The City of Schertz Inspections Division, part of Planning and Community Development at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 1 (210-619-1750), issues every building and trade permit in the city and reviews plans in its extraterritorial jurisdiction where that applies. Applications, payments and inspection requests all go through the City’s CityView web portal. A new home costs $0.50 per square foot plus a plan review fee of 50% of that, and the City aims to finish the first review of a new home in 14 days.
What requires a permit in Schertz?
A permit is needed to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, change its occupancy, or install or change any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system. The Inspections Division’s list includes:
Permit required
- Roofing, siding, soffit, fascia and window replacement
- Water heaters, water softeners and plumbing repairs that replace pipe
- A/C and heating units and ductwork
- New wiring, outlets, fixtures and service changes
- Lawn irrigation and backflow devices
- Pools over 24 inches deep, spas and hot tubs
- New fences and retaining walls
- Sheds over 120 sq ft, gazebos, decks, patio covers and sunrooms
- Flatwork, driveways and foundation repair
- Solar panels, signs and moving a building
- Construction or changes in a floodplain
No permit
- Movable sheds and playhouses of 120 sq ft or less (outside flood hazard areas)
- Replacing a fence in the same place, height and material
- Painting, flooring, cabinets and countertops
- Clearing stoppages and minor fixture repairs
- Replacing lamps, switches and fuses
- Portable heaters, coolers and fans
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Even an exempt shed needs a flatwork permit if it sits on a foundation, and it must be 5 ft from side property lines and 3 ft from the rear line. Emergency repairs of plumbing, electrical or mechanical equipment can go ahead, but the permit must be applied for by the next business day.
Who handles permitting in Schertz?
The Inspections Division issues permits, inspects construction, registers contractors and supports enforcement of the Unified Development Code with the Planning and Zoning Division. The Fire Department issues its own permits for sprinklers and standpipes, gas tanks, hydrants, burning and tents. Schertz spreads across Guadalupe, Bexar and Comal counties; most of its residents live in Guadalupe County.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Inspections Division, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 1, Schertz, TX 78154 |
| Phone and email | 210-619-1750; Inspections@schertz.com; fax 210-619-1769 |
| Hours | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Portal | CityView web portal (applications, payments, inspections) |
| Water meter sets | Utility Billing, 210-619-1100 |
CityView accounts, contractors and homeowners
Register a new account on the portal’s sign-in page, using an email and password everyone in your business who applies for permits can share, then activate it from the email link. Contractors then choose Register a Contractor: general contractors upload a certificate of general liability insurance of at least $300,000 naming the City of Schertz, 1400 Schertz Parkway, as certificate holder, and licensed trades give their state licence numbers for validation. Registration is free and runs from January 1 to December 31.
A homeowner who owns and lives in the home, with a homestead recorded with the county, may apply for a permit and do the work without registering as a contractor, but is then responsible for the code requirements and inspections. To apply, choose Building Department, then Apply for a Permit, tick every box that applies and upload all supporting documents. Fees are paid in the portal by any credit card except American Express, which is taken by phone.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Schertz permit fees (2025-26 schedule)
The Inspections Division schedule of fees effective November 1, 2025 sets a $50 minimum permit fee. The City’s fee estimator gives a preliminary figure; staff set the final fee after the application is submitted.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New one- or two-family home | $0.50 per sq ft |
| New accessory structure | $0.50 per sq ft |
| Residential plan review | 50% of the building permit fee |
| Roof replacement | $200 |
| Window replacement | $150 |
| Patio or patio cover; foundation repair | $225 each |
| Flatwork or deck (no plan review fee) | $100 |
| In-ground pool; above-ground pool | $500; $25 |
| Fence (new or replacement); siding or fascia | $50; $75 |
| Electrical, mechanical or plumbing: new construction | $100 per building or unit |
| Electrical, mechanical or plumbing: repair or replacement | $60 |
| Solar | $100 |
| Irrigation | $60 plus $1 per head and $3 per backflow device |
| Technology fee | $25 new home or commercial; $10 other permits |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →For example, a 2,400 sq ft new home pays $1,200 for the building permit and $600 for plan review, plus its trade and technology fees. Commercial work is priced on the cost of construction: $50 up to $1,000, then $8 per $1,000 to $15,000, $7 per $1,000 to $50,000 and $6 per $1,000 above, with plan review at 50% when the cost is $5,000 or more.
Starting work without a permit adds $200, failing to request an inspection costs $100 per trade, and re-inspections cost $75, then $150, then $500 per trade. A certificate of occupancy is $50 and a pre-occupancy inspection $200. No permit fees are charged for sites on Main Street.
How to get a building permit in Schertz
Create and activate an account; contractors add their insurance or licence details, homesteaded owners skip that step.
Use the City’s citizen permit information sheets for decks, fences, pools, roofs, additions and other jobs, and the fee estimator for a budget figure.
Apply under Building Department with all plans and documents; in a floodplain, add a FEMA-compliant materials list and the signed construction contract.
New homes get a first review within 14 days and 7 days for each resubmittal; new commercial buildings 30 and 14 days; other permits up to 5 days.
Pay the fees in the portal and keep to the City’s construction hours.
Schedule every required inspection in the portal; a permit with all inspections passed receives a certificate of completion.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Schertz inspections
Inspections are requested in the portal with the permit number, inspection type, address and subdivision, and the builder’s contact details. Requests received by 6:00 a.m. are done that business day; later ones move to the next business day. Re-inspection fees must be paid before a re-inspection is requested.
A new home moves through foundation and site inspections (setbacks, construction loop, forms and steel, under-slab plumbing, underground electric), rough inspections (plumbing, HVAC, water and sewer lines, top-out, wiring, framing, insulation with a duct blaster test, roof felt) and finals, which include a blower door certificate, engineer letters, a termite treatment letter, a backflow test report and a final survey. Small residential jobs such as water heaters, A/C change-outs, foundation repairs, service changes and re-roofs can use the City’s virtual inspection program, held by video call between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Local Schertz rules
Codes: the City has adopted the 2018 International Building, Residential, Fire, Fuel Gas, Mechanical, Plumbing, Existing Building and Property Maintenance Codes with local amendments, and lists the 2015 energy code, the 2018 pool and spa code and the 2026 National Electrical Code as state-mandated. The 2026 NEC applies to applications with non-exempt electrical work submitted on or after September 1, 2026.
Construction hours: outdoor work is allowed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays, and not on Sundays, except by written permit from the City Manager in an emergency.
Extensions: the City publishes forms to request a 45-day waiver or a building permit extension, uploaded through the portal.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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 Schertz permit resources
- Schertz Building Permits, Inspections & Registration
- Schertz building permits and adopted codes
- Schertz inspections
- Contractor registration
- Inspections Division schedule of fees 2025-26 (PDF)
- Permit fee estimator
- Citizen permit information sheets
- Virtual inspection program
- Permit frequently asked questions
Schertz permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Schertz?
The Inspections Division at 1400 Schertz Parkway, Building 1 (210-619-1750), through the CityView web portal.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit for a new house in Schertz?
$0.50 per square foot plus 50% for plan review: $1,800 for a 2,400 sq ft home, before trade and technology fees.
How long does plan review take?
14 days for the first review of a new home and 7 days for each later review; 30 and 14 days for new commercial buildings.
Can a homeowner pull a permit?
Yes, if the home is your homestead. You do not need to register as a contractor, but you are responsible for the inspections.
Do I need a permit for a shed?
Yes, if it is over 120 sq ft; a shed on a permanent foundation also needs a flatwork permit.
What is the inspection cut-off?
6:00 a.m. for same-day inspections. Later requests are inspected the next business day.
Is there a fee to register as a contractor?
No. General contractors must show at least $300,000 of liability insurance naming the City.
Simplify Schertz 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.
Ready to break ground in Schertz sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Schertz permits while your crew stays on the job.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Schertz permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.