A Texas City building permit is issued by the Building Department, which reviews project plans, issues building permits, inspects all types of construction and remodeling projects, and issues certificates of completion or certificates of occupancy when all requirements are met. We file and track the whole thing for you.
The code position is stated precisely. From and after September 1, 2024, all building plans submitted for permits must be designed and constructed to the 2024 editions of the International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Fire, Property Maintenance, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, and the 2023 National Electrical Code. The city moved new permits and inspections to MGO software and adopted a new fee schedule under Resolution 2025.90; a further fee increase approved on September 3, 2025 applies to residential permits from October 1, 2025.
One submittal rule here is easy to miss: all stamped building plans submitted for permits must reference the applicable code by name and date, and the city states that permit applications will be denied when plans are not stamped or do not reference the correct code by name and date.
Applies inside Texas City limits in Galveston County. La Marque, Dickinson, Hitchcock, Galveston, and League City permit independently — but all sit in the same first-tier designated county, so windstorm requirements travel across those lines even when permitting does not.
Name and date the code on your stamped plans. Texas City requires all stamped building plans submitted for permits to reference the applicable code by name and date. Combined with the September 1, 2024 adoption, a plan set citing a superseded edition — or citing none at all — is a correction cycle you can avoid at the drafting stage.
What requires a permit in Texas City?
Texas City requires a permit for construction and remodeling work affecting structure, systems, or occupancy. The city frames permits as the mechanism that enables it to enforce the life-safety provisions of the building codes in Texas — a minimum standard protecting life, health, property, and public welfare.
Running alongside every exterior scope is the TDI windstorm process. It is a separate authority with a separate inspection and a separate certificate, and passing city inspection does not produce a WPI-8.
Permit required
- New residential and commercial construction, additions
- All types of construction and remodeling projects
- Reroofing and exterior envelope work — also windstorm-certifiable
- Windows, entry doors, garage doors, and shutters
- Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work
- Solar panel installation — also within windstorm certification scope
- Water and sewer taps — separate guidelines apply
- Change of occupancy or use; demolition
Typically exempt
- Painting, wallpapering, tiling, and floor coverings
- Cabinet and countertop replacement
- Routine maintenance not affecting structure or systems
- Like-for-like replacement of existing fixtures
Texas City building department: who handles permitting
The Building Department reviews project plans, issues building permits, inspects all types of construction and remodeling projects, and issues certificates of completion or certificates of occupancy when all requirements are met.
The Building Department is at 7800 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway, Texas City (409-643-5946). Contractors and homeowners register with the city through the MGO portal before pulling permits; for electrical, mechanical and plumbing work, the business owner and the licence holder register separately if they are different people. The city also publishes a Residential New Construction Single Family Checklist, a Subcontractor Validation Sheet, a TCI Affidavit (due before permit issuance), Water and Sewer Tap Guidelines, a New Water Meter Inspection Form, and Pre-Development Meeting information. Pull those before assembling a package.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | City of Texas City Building Department, 7800 Emmett F. Lowry Expressway · 409-643-5946 |
| Online portal | MGO Connect — MGO Customer Portal for the City of Texas City |
| Inspection scheduling | All inspections are scheduled in MGO Connect |
| Adopted codes | 2024 ICC codes and 2023 NEC, for plans submitted from September 1, 2024 |
| Plan rule | All stamped plans must reference the applicable code by name and date |
| Fee schedule | Resolution 2025.90 — Building Permitting and Inspections |
| Key documents | Single Family Checklist, Subcontractor Validation Sheet, TCI Affidavit |
| Windstorm authority | Texas Department of Insurance — Galveston County is first-tier |
The Subcontractor Validation Sheet is the document most likely to hold a residential package. It ties each trade to the permit before work proceeds, so collect subcontractor details early rather than at rough-in.
In 2025, building permits issued in Texas City authorized 640 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Texas City permits: record types and what each covers
A building permit is one record among many, and on the Texas coast it is not the only authority. The Building Department issues work under separate record types through MGO Connect, with water and sewer taps following their own guidelines. Running alongside all of it is the TDI windstorm process, which the city permit does not satisfy.
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures over the exempt threshold | Full plan review (structural, energy, zoning) | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural or load-bearing changes, layout changes, substantial repair | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement and most major roof repair | Local reroof inspections; TDI windstorm inspection in the coastal catastrophe area | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV installation or replacement | Structural plus electrical review | Flat or system-size based |
| Solar thermal | Passive water heating or pool heating systems | Plumbing and structural review | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, most wiring alterations | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, gas piping | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts that are not like-for-like, ductwork, refrigeration | Trade review; filed against the building permit | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Windows and doors | Replacement units and opening protection | Windstorm review for wind-borne debris on the coast | Valuation or per-opening |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barrier and enclosure work | Plan review plus barrier and electrical bonding | Valuation-based |
| Fence and accessory | Fences, sheds, decks, and carports over the exempt threshold | Zoning plus structural where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification required | Flat |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily | Full multi-discipline plan review | Valuation-based |
| Tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups | Plan review across affected disciplines | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope | Valuation-based |
| Change of use | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Zoning, life-safety, and accessibility review | Valuation or flat |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement | Plan review plus fire review where applicable; TDI windstorm inspection on the coast | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount PV | Structural, electrical, and often fire review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, and gas systems | Trade review | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, and suppression systems | Fire prevention plan review | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Demolition | Full or partial commercial demolition | Utility disconnect and environmental clearance | Flat or valuation-based |
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- Master permit with trades filed against it
- Owners may do some work on their own home; many cities ask for a homestead affidavit
- Windstorm rules drive roofing and opening protection on the coast
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans for larger projects; many cities require them for all commercial work
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to change of use
- Impact fees can apply on top of permit fees
Roofing permits in Texas City
Texas Department of Insurance windstorm certification — the WPI-8 process — applies only in the designated seaward counties along the Gulf. Texas City sits in Galveston County, one of the 14 first-tier designated catastrophe counties, so TDI windstorm construction standards and WPI-8 certification apply and govern eligibility for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association coverage. Because most standard carriers exclude wind and hail across this territory, TWIA eligibility is usually the binding constraint on exterior scope rather than an optional extra. Certification reaches roof coverings, roof vents and turbines, exterior wall coverings, skylights, windows and entry doors, garage doors, shutters, mechanical and air conditioning equipment, and solar panels. Sequence the windstorm inspection into construction rather than appending it — the fastening and attachment details that have to be verified are concealed once the envelope closes. Note that the Texas City industrial complex sits behind the Texas City Levee, which changes flood exposure block by block without changing the windstorm requirement at all.
Texas City sits on Galveston Bay behind the Texas City Levee, and roofing here is an insurance question as much as a code question. The levee changes flood exposure across the city without changing the windstorm requirement at all — do not let a favourable flood zone suggest the envelope requirements are lighter.
Texas has no single statewide building code and no general contractor licence: state law sets base codes and each city adopts its own edition and amendments, while most counties issue no building permits for homes outside city limits. The statewide solar, HOA and roofing rules are on the Texas page. Texas rules
Texas City permit cost and fees
Texas City permit fees follow the schedule adopted under Resolution 2025.90 for building permitting and inspections, paid through MGO Connect alongside the application.
Rather not deal with the Texas City building department?
Get a free quote →Budget windstorm certification separately. WPI-8 is a TDI cost and a schedule item outside the city permit entirely, and on a reroof or envelope project it frequently determines when work can proceed.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | Per the fee schedule adopted under Resolution 2025.90 |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Separate fee per trade, filed by the licensed contractor |
| Water and sewer tap | Separate guidelines and fees apply |
| Windstorm certification | TDI process and cost, not a city fee |
| Re-inspection | Charged when a checkpoint fails and is re-requested |
| Certificate of occupancy | Issued when all requirements are met |
Want a precise number for a specific Texas City project? Send us the scope and valuation and we’ll return an estimate alongside a timeline that accounts for the windstorm inspection.
Texas City trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work each need their own permit pulled by the state-licensed contractor for that trade, with the Subcontractor Validation Sheet tying each trade to the permit. On a first-tier windstorm county, roofing and envelope contractors also work within the TDI inspection process.
Electrical
Service and panel work, new circuits, solar PV, and EV charging under the adopted NEC version — performed by a TDLR-licensed electrician.
Plumbing
New plumbing, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, and gas piping — performed by a TSBPE-licensed plumber. Water and sewer taps follow separate city guidelines.
Mechanical / HVAC
Installations, changeouts, ductwork, and venting. Mechanical and air conditioning equipment is within windstorm certification scope.
Windstorm-scope work
Roof coverings, roof vents and turbines, exterior wall coverings, skylights, windows and entry doors, garage doors, shutters, mechanical equipment, and solar panels.
Texas City permit application: how to apply step by step
Verify the property is inside Texas City, and note that plans submitted from September 1, 2024 must follow the specified ICC and NEC versions.
All stamped building plans must reference the applicable code by name and date. Build that into the title block.
Residential New Construction Single Family Checklist, Subcontractor Validation Sheet, TCI Affidavit, and Water and Sewer Tap Guidelines as applicable.
The city publishes pre-development meeting information — worth using on anything larger than a straightforward residential build.
File and pay through the MGO Customer Portal. The city publishes an MGO Connect Help Guide.
All inspections are scheduled in MGO Connect. Arrange TDI windstorm certification alongside construction rather than after.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Texas City
All inspections are scheduled in MGO Connect. The Building Department inspects all types of construction and remodeling projects and issues certificates of completion or certificates of occupancy when all requirements are met.
The TDI windstorm inspection runs separately with a TDI-appointed engineer or qualified inspector, and has to be sequenced into construction because the certifiable details are concealed once the envelope closes.
Keep the permit posted and approved plans on site, and clear correction notices before requesting a re-inspection.
Texas City permit search and official resources
- Texas City — Building Inspections
- Texas City — Permits and Inspections (MGO)
- TDI — designated catastrophe areas
- Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Texas City?
City of Texas City Building Department issues building permits for everything inside Texas City city limits, handling plan review, permit issuance, and construction inspections. Work outside the city limits falls to Galveston County, and Texas counties have sharply limited building authority in unincorporated areas.
How do I get a permit in Texas City?
Confirm the scope triggers a permit and that zoning allows it, prepare the plan set and site plan, file through MGO Connect with contractor licensure in place, respond to plan review comments, pay fees and take issuance, then run the inspection sequence through final. Contractor credentialing is the step most often missed and it blocks everything downstream.
What codes apply in Texas City?
Texas has no mandatory statewide building code. Municipalities adopt and amend model codes themselves. Texas City enforces the 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code for plans submitted from September 1, 2024. Confirm the current adopted editions with the Building Department before designing.
What codes does Texas City enforce?
From and after September 1, 2024, all building plans submitted for permits must follow the 2024 International Building, Residential, Existing Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas, Energy Conservation, Fire, Property Maintenance, and Swimming Pool and Spa Codes, and the 2023 National Electrical Code. All stamped building plans must reference the applicable code by name and date, or the permit application is denied.
How do I schedule an inspection in Texas City?
All inspections are scheduled in MGO Connect, the city’s permitting portal. The city publishes an MGO Connect Help Guide alongside the customer login. MGO also carries permit applications and payment, and the city moved to this software as part of a broader permitting system change accompanied by a new fee schedule under Resolution 2025.90.
Does windstorm certification apply in Texas City?
Yes. Texas City is in Galveston County, one of the 14 first-tier TDI designated catastrophe counties, so windstorm construction standards apply and WPI-8 certification governs eligibility for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association coverage. Because most standard carriers exclude wind and hail here, TWIA eligibility is usually the binding constraint on exterior scope. The certificate comes from TDI, not the city, and a passed city inspection does not produce one.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit to install solar panels in Texas City?
Yes. Photovoltaic installations in Texas City are permitted under a dedicated solar record type reviewed on both a structural and an electrical track. Solar thermal — passive water and pool heating — is a separate record. Under Tex. Prop. Code §202.010, a homeowners' association cannot ban a solar energy device outright, but it may still require prior architectural approval and impose reasonable placement conditions, so run the HOA submittal alongside the permit. Since September 1, 2025, Tex. Local Gov't Code §247.0025 (SB 1202) also permits third-party plan review and inspection of home backup power installations — generators and energy storage for one- and two-family dwellings at 600 volts or less — in place of jurisdiction review. Utility interconnection and Permission to Operate still run in parallel.
Does a roof replacement require a permit in Texas City?
Yes, in most cases. A roof covering replacement requires a permit in most Texas municipalities including Texas City, though minor repairs can fall below the local threshold. Texas has no statewide product approval system and no central product listing, so compliance runs against the locally adopted code edition and its local amendments. Hail rather than wind is the governing risk inland, and Tex. Prop. Code §202.011 bars an HOA from prohibiting wind or hail resistant shingles.
What is the difference between a residential and a commercial permit in Texas City?
Residential work is generally a single-discipline review filed as a master permit with trades filed against it. Commercial work in Texas City runs concurrent review across building, fire, and zoning, requires signed and sealed plans for every affected discipline, and can carry impact fees on top of permit fees. Change of use adds accessibility and life-safety review.
Do trade permits need to be pulled separately in Texas City?
Yes in most cases. Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work is permitted separately by the licensed contractor for each trade and filed against the master building permit. Each trade permit carries its own fee and its own inspection sequence.
What happens if I file under the wrong permit type in Texas City?
The application may be returned for correction or have to be refiled under the right permit type, which costs time. Confirming the permit type in MGO Connect before filing is the cheapest step in the whole process; the Building Department (409-643-5946) can confirm it.
Can I apply for all Texas City permit types online?
Yes. MGO Connect handles permit applications, payments, and inspection scheduling — all inspections are scheduled there — and the city publishes an MGO Connect Help Guide. Supporting documents including the Residential New Construction Single Family Checklist, Subcontractor Validation Sheet, TCI Affidavit, and Water and Sewer Tap Guidelines are published alongside. Windstorm certification runs on a separate TDI process outside the city portal.
Simplify Texas City permitting with Alliance Permitting
A 2024 code adoption with a strict plan-referencing rule, new permitting software, a new fee schedule, and windstorm certification governing insurability — Texas City punishes anyone working from a stale process. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Texas City: we file in MGO against the current codes and run the windstorm track alongside.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Texas City because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know the MGO workflow, the 2024 code adoption, and how windstorm certification sequences against construction.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the authority having jurisdiction through issuance. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Texas City permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of July 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with City of Texas City Building Department before filing. This is not legal advice.