Town of Pecos, Texas Building Permit Guide

Inside the Town of Pecos City, permits come from the permits office at City Hall, 115 W. 3rd Street, where plans go to the Chief Building Official for review. Under the City’s master fee schedule a new home costs $0.60 per square foot plus $0.12 per square foot for plan review, and residential permits generally take up to 10 business days. Every contractor must first register with the City and carry $1,000,000 of insurance.

What requires a permit in Pecos?

The City requires a permit to build, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, to change its occupancy, and to install or change any regulated electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing or structural element. Its permit forms (updated July 2026) list the common jobs:

Starting work before the permit is issued doubles the fee.

Who handles permits in Pecos?

The Town of Pecos City permits office is run by the Director of Permits, and plans are reviewed by the Chief Building Official. The city building inspector is also the floodplain administrator. These permits cover land inside the town limits in Reeves County; property outside town is not covered by them.

The property owner and the contractor share responsibility for getting the right permits, and the application form records whether the property’s taxes are past due or cleared.

Pecos applications and contractor registration

Pecos has no online permit portal: download the form from the City’s Permits page and file it at City Hall with your plans. The City publishes separate forms for residential and commercial building permits, demolition, moving a structure (with the manufactured home packet), electrical signs, 911 addresses, zoning and asbestos certification.

Contractor registration: general contractors, electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors and house movers must register before pulling permits. The Contractor’s Application asks for copies of every licence (master and journeyman) with expiry dates and a certificate of liability insurance naming the Town of Pecos City as certificate holder, with at least $1,000,000 of coverage. A signed contract showing the project cost is required with each permit.

Homeowners: you may do your own electrical or plumbing work only on a house you own, live in and have registered as your homestead, with a permit and a City inspection before anything is covered. Commercial buildings and non-homestead houses need a licensed electrician or plumber.

An application that is not pursued is treated as abandoned 180 days after filing; the building official can grant written extensions of up to 90 days at a time.

Permit costs and fees in Pecos

The fees are set in Appendix G, the Master Fee Schedule, of the Pecos City Code of Ordinances. City Hall also gives out a printed schedule on request.

For a 2,000 sq ft house, that is $1,200 for the building permit and $240 for plan review, before trade permits and the certificate of occupancy. Any permit not obtained before work starts is charged at twice the regular fee. The demolition deposit is returned after the final inspection, less any balance owed.

Plans and documents for a Pecos permit

Submit two sets of plans for a home and two for a commercial job, drawn to scale. Residential plans must at least be drawn to a licensed architectural standard; commercial plans must carry an engineer’s stamp. One set includes:

• Plot or site plan showing all buildings, lot lines, setbacks, easements, building lines and rights-of-way
• Foundation plan, floor plan with electrical, plumbing and mechanical layouts, and an electrical riser plan
• Roof section and typical wall section
• Front, rear and both side elevations
• Landscaping plan
• A registered surveyor’s certificate stating the slab elevation

The City amended the residential code so the building pad sits one foot above the centerline of the adjoining street. Remodels and demolitions of public buildings need an asbestos survey or clearance letter before the permit is released; residential buildings of four units or fewer are exempt.

Residential permits generally take up to 10 business days and commercial permits up to 30, not counting time spent on corrections. Most electrical, plumbing, irrigation and HVAC permits are issued over the counter.

How to get a building permit in Pecos

Inspections in Pecos

Call the permits office at 432-445-2421 at least 24 hours before you need an inspection. All work must be inspected before it is covered. A failed inspection costs $100 the first time and $200 for each one after that, and the fee must be paid before another inspection is booked.

A demolition needs two inspections: one after all utilities are removed and a final once the site is cleared. Gas and electric must be removed or made safe, the sewer capped below grade at the easement, the water service capped on the private side of the meter, and the slab and piers removed unless the Building Official allows otherwise. A mechanical contractor’s letter confirming refrigerant recovery is also required.

Local Pecos rules worth knowing

Manufactured homes: a manufactured home must be at least 800 sq ft and a 2000 model or newer, on a lot of at least 5,000 sq ft, set back 25 ft from the front line, 5 ft from the sides and 10 ft from the rear. The caliche pad must be one foot above the curb (or the street centerline where there is no curb) and skirting goes on as soon as the home is placed. The City does not mark property lines, so hire a surveyor or check for a recorded survey at the courthouse.

Fences: side and rear fences may be up to 8 ft high. Across the front of a residential lot, solid fences are limited to 3 ft and wire or chain-link to 4 ft, and corner lots must keep a 25 ft clear-vision triangle.

Floodplain: development in a mapped flood hazard area needs a floodplain development permit from the city building inspector.

Codes: the City Code adopts the 2021 International Building, Residential, Existing Building and Property Maintenance Codes, the 2020 National Electrical Code and the 2015 Swimming Pool and Spa Code.

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

Pecos official resources

• Town of Pecos City Permits
• Residential Building Permit Application (PDF)
• Commercial Building Permit Application (PDF)
• Contractor’s Application (PDF)
• Demolition Permit (PDF)
• Moving permit and manufactured home packet (PDF)
• 911 Address Request Form (PDF)
• Asbestos Certification (PDF)
• Appendix G, Master Fee Schedule
• Town of Pecos City Code of Ordinances

Pecos permit FAQs

How much is a building permit in Pecos?

$0.60 per square foot for a home and $0.65 for commercial space, plus plan review: $0.12 per square foot for homes or 50% of the permit fee for commercial work.

How long does it take to get a permit?

Generally up to 10 business days for residential permits and up to 30 for commercial permits, plus any time spent on corrections.

Do contractors have to register in Pecos?

Yes. General contractors, electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors and house movers register with the City and show at least $1,000,000 of liability insurance.

Can I do my own plumbing or electrical work?

Only in a home you own, live in and have registered as your homestead, with a permit and a City inspection.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Pecos?

Yes, for a fence in the front yard or in a side yard between the building line and the street.

How do I schedule an inspection?

Call the permits office at 432-445-2421 at least 24 hours ahead.

What does a failed inspection cost?

$100 for the first failed inspection and $200 for each later one.

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