White Settlement, Texas Building Permit Guide

In White Settlement, building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are issued by the City’s Building Inspection department at City Hall, 214 Meadow Park Drive (817-246-4971 ext. 871). Plans can be emailed to permits@wstx.us at any time. A new house is priced by size, from $1,565 under 1,200 sq ft, and that fee covers plan review and the trade permits; inspections run only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What needs a permit in White Settlement?

The City’s contractor registration states that permits must be issued before any construction work begins. Its General Application for Permit and fee schedule cover these jobs:

Starting work without a permit doubles the permit fee, with a $50 minimum.

Who issues permits in White Settlement?

The Building Inspection department develops and enforces the construction codes inside the city, issues permits and performs the inspections. Steve Zapata is the Building Official. The Fire Marshal’s Office helps inspect new commercial buildings and handles fire system permits through the same permits inbox, and right-of-way permits need sign-off from Public Works, the Building Official and the Fire Marshal. White Settlement is in Tarrant County; plats are recorded with the county in Fort Worth.

White Settlement applications and contractor registration

The City publishes separate forms for a new home, new commercial construction and everything else (the General Application for Permit), plus fence, grading, floodplain, sign, alarm, right-of-way and certificate of occupancy applications. Platting, zoning and Specific Use Permit requests share one application, and variances go to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals.

Contractors register before pulling permits. Registration costs $100 a year; plumbers, electricians, HVAC contractors and fire suppression contractors are exempt from the fee but must still register with a copy of their state master licence. Every contractor shows liability insurance of at least $100,000 naming the City as certificate holder, and lists the staff allowed to pull permits under the company name. The City can hold or refuse new permits for a contractor who leaves earlier permits without final inspections.

White Settlement permit fees

Fees come from the City’s published fee schedule (2025 Fee Schedules). A $35 application fee applies to every permit.

The new-house fee includes plan review and the electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits for one- and two-family homes. For example, a 2,000 sq ft house falls in the 1,751–2,250 sq ft band: $2,265 plus the $35 application fee, or $2,300. For commercial jobs, plan review is 50% of the permit fee and is paid when plans are submitted; multifamily buildings are charged $0.18 per sq ft.

Trade permits on remodels and repairs

New houses already include the trade permits. For remodels, add-ons and commercial work, the schedule prices trade work separately:

Plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits can only be pulled by contractors registered with a state master licence.

What to submit

Smaller jobs on the General Application need a site plan, one paper set and one digital set of complete plans. Any site in the 100-year floodplain needs a surveyor’s elevation certificate and a separate floodplain development permit ($50).

How to get a White Settlement permit

Inspections and certificates of occupancy

Request inspections by phone (817-246-4971) or by email to permits@wstx.us before 2 p.m. on the day before you want them. The City inspects on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only. The fee schedule charges $30 for each re-inspection after the first, and $75 an hour, with a 2-hour minimum, for inspections after hours.

A residential certificate of occupancy inspection costs $75; the application asks whether an owner or a renter will live in the home and the planned move-in date. If the inspector finds violations, the owner has 30 days to fix them; after that a $30 re-inspection fee applies, and the City may issue a citation or disconnect utilities. Commercial occupancies need a commercial certificate of occupancy.

Local White Settlement rules

Fences: fence permits need a site plan, metal posts are required and post holes must be 2 feet deep.

Right-of-way work: utility cuts, irrigation lines and French drains in the right-of-way need a Public Works permit, trenches must be compacted to 95% density, and Public Works wants four hours’ notice for an inspection.

Water and sewer taps: the fee schedule prices a 1-inch water tap on a paved street at $1,790 and a 4-inch sewer tap in a paved street or alley at $4,000, plus meter set fees from $300 for a 3/4-inch meter.

Zoning changes under way: the Planning and Zoning Commission (October 27, 2026) and City Council (November 3, 2026) are holding hearings on amendments covering residential parking surfaces, new fence standards, home-based businesses and the permitted use table.

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

White Settlement official resources

• White Settlement Permits page and forms
• Building Inspection
• City fee schedule
• New Residential Construction application (PDF)
• General Application for Permit (PDF)
• Commercial plan review checklist (PDF)
• Contractor registration (PDF)
• Fence permit application (PDF)
• Floodplain development permit (PDF)
• Residential certificate of occupancy inspection (PDF)
• Right-of-way permit (PDF)
• Fire Marshal’s Office
• White Settlement Code of Ordinances

White Settlement permit FAQs

How much is a building permit for a new house in White Settlement?

It depends on size: $1,565 under 1,200 sq ft up to $3,865 over 3,250 sq ft, plus the $35 application fee. The fee includes plan review and the trade permits.

Can I email my plans?

Yes. Plans can be emailed to permits@wstx.us at any time or delivered to City Hall on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Which days does White Settlement inspect?

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Call or email by 2 p.m. the day before.

Do I need a permit for a new roof?

Yes. A residential re-roof, including tear-off, is a $175 permit plus the $35 application fee.

What building codes does White Settlement use?

The 2018 International codes (building, residential, plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, energy, fire, pool and spa, existing building and property maintenance) and the 2017 National Electrical Code.

What happens if I build without a permit?

The permit fee is doubled, with a $50 minimum.

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