Mineral Wells, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Mineral Wells city limits, building and trade permits come from the City’s Development Services department and are applied for online in GovWell, where contractors also register. New construction, remodel and solar permits go through a 10–14 business-day plan review, and a new house costs a $200 initial fee plus $0.25 per square foot under the fee schedule effective October 1, 2026, with electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits on top.

What requires a permit in Mineral Wells?

The City’s rule of thumb is that any new structure or repair to a structure needs a permit, and so does most trade work. Its “Do You Need a Permit?” handout lists:

Starting without a permit can bring a citation for each day, a doubled permit fee, or an order to remove the work. A carport that does not meet zoning setbacks needs a Special Exception from the Board of Adjustment first, which takes about three or four weeks.

Mineral Wells building department: who handles permitting

Development Services issues building, trade, sign and solar permits and Certificates of Occupancy for property inside city limits; its Director is Richard Glass. Plan review and inspections are carried out by the City’s contracted third-party firms, Bureau Veritas and SAFEbuilt. The Fire Marshal’s Office reviews fire protection plans and runs the annual fire inspections of businesses and multi-family buildings.

Mineral Wells permit types and local filing records

Apply in GovWell for building (new construction, remodel, pool and spa), trade (mechanical, electrical and plumbing), solar and sign permits; the City asks for 24 hours to process an application once it is submitted. Every project needs a registered contractor, and builders register with a copy of their driver’s licence and liability insurance.

The City does not let trades work under the general contractor’s building permit: each electrician, plumber and mechanical contractor applies for a separate permit and references the parent building permit.

• Solar: the power provider’s approval letter, a structural engineer’s letter that the roof can carry the load, stamped electrical plans, a panel location plan and the attachment detail.
• Pools and spas: a property survey, a site plan showing the pool, equipment and any septic system, and a pool plan with deck, pool and overflow drainage.
• Signs: a site plan and sign drawings with size and elevation, under Chapter 6, Article II of the code.
• Commercial renovation or demolition: a copy of the asbestos survey for the affected area.

Mineral Wells permit costs and fees

Fees come from the City’s Master Fee Schedule effective October 1, 2026. Residential building fees are charged on total square footage, including every floor, porches, garages and carports; plumbing and mechanical fees use living or conditioned space only.

For example, a house with 1,600 sq ft of living space and 2,000 sq ft in total with its garage and porches pays $200 + $500 building + $180 electrical + $144 plumbing + $128 mechanical, or $1,152. Stand-alone trade jobs are priced per item: $20 for an electrical panel service plus $1 per extra circuit, $20 plus $7 per fixture for plumbing, and $40 per mechanical unit. The schedule notes that inspections are performed by the City’s contracted third-party provider under its own fee schedule, held by the Inspection Department. Fees can be paid by phone at 940-328-7715 or in person by cash, check or card.

Mineral Wells electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits

Trade contractors file their own GovWell permits, even on a job that already has a building permit, and need the parent permit details to apply. Electrical meter releases are usually posted the same day as the inspection, and you then have 30 days to have Oncor (888-313-6862) set the meter; gas releases work the same way with Texas Gas Services (866-206-9587). The City advises against booking meter-release inspections on Fridays, because a failed one is not re-inspected until the next business day. The water meter is released after the first plumbing inspection on a new water and sewer tap.

Fire protection: fire alarm, fire pump and sprinkler plans need review by a firm on the Fire Marshal’s approved third-party list. Kitchen hood systems, underground fire mains, tanks and new building plans are also submitted to the Fire Marshal’s Office at 212 S. Oak Avenue, as a full set of paper plans with an architect’s stamp. The office checks a submittal within 48 hours, excluding weekends, and calculates the permit fee after review.

New construction and remodel checklists

• A 911 address for the parcel, issued by the City’s Building Official, and confirmation that the zoning allows the building.
• A site plan with the building and the front, rear and side yard measurements.
• Building plans to the 2012 International Building Code, engineered for commercial projects over 5,000 sq ft and for homes of more than one story.
• Mechanical, electrical and plumbing plans, a stamped engineered foundation plan, elevations and a signed energy report; new commercial work adds parking, grading and utility plans.
• Water and sewer tap cards from Public Works, which must be in hand before the building permit is issued.
• A General Excavation Permit, with a driveway drawing approved by Public Works.

The Flood Plain Administrator checks applications for land in a flood plain or floodway, and building in a designated floodway may require a No-Rise Certification. Plan review for new construction, remodels and solar takes 10–14 business days. Businesses with grease traps should contact the Pre-Treatment office at 940-328-7786.

Mineral Wells permit application: how to apply

Inspections in Mineral Wells

For the first inspection on every project, call 940-328-7715 or email inspections@mineralwellstx.gov. After that, contact the inspection company assigned to the permit directly: Bureau Veritas at 817-335-8111 or SAFEbuilt at 940-521-0470. Requests received by 4:00 p.m. are inspected the next business day, starting at 8:00 a.m., and work that is not ready then will fail. Give the address, permit number and an on-site contact; times cannot be guaranteed and there are no inspections on City holidays.

A residential Certificate of Occupancy is issued only for new homes, on request after the finals. Commercial buildings need a CO for every new build, new tenant or change of owner; it cannot be transferred, and a reinspection fee is due if inspections fail more than twice. Fire inspections for a CO are booked with the Fire Marshal at 940-328-7791.

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

Mineral Wells permit search and official resources

• Mineral Wells Building Permits
• GovWell permit portal for Mineral Wells
• Do You Need a Permit? (City handout)
• New Construction Checklist
• Remodel Checklist
• Inspection and plan review companies
• Certificate of Occupancy
• Adopted codes
• Fire Marshal: contractor plan submittals
• Building in the floodway
• Development Services contacts and Master Fee Schedule

Frequently asked questions

How much is a building permit for a new house in Mineral Wells?

A $200 initial fee plus $0.25 per square foot of total area, with electrical at $0.09 per sq ft and plumbing and mechanical at $0.09 and $0.08 per sq ft of living space.

How long does plan review take in Mineral Wells?

10 to 14 business days for new construction, remodel and solar permits.

Do I need a permit for a shed or carport in Mineral Wells?

Yes. The City requires a permit for accessory buildings of any size; a permanent one up to 600 sq ft is $0.19 per sq ft, a portable one $40, and a carport $0.20 per sq ft.

Are trade permits separate from the building permit?

Yes. The City does not validate building permits for subcontractors, so each trade applies for its own permit and references the parent permit.

Who does inspections in Mineral Wells?

The City books the first inspection; after that, Bureau Veritas or SAFEbuilt, whichever is assigned. Requests made by 4:00 p.m. are inspected the next business day.

Which building codes does Mineral Wells use?

The 2012 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical and Plumbing Codes, the 2011 National Electrical Code and the 2015 Energy Code, adopted February 18, 2014.

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