Sachse, Texas Building Permit Guide

The City of Sachse Development Services Department (3815 Sachse Rd., Building B, 469-429-4781) issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for property inside the city, and every application and contractor registration goes through the City’s SmartGov portal. A new home is priced on the City’s valuation table at a declared value of at least $100 per square foot, with a plan review fee of 30% on top, and inspections requested by 4:00 p.m. are done the next business day.

What requires a permit in Sachse?

Section 3-5 of the City’s Code of Ordinances requires a permit to build or repair any building or structure and any plumbing, electrical or mechanical system in Sachse. Development Services publishes separate procedure sheets for each common job.

A fence permit is needed for a new fence or gate, for moving or replacing posts, for repairing more than 25% of a fence, or for changing its height or material. Commercial projects need permits for new buildings, remodels, accessory buildings and a certificate of occupancy.

Who handles permitting in Sachse?

Development Services reviews plans, registers contractors, issues permits and carries out building inspections inside Sachse. Michael Sizemore is the Assistant Director of Development Services and Building Official. Fire sprinkler and fire alarm plans go to the Sachse Fire Department instead. The city straddles Dallas and Collin counties, and the City sends a copy of each approved plan set to the appraisal district for the county the lot is in.

SmartGov accounts and contractor registration

Every new permit and every licence or registration is filed in SmartGov. Creating a SmartGov account is a separate step from registering as a contractor: sign up first, confirm the verification email, then open My Portal, choose Apply and pick the licence type for your trade. When the form asks for a site location, enter your business address rather than a job site. Staff only process the registration once every listed submittal is uploaded, and after approval you can apply for permits in that trade. Contractors registered under the City’s old system ask devservices@cityofsachse.com for a portal access code to link their existing licences.

All contractors and subcontractors on a job, including electricians, plumbers, HVAC and irrigation contractors, must be registered before a permit is issued. Fence and flatwork contractors register as general contractors. Fees are due once the permit is approved and can be paid in SmartGov, or by check in person or by mail to Development Services.

Under the City’s home backup power procedure, a third party may submit plans and inspection approvals for solar, battery and generator systems; the City then issues the permit within 3 business days for a $75 minimum fee and accepts software reviews such as SolarAPP+. Full City review and inspection is still available to anyone who prefers it.

Sachse permit fees (Master Fee Schedule, April 2026)

Building permit fees come from the valuation table in the Master Fee Schedule adopted and effective April 6, 2026. New homes, additions and remodels use the declared value, but not less than $100 per sq ft including garages, porches and patios; for remodels the value counts construction materials only. Commercial remodels use at least $95 per sq ft and new commercial buildings at least $150 per sq ft.

Plan review adds 30% of the building permit fee for new single-family homes and for commercial new construction and remodels. Revisions after approval cost $250 for a home, or $250 for the first page and $25 for each further page on a commercial job. For example, a 2,500 sq ft new home valued at the $100 minimum ($250,000) has a building permit fee of $1,857.75 and a plan review fee of about $557. The new home permit already includes its plumbing, electrical and HVAC fees.

New single-family homes also pay a roadway impact fee of $926.37 per dwelling unit (last revised November 18, 2024), and developers pay park land dedication of $1,100 per single-family lot.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

Trade permits come from Development Services through SmartGov. Licensed master plumbers, electricians and mechanical licence holders register with the City at no charge, but must still register before applying. A homeowner hiring an electrician needs one with a master electrical licence; homeowners may wire or repair up to three 20-amp circuits (60 amps in total) in their own home, and anything larger needs an electrical contractor. Residential electrical work is inspected at rough and final.

Fire sprinkler and alarm plans are submitted to the Fire Department at 5805 Bryan Street (469-429-4791). Its 2026 fees include $100 for internal plan review of new systems or remodels over 10 devices, $25 for remodels under 10 devices, and sprinkler permits starting at $50 for 1 to 25 heads. Fire work started without a permit costs $100 on top of the normal fee.

What to upload with the application

Plans are uploaded as one PDF set. The City keeps one set, sends a copy to the Dallas or Collin County appraisal district and returns the approved set through SmartGov.

Irrigation, fence or screen wall, dumpster, retaining wall and sign plans for a commercial site are separate submittals, and the plan review fee must be paid before review starts. Pool permits are not issued without a notarised Certification of House-Pool Protection Device Installation, and pool plans must be signed off by one of the local electric utilities.

How to get a building permit in Sachse

Sachse inspections

Every permit needs inspections. Requests made by 4:00 p.m. are served the next business day, and the office closes at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays. For an emergency electrical or gas inspection on a weekend, holiday or after hours, call the Sachse Police Department non-emergency line, 972-495-2271.

A new home follows 12 inspections: erosion and sediment control before any work, temporary electric pole, pier, plumbing rough, foundation (pre-pour), exterior sheathing, the “seconds” (framing, electrical, plumbing top-out, mechanical, roof and windows), sheetrock if the inspector asks, utility final, flatwork, drainage and grading final, and the building final, which includes landscaping. A re-roof needs only a building final, and a pool is inspected from erosion control and steel through to the pre-plaster final.

A business needs a certificate of occupancy before it opens. The City issues it after the building inspector’s final green tag and the Fire Marshal’s approval, and health and alcohol permit applications must be filed first where they apply.

Local Sachse rules to plan around

Codes: permits issued since February 1, 2023 are inspected under the 2021 International Building, Residential, Fire, Energy Conservation, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Property Maintenance Codes and the 2020 National Electrical Code, with North Central Texas Council of Governments amendments.

Fences: wood, masonry, stone, brick, tubular steel, chain link, split rail and composite are allowed; vinyl, plywood, sheet metal and fiberglass are not. Fences may be 8 ft tall at the rear and sides, but front yard fences are limited to 3 ft (4 ft on lots of 1 acre or more).

Accessory buildings: they must sit behind the front building line at least 3 ft from side and rear lines, cannot be bigger than the house footprint on lots under 1 acre, and need primary-structure setbacks above 400 sq ft or 15 ft in height. Metal buildings need engineer-sealed plans, and carports are capped at 500 sq ft.

Flatwork: paving is limited to 10% of the lot (pools, decking, required driveways and patios excepted), nothing may be poured within 1 ft of a property line except required driveways, and work in the right-of-way needs a $2,000 liability bond.

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

Official Sachse permit resources

• Sachse Building Permits & Inspections
• Sachse SmartGov permit portal
• Master Fee Schedule, effective April 6, 2026 (PDF)
• City adopted building codes (PDF)
• New homes and additions permit procedures (PDF)
• Residential remodel permit procedures (PDF)
• Accessory structure permit procedures (PDF)
• Fence permit procedures (PDF)
• Re-roofing permit procedures (PDF)
• Pool, spa and hot tub permit procedures (PDF)
• Home backup power review and inspection procedure (PDF)
• Commercial new construction permit procedures (PDF)
• Certificate of occupancy application (PDF)

Sachse permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Sachse?

The City’s Development Services Department, 3815 Sachse Rd., Building B (469-429-4781), through the SmartGov portal.

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

It comes from the valuation table, using at least $100 per sq ft. A 2,500 sq ft home valued at $250,000 pays $1,857.75, plus about $557 for plan review; trade fees are included.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Sachse?

Only if it is over 120 sq ft. Smaller sheds need no permit but must still be 3 ft from property lines and behind the front building line.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof?

Yes, when more than five squares of roof covering are replaced. The fee is $75 and the only inspection is a building final.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

Yes, for a new fence, new posts, repairs over 25% of the fence, or a change of height or material. The residential fee is $75; replacing pickets alone needs no permit.

Can a homeowner do their own electrical work?

Up to three 20-amp circuits (60 amps in total) in their own home. Larger jobs need a contractor with a master electrical licence.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Request it by 4:00 p.m. for next-business-day service. The office closes at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays.

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