Building permits in Watauga are issued by the City’s Public Works Department, which handles permitting, zoning, contractor licensing and inspections from the Water Tower office at 7800 Virgil Anthony Blvd. (817-514-5806 ext. 1). File online in MyGov5 after registering as a collaborator, or in person on weekdays. A new house costs $1.30 per square foot, with a plan review fee of 25% of that and trade permits charged as percentages of it, and plans must meet the 2024 International Codes and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
What requires a permit in Watauga?
The City publishes a separate application for each kind of work, and its fee schedule prices many common home projects. A building permit does not cover the trades: the building application states that electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating and air conditioning each need their own permit.
Homes
- New single-family houses
- Remodels and additions
- Re-roofing
- Fences
- Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs
- Carports
- Demolition and moving a building
- Solar systems and electrical service changes
- Single-family and short-term rentals (SFR/STR permit)
Businesses and sites
- New commercial buildings and alterations
- Certificates of occupancy before opening
- Permanent and temporary signs
- Excavation and boring work
- Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work
- Fire permits
Who handles permitting in Watauga?
The Public Works Department runs building codes, permitting, zoning, licensing and inspections for the City. Permit technicians answer code questions on 817-514-5806 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and messages left during business hours are returned. The Fire Marshal (817-514-5880) carries out fire inspections, including the one needed for a certificate of occupancy.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Public Works Department (permits and inspections) |
| Office | The Water Tower, 7800 Virgil Anthony Blvd., Watauga, TX 76148 |
| Phone | 817-514-5806 ext. 1 |
| Counter hours | Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 11 a.m. to noon |
| Online | MyGov5 (collaborator account) |
| Fire Marshal | 817-514-5880 |
| City Hall | 7105 Whitley Road, Watauga, TX 76148 |
MyGov5 filing and Watauga forms
Online filing needs a MyGov5 collaborator account. If you already have one from another city that uses MyGov, add Watauga as an agency on the same account. Applications can also be handed in at the Public Works counter.
The City’s permit forms are the Building, Certificate of Occupancy, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fence, Excavate and Bore, Permanent Sign, Temporary Sign, SFR/STR (rental) and Solicitor applications. The building application asks for the job address and legal description, the owner, contractor, designer and engineer, the use and total square footage, the class of work and its valuation, and the owner’s signature where the owner is the builder.
A permit becomes void if work does not start within 180 days of issue, or if work stops for 180 days at any point.
Watauga permit fees
Fees come from the City’s Building Service Fees sheet on its Fee Schedule page.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New single-family house | $1.30 per sq ft |
| Residential plan review | 25% of the permit fee for each new dwelling unit |
| Electrical / plumbing / mechanical for a new house | 15% / 5% / 3% of the building permit fee |
| Temporary power pole, new house | $25 |
| Single-family remodel | $0.85 per sq ft of the remodeled area |
| Re-roof, single-family | $100 |
| Demolition | $100 per structure |
| Residential carport | $200 |
| Fences, pools and commercial work | By construction value (Table 1-A) |
| Commercial plan review | 65% of the permit fee |
| Re-inspection | $70 per hour |
| Work started without a permit | $200 investigation fee plus the permit fee |
For a 2,000 sq ft house, the building permit is $2,600, plan review $650, and the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits $390, $130 and $78, a total of $3,848 before any temporary pole. Commercial valuations use the ICC building valuation data multiplied by a Texas regional modifier of 0.77, or the City’s Table 1-A if that gives a higher value.
Card payments carry a 3.25% convenience fee (4.9% on fire permits) since March 30, 2026; cash, checks and money orders carry none.
Trade permits and contractor registration
Every electrical, mechanical, general, backflow and plumbing contractor must register with the City before getting a permit, and registrations expire on December 31 each year. Bring a driver’s licence and proof of liability insurance, plus:
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Call 1-855-478-4290 →- Plumbers: master plumbing licence and the insurance certificate on file with the state plumbing board; free for the master, $100 for each journeyman.
- Electricians: master electrical licence; free for the master, $100 for each journeyman.
- Mechanical contractors: mechanical licence; $100.
- General contractors (builders, remodelers, irrigators, roofers, fence and sign companies): $100; irrigators also show an irrigation licence.
- Backflow testers: backflow licence and gauge report; $100.
| Electrical work | Fee |
|---|---|
| Permit issuance (each) | $70; supplemental permit $15 |
| Service or subpanel up to 100 A / 101–150 A / over 150 A | $40 / $80 / $120 |
| New private residential pool | $175 |
| Solar, up to 25 panels / 26–40 / 41 or more | $375 / $475 / $800 |
| Panel upgrade with a solar system | $180 |
The City enforces the 2024 International Building, Residential, Mechanical, Plumbing, Fuel Gas and Energy Conservation Codes, the 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to get a Watauga building permit
Each contractor on the job registers with Public Works for the calendar year.
Create a collaborator account, or add Watauga to an existing MyGov account.
Submit the building application with plans and valuation online, or at the Public Works counter between 7 and 11 a.m. or noon and 4 p.m. on weekdays.
File separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for the job.
Pay the permit and plan review fees and begin work before the permit lapses.
Book each inspection by phone; for a business, finish with the lights-on, building and Fire Marshal certificate of occupancy inspections.
Inspections and certificates of occupancy in Watauga
Building inspections run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday. Schedule them by calling 817-514-5806 ext. 1.
A building must pass several inspections before the City issues a certificate of occupancy:
- Lights-on inspection: a safety check by the building inspector before the power is released, requested on the Electrical Release/Lights On application.
- Certificate of occupancy inspection: once power is on, the inspector checks outlets, switches, emergency lighting, exit signs and lighting.
- Fire Marshal inspection: call 817-514-5880 to set it up.
The property must have the right zoning, and platting may be required. The certificate is printed by the Planning and Zoning administrative assistant and collected at the Water Tower; a business may not open to the public until it has the permanent certificate. Re-inspections cost $70 an hour, and inspections outside normal hours $75 an hour with a two-hour minimum.
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
Watauga official permit resources
- Watauga permits and application forms
- Watauga MyGov5 permit portal
- Watauga Building Service Fees
- Watauga adopted building codes
- Watauga contractor registration
- Watauga inspections and certificate of occupancy
- Watauga Code of Ordinances
Watauga permit FAQ
How much is a building permit for a new house in Watauga?
$1.30 per square foot, plus plan review at 25% of that fee and electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits at 15%, 5% and 3% of it. A 2,000 sq ft house comes to $3,848 in total.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Do I need a permit to replace my roof or build a fence in Watauga?
Yes. A single-family re-roof permit is $100, and fence permits are priced by construction value. Roofing and fence contractors must also be registered with the City.
What codes does Watauga use?
The 2024 International Codes, including the residential, building, energy and swimming pool codes, and the 2023 National Electrical Code.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call 817-514-5806 ext. 1. Inspections are carried out from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday to Thursday.
Can I apply in person?
Yes, at the Public Works counter, 7800 Virgil Anthony Blvd., weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed 11 a.m. to noon. Online filing is through MyGov5.
Is there a fee for paying by card?
Yes. Since March 30, 2026 card payments carry a 3.25% convenience fee, or 4.9% for fire permits. Cash, checks and money orders do not.
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More Texas permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Watauga permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.