Selma, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside Selma city limits, permits come from the City’s Permits & Inspections office at City Hall, 9375 Corporate Drive, with separate contacts for residential (210-651-7874) and commercial (210-651-7827) work. A new house is charged $0.55 per square foot of the whole house, including garage, porches and decks, plus a $70 plan check fee, and inspections called in before noon are scheduled for the next business day.

What needs a permit in Selma?

An emergency water heater or A/C replacement can be installed first, with the contractor applying for the permit as soon as possible afterwards and a final inspection still required.

Who issues building permits in Selma?

Permits & Inspections, at City Hall, reviews plans, issues building and trade permits and inspects the work for the whole city, which spreads across Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe Counties. Fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, underground fire line and storage tank permits come from the Fire Department. Land outside the city limits falls under the county it sits in.

Contractor registration and applications

All contractors working in Selma register with the City; there is no registration fee at present. Send the registration form, a copy of the responsible person’s driver’s licence, state licences for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, irrigation or backflow work, and a general liability certificate naming the City of Selma, Attn: Permits Department, as certificate holder: $1,000,000 for projects valued at $50,000 or more, $300,000 for smaller ones. Documents can be emailed to permits@ci.selma.tx.us or brought with the application.

One permit application form covers building, site work, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, sprinkler and fence permits, and each trade needs its own permit. A homeowner building a shed, patio, deck or fence applies for the permit personally; if a contractor is hired, the contractor applies. Commercial projects with civil site work can use a General Construction Permit, with separate phase permits for site work, underground utilities and the building.

Selma permit fees

Residential fees come from the City’s residential guidelines (revised August 2026) and Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances. Permit fees are not refunded.

A 2,000 sq ft house (counting garage and patios) is $1,100 plus the $70 plan check. Starting work without a permit doubles the fee. The September 2026 pool policy sets the above-ground pool fee at $250, while the Code fee table still shows $200.

Commercial: building permits are charged on project valuation: $60 up to $1,000, then $60 plus $6.68 per added $1,000 up to $50,000, $387.32 plus $5.60 per $1,000 to $100,000, and $667.32 plus $4.39 per $1,000 to $500,000. Plan check adds 50% of the permit fee.

Water and sewer: in the developed parts of Selma Park Estates and Live Oak Hills, a new house pays a $2,792.50 water acquisition fee, a $725 City water impact fee, a $500 connection fee (where the City makes the connection) and a $361.64 meter fee. Where sewer is available, add a $1,800 CCMA impact fee, a $1,800 City impact fee and a $175 connection fee. New water service also needs a $50 application with the Utilities department.

Trade and fire permits

Electrical, plumbing and HVAC each need a separate permit, and A/C or heater replacements must be done by a licensed contractor. A temporary meter loop needs an electrical permit but no City inspection; CPS, San Antonio’s City Public Service, installs the meter and assigns the street address when service is requested. Water softener installers must show a TCEQ water treatment licence and the manufacturer’s instructions; the residential fee is $75.

The Fire Department handles fire alarm, sprinkler, fixed-pipe and gaseous suppression systems, underground fire lines, storage tanks and tents, with permits such as $180 for a new alarm system of up to 20 devices.

New house documents

• The permit application with owner, contractor, designer, engineer and lender details, and the total square footage of living area, garage and patios
• One complete 11 x 17 set of plans: site, building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, driveway, fencing, landscaping and irrigation as they apply
• A foundation design sealed by a Texas professional engineer, with drainage notes
• A ResCheck or equivalent energy compliance certificate
• A septic design and septic permit where the lot is not on sewer; the permit comes from the county the lot is in, since TCEQ lists Bexar, Comal and Guadalupe Counties as the septic agents for their parts of Selma
• Contractor registration and insurance on file

Driveways must stay at least 5 feet from fire hydrants and utility poles. Construction dumpsters must be contracted through Frontier.

Inspections in Selma

Call in residential inspections before noon for the next business day (210-651-7874), or email permits@ci.selma.tx.us. If the work is not ready when the inspector arrives, no partial inspection is done, a re-inspection fee is charged and the visit cannot be rebooked for 48 hours; a genuine failure can be rechecked after 24 hours. Re-inspections cost $100 per trade the first time, $120 the second and $140 after that. Covering work without a passing report can mean tearing it out and a $500 penalty.

A new house runs through site, building drain, plumbing and underground electrical, water supply and foundation pre-pour inspections, then frame, electrical, plumbing and mechanical rough inspections booked together, and finals. Keep the plans in a capped PVC tube on site. Before the final, the City checks the builder’s file for unpaid re-inspection, dumpster or utility fees, and the water is not turned on without a certificate of occupancy. A permit lapses if work does not start within 6 months or stops for a year.

Smaller jobs: a patio gets a foundation inspection before the pour and a final, with 24 hours’ notice. A portable shed needs only a final; one on a slab also needs a pre-pour inspection.

Local Selma rules

Sheds: at least 5 feet from the rear and side property lines and 10 feet from the house; site-built sheds need frame drawings.

Pools: pools and decking may not sit in a utility easement, and spas and pool decking must stay inside the side setbacks and at least 5 feet from the rear line. Every pool needs a barrier at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, latching gate; a fence built only to enclose the pool is covered by the pool permit. Residential pool permits are usually issued within 2 to 3 working days once everything is in; commercial pools take 2 to 4 weeks. Backwash water must first irrigate the owner’s yard.

Utility poles: place them at the front property corner, 1 foot from the line and on the opposite corner from the water meter box, and never closer than 10 feet to a meter.

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

Selma official resources

• Selma Building Permits & Inspections
• Selma permit application (PDF)
• Residential permit application guidelines (PDF)
• Residential inspection guidelines (PDF)
• Commercial permit application guidelines (PDF)
• Contractor registration information and form (PDF)
• Selma permit FAQ (PDF)
• Swimming pool and spa permit requirements (PDF)
• Selma Fire Permits
• Selma fee schedule, Code of Ordinances Appendix A

Selma permit FAQs

How much is a building permit for a house in Selma?

$0.55 per square foot of the whole house, including garage, porches and decks, plus a $70 plan check fee, with a $350 minimum. New plumbing, electrical and mechanical for a single-family home are listed at $150.

Do I need a permit for a fence or shed in Selma?

Yes for a new fence and for any shed, even one you build yourself ($50 up to 200 sq ft). Replacing an existing fence does not need a permit.

Do I need a permit to replace my air conditioner?

Yes, and a licensed contractor must do the work and pull the permit. In an emergency the unit can be installed first and permitted right after.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call 210-651-7874 or email permits@ci.selma.tx.us before noon for an inspection the next business day.

Does Selma charge for contractor registration?

No. Contractors must register and file insurance naming the City, but there is currently no fee.

What happens if I start work without a permit?

The permit fee is doubled, and the City can issue a citation.

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