Stafford, Texas Building Permit Guide

The City of Stafford Development Services Department (2610 S. Main Street, 281-261-3926) issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for property inside the city, and since May 1, 2023 every application has to be filed online in MGO Connect. Residential work is billed as a $100 base fee plus $100 for each inspection, with plan review at half the permit cost, and a permit expires if work has not started within 6 months.

What requires a permit in Stafford?

The City’s fee schedule groups the work it permits; homes and businesses use the same categories.

Under Section 14-508 of the City Code, a fence 8 ft tall or less needs no permit when it is built only of redwood, cedar, pressure-treated lumber, ornamental iron, chain link or permitted barbed wire; any other fence needs one. Sheet or corrugated metal, plywood and concertina wire fences are not allowed at all.

Who handles permitting in Stafford?

Development Services takes in permit applications, reviews plans and inspects construction inside Stafford; the same department covers planning and zoning, civil engineering, platting, drainage and code compliance. Irby Rico is the Building Official, building inspector and plan examiner. Fire protection systems and the final fire inspection for businesses go through the Fire Marshal’s Office, and a certificate of occupancy needs sign-off from the building inspector, zoning administrator, City Engineer and Fire Marshal.

The City warns of fake emails posing as staff: it never asks for payment or a wire transfer by phone, text or personal email.

Filing in MGO Connect

Stafford stopped accepting permit submittals by email or on paper on May 1, 2023. In MGO Connect, choose the customer portal, set the jurisdiction to Texas > Stafford, create an account, then pick “Apply Online for a Permit” and the application type. An application marked “Approved” in the portal has only been accepted for review; the permit itself is issued after plan review and payment. Portal notices come from no-reply@mygovernmentonline.org.

Contractors whose trade is not licensed by the State still need to register with the City, for $150, before a permit is issued to them. The person doing the work on a commercial building must also give the City a certificate of general liability insurance for the life of the permit, with at least $100,000/$300,000 bodily injury and $400,000 property damage cover (or the contract amount, if higher).

Stafford permit fees (Budget Year 2026–2027)

Fees come from the City’s Fee Schedule for Budget Year 2026–2027. Every Development Services record also carries a $5 technology fee.

Plans rejected a second time need a new plan check fee. Starting work without a permit doubles the permit fee. The number of $100 inspection charges depends on which of the listed inspections the job needs.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and fire permits

Development Services issues trade permits through MGO Connect, each with a $75 base fee:

Fire sprinkler (above and below ground), fire alarm, extinguishing systems, fire access control, high-pile storage and hazardous materials plans are also filed in MGO Connect and reviewed by the Fire Marshal’s Office. A standard review takes 15 business days for $250 per submittal; an expedited review takes 10 business days for $400. Any change from the approved layout must be resubmitted before inspections can be booked.

Plan submittal checklists

All documents are uploaded to MGO Connect. The City’s checklists ask for:

Staff check the application and plans for completeness before the permit and plan check fees are assessed. No published turnaround is given for building plan review; Fire Marshal review times are listed above.

How to get a building permit in Stafford

Stafford inspections

To book an inspection, open the project in MGO Connect, choose “View and Request Inspections”, then “New Request”, and pick the inspection type, day and a morning or afternoon slot; results appear in the portal. Fire Marshal inspections are scheduled through the Fire Marshal’s own request system, not MGO Connect.

The City inspects underground plumbing, underground electrical and foundation rebar before concrete is poured; plumbing, electrical and mechanical work before drywall; framing members, ties, clips, headers and lintels during framing; and the finished work at final. A permit is good for up to 180 days and lapses if work does not start within 6 months or stops for more than 6 months.

For a business, the Fire Marshal inspection comes last, after every other final is signed on the building inspection card. Change-of-occupancy applications get a zoning review in 1 to 3 business days ($50 plus the $5 technology fee), then a $200 occupancy certificate fee, a $75 electrical reconnect where needed, and a health review ($150) and pre-opening inspection ($100) for food businesses. Stafford does not issue temporary certificates of occupancy.

Local Stafford rules to plan around

Construction hours: the City’s building code amendments allow outdoor construction from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on weekends, and each building permit states these hours.

Roofing: wood shingles and shakes may not be used on new construction or re-roofing under the City’s amended building code. Repairs to existing wood roofs (25% of the roof area or less) must use fire-retardant shingles or shakes.

Demolition: a demolition permit lasts 45 days, can be renewed only once, and the demolition must be finished within 7 days of starting.

Utilities: no utility may connect permanent service to a building until a building permit has been issued.

Codes: Ordinance 1110 adopted the 2015 International Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code, enforced since October 2, 2018.

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 Stafford permit resources

• Stafford Building Permits & Inspections
• Development Services
• MGO Connect permit portal
• Fee Schedule, Budget Year 2026–2027 (PDF)
• Residential plan submittal checklist (PDF)
• Commercial plan submittal checklist (PDF)
• Stafford building codes
• Pre-Development Services
• Fire Marshal: fire protection systems
• Commercial certificate of occupancy how-to (PDF)
• Stafford Code of Ordinances

Stafford permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Stafford?

The City’s Development Services Department at 2610 S. Main Street (permit technician 281-261-3926), through MGO Connect.

Can I submit a permit by email or in person?

No. Since May 1, 2023 Stafford only accepts permit submittals in MGO Connect.

How much is a residential building permit in Stafford?

A $100 base fee plus $100 for each required inspection, plus plan review at half the permit cost and a $5 technology fee.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

Not for a fence 8 ft or lower made only of redwood, cedar, pressure-treated lumber, ornamental iron or chain link. Other fences need one.

How long is a permit valid?

Up to 180 days. It expires if work has not started within 6 months or stops for more than 6 months.

How long does Fire Marshal plan review take?

15 business days for $250, or 10 business days for $400 on the expedited track.

Does Stafford issue temporary certificates of occupancy?

No. A business needs the full certificate after building, zoning, engineering and Fire Marshal approval.

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