permit lapses after 6 months.
What requires a permit in Leon Valley?
A building permit is needed to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move or demolish any building or structure in the City’s zoning jurisdiction, and plans must pass residential or commercial plan review before it is issued. Trade permits may be needed on top of it.
Permit needed
- New homes, additions and remodels
- Commercial buildings and finish-outs, plus a certificate of occupancy for every business
- Electrical, plumbing, gas, HVAC and irrigation work
- Sewer and trench work
- Roofing
- Fences
- Swimming pools
- Curb cuts and sidewalks
- Signs
- Development in the floodplain
- Tree removal for new construction
- Water wells and portable storage units
Exempt
- One-story detached sheds, playhouses and pergolas up to 300 sq ft and 20 ft high
- Drywall repair, painting, wallpapering, tiling and carpeting
- Cabinet and countertop replacement
- Sidewalks, driveways and flatwork outside the public right-of-way
- Minor fence repairs or replacements (fence height limits still apply)
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Who handles permitting in Leon Valley?
Planning & Zoning runs permit intake, issues building and trade permits and registers contractors. Plan review is shared: the Building Official checks building, plumbing, mechanical, electrical and energy rules; the Fire Department checks fire safety; Public Works checks flood control, drainage, parking, driveways and public improvements; and Planning & Zoning checks zoning, parking, lot coverage, height, setbacks and density.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Planning & Zoning Department | City Hall, 6400 El Verde Road, Leon Valley, TX 78238; 210-684-1391 |
| Office hours | Monday to Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. |
| Online permits | MyGovernmentOnline customer portal (select City of Leon Valley); help desk 1-866-957-3764, ext. 1 |
| Building or zoning re-inspections | 210-684-1391, ext. 226 or 227 |
| Fire inspections | 210-684-1391, ext. 288, or 210-986-4594; Fire Administration 210-684-3219 |
| Adopted codes | 2021 IBC and IRC, 2021 IMC, IECC and IPC, 2023 National Electrical Code; 2021 International Fire Code with local amendments |
Leon Valley permit fees
Fees are set in Appendix A of the City’s Code of Ordinances, posted on the Fee Schedule page. Contractor registration is free.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home | $800 minimum permit fee + $0.50 per sq ft |
| Residential addition or remodel | $400 minimum permit fee + $0.50 per sq ft |
| Residential plan review | 25% of the building permit fee, minimum $75 |
| Commercial building permit | By valuation, from $60 (up to $500); $800 plus $5 per extra $1,000 for $100,001–$500,000 |
| Commercial plan review | 35% of the building permit fee, minimum $100 |
| Plan re-review | $150 |
| Electrical, plumbing, gas, HVAC or sewer and trench permit | $100 residential, $200 commercial (inspection included) |
| Roofing / fence | $75 each |
| Swimming pool | Building permit fee schedule |
| Residential curb cut or sidewalk | $175 (commercial $275) |
| Floodplain development permit | $200 homestead, $1,500 otherwise |
| Tree removal for new construction | $60 residential, $120 commercial |
| Certificate of occupancy | $125 |
| Reinspection | $75 for most permits |
Working without a permit carries a contractor penalty of $300 for a first offense, $500 for a second and $1,000 for a third. Water impact fees for a standard 5/8- or 3/4-inch meter total $5,959. The City’s cashiers take Visa, Mastercard, cash, check or money order.
Trade permits, homeowners and fire review
Planning & Zoning issues plumbing, gas, electrical, mechanical (HVAC), irrigation and sewer and trench permits, and every contractor working at a Leon Valley address, from general contractors and trades to roofers, fence, pool, sign and foundation companies, must register its state licence with the City each year.
A homeowner can pull a permit for almost any job, but must do the work personally rather than hire a contractor under it. Unlicensed homeowners may also pull electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits, but only for their own homestead (not a rental), and a homeowner plumbing permit covers work inside the house only. The homeowner then calls the inspections and is responsible for the work.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →The Deputy Fire Marshal reviews building plans for fire safety, issues fire system and related permits and carries out the fire part of every commercial certificate of occupancy inspection.
How to get a permit in Leon Valley
An expired permit on the property must be resolved before a new building permit can be issued; call 210-684-1391 to check.
Contractors register their state trade licence with the City each year; there is no fee.
Create a customer portal account and choose City of Leon Valley as the jurisdiction.
The plans go to every department that needs to review them.
Minor corrections can be marked on the original plans; major or numerous changes need revised drawings, and a re-review costs $150.
Pay the fees online, print the permit and the reviewed plans, and finish within 6 months or ask for an extension.
Leon Valley inspections
Request inspections in MyGovernmentOnline by 3:00 p.m. on the workday before. Inspections are made between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., Monday to Friday, and cancellations must be called in by 8:00 a.m. on the day. Completed inspection reports can be viewed and printed in the portal, and the permit holder receives an email when an inspection is done. Every permitted job needs a final inspection, which the contractor or homeowner schedules.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Before a business opens, it needs building, fire and zoning inspections, and a health inspection for food businesses. If the space is under construction, the general contractor must pass all final construction inspections first. Book the fire inspection at least 24 hours ahead (210-684-1391 ext. 288 or 210-986-4594); a failed building or zoning inspection is rebooked through ext. 226 or 227 once the $75 re-inspection fee is paid. Inspectors may allow a 30-day temporary certificate of occupancy, for example for staff training or small corrections.
Floodplain, trees and impact fees
Floodplain: Leon Valley has its own floodplain management program, and development in the floodplain needs a City permit: $200 for a homestead and $1,500 in other cases. Public Works reviews flood control and drainage on every plan set.
Trees: tree preservation rules for homes and businesses come from Ordinances 07-034 and 07-040, and removing trees for new construction needs a permit. The City’s Tree Advisory Board treats trees with trunks of 24 inches or more in diameter as heritage trees.
Driveways and sidewalks: curb cuts and sidewalks follow the City’s driveway and sidewalk standards, and the permit fee covers the initial and final inspection only.
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 →Leon Valley permit search and official resources
- Leon Valley — Fire Prevention
- Leon Valley — Code of Ordinances Summary
- Leon Valley — Permits and Applications
- Leon Valley Fee Schedule (Code Appendix A)
- Leon Valley Planning & Zoning permit FAQs
- Leon Valley: work exempt from building permits
- Leon Valley Certificate of Occupancy
- Leon Valley Tree Preservation
Leon Valley permit FAQs
How much is a building permit for a new house in Leon Valley?
The fee schedule sets an $800 minimum permit fee plus $0.50 per square foot, and residential plan review adds 25% of the permit fee (at least $75).
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit for a shed in Leon Valley?
Not for a one-story detached shed, playhouse or pergola of 300 sq ft or less and no more than 20 feet high. Larger ones need a permit.
Can a homeowner pull a permit in Leon Valley?
Yes, for almost any job they do themselves. Pulling electrical, plumbing and HVAC permits without a licence is limited to the owner’s own homestead.
How long is a permit valid?
6 months. Call 210-684-1391 before it runs out if you need an extension.
When can I get an inspection?
Request it by 3:00 p.m. the workday before; inspections happen between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. on weekdays.
Do I need a permit to replace a roof or fence?
A roof needs a $75 roofing permit. A new fence needs a $75 permit; minor fence repairs or replacements are exempt.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Leon Valley permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.