Building and Demolition Permits Generally.
Austin City Code tit. 25, ch. 25-11, art. 2, div. 1
in effectAustin City Code § 25-11-32 BUILDING PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
§ 25-11-32 - BUILDING PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
(A) Unless a technical code exempts an activity from its permitting requirements, a person may not perform the following activities unless the person first obtains the appropriate permit from the building official:
(1) an activity regulated by Chapter 25-12, Article 1 (Uniform Building Code), Article 4 (Electrical Code), Article 5 (Uniform Mechanical Code), or Article 6 (Uniform Plumbing Code);
(2) constructing or structurally altering a pier or other structure in or along the shores of:
(a) Lake Austin below an elevation of 504.9 feet above mean sea level;
(b) Town Lake below an elevation of 435.0 feet above mean sea level; or
(c) Lake Walter E. Long;
(3) altering the shoreline or bed of Lake Austin, Town Lake, or Lake Walter E. Long by filling or dredging;
(4) constructing, altering, or repairing a sidewalk, curb, gutter, or driveway approach on property under a person's control or in public right-of-way adjoining property under a person's control;
(5) erecting, moving, or structurally altering or repairing an outdoor sign; or
(6) causing or permitting the activities described in this section to occur.
(B) A building permit does not authorize the demolition or removal of any part of a structure.
Source: Section 13-1-735; Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 000309-39; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20060216-043; Ord. 20060309-058; Ord. 20060622-022; Ord. 20060928-022.
Austin City Code § 25-11-33 EXISTING BUILDINGS.
§ 25-11-33 - EXISTING BUILDINGS.
(A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person shall comply with technical code requirements for new facilities when making an addition, alteration, or repair to a building or structure or to building service equipment.
(B) The building official may allow a person to:
(1) make a minor addition, alteration, or repair to existing building service equipment in accordance with the technical codes in effect at the time the equipment was originally installed;
(2) use, maintain, or repair building service equipment that was lawfully in existence at the time of the adoption of the technical codes in accordance with the original design if the building service equipment does not create a hazard to life, health, or property; and
(3) except as provided in Subsection (C), use the type of materials used in the original construction of an existing building or structure to make a nonstructural alteration or repair if the alteration or repair does not adversely affect a structural member or the required fire resistance of a part of the building or structure.
(C) A person must comply with requirements for new installations when installing or replacing glass.
(D) A person who makes an addition, alteration, or repair to a building or structure or to building service equipment is not required to conform the portions of the existing building not affected by the addition, alteration, or repair to requirements for new facilities.
(E) A person may not create a condition in an existing building or structure or in existing building service equipment that violates the technical codes as a result of an addition or alteration.
(F) A person may not create an unsafe condition in an existing building or structure or in existing building service equipment as a result of an addition or repair. An unsafe condition exists if an addition or alteration:
(1) causes the existing building or structure to become structurally unsafe;
(2) overloads or exceeds the capacity of building service equipment;
(3) results in inadequate egress or obstructs existing exits;
(4) creates a fire hazard;
(5) reduces fire resistance; or
(6) creates a health hazard or a condition dangerous to human life.
Source: Section 13-1-732(a) through (e); Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11.
Austin City Code § 25-11-34 EXEMPT ACTIVITY.
§ 25-11-34 - EXEMPT ACTIVITY.
An activity that is exempt from the permitting requirements of this article must comply with City regulations and Code requirements.
Source: Section 13-1-736; Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11.
Austin City Code § 25-11-35 TEMPORARY BUILDING PERMIT.
§ 25-11-35 - TEMPORARY BUILDING PERMIT.
(A) The building official may issue a temporary building permit to authorize construction of a portion of a building, structure, or building service equipment before the plans and specifications for the entire project have been submitted or approved if the applicant files information and detailed statements describing the activity to be performed and the building official determines that the activity complies with this title.
(B) The permittee under a temporary building permit proceeds with construction at the permittee's risk. A temporary building permit does not guarantee that a permit for the entire building or structure will be approved. A permittee does not acquire vested rights under a permit issued under this section.
(C) The building official shall provide a permittee with written documentation stating that the permittee does not acquire vested rights under a temporary building permit.
Source: Section 13-1-741(c); Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11.
Austin City Code § 25-11-36 LICENSED CONTRACTOR REQUIRED.
§ 25-11-36 - LICENSED CONTRACTOR REQUIRED.
Unless state law or the technical codes exempt an activity from the permitting requirements, the following activity must be performed by a licensed contractor:
(1) activity for which a plumbing, electrical, solar, or mechanical permit is required; and
(2) activity for which a sidewalk, curb, gutter, or driveway approach permit is required.
Source: Section 13-1-737; Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11.
Austin City Code § 25-11-37 DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
§ 25-11-37 - DEMOLITION PERMIT REQUIREMENT.
(A) Except as provided in Subsection (B), a person may not demolish all or part of a structure unless the person first obtains a demolition permit from the building official.
(B) A demolition permit is not required to demolish all or part of an interior wall, floor, or ceiling.
(C) Except as provided in Article 4 (Special Requirements For Historic Landmarks), the building official may issue a permit to demolish all or part of a structure.
(D) An applicant for a demolition permit must provide notice of the demolition to adjacent one-family structures, two-family structures, and any multi-family component of other adjacent structures. The building official shall adopt rules regarding the requirements of the notice. At a minimum, the required notification must be:
(1) on a form approved by the director and specify the date or range of dates on which the demolition may occur, which must be between five and ten days after notice is provided;
(2) mailed or placed on properties adjacent to the property where the demolition is to occur; and
(3) posted on the property where the demolition is to occur, in a manner visible from the primary street frontage.
Source: Section 13-1-741(d); Ord. 990225-70; Ord. 031211-11; Ord. 20060216-043; Ord. 20060309-058; Ord. 20060622-022; Ord. 20060928-022; Ord. No. 20201001-040, Pt. 1, 10-12-20.
Austin City Code § 25-11-38 ASBESTOS SURVEY REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN PERMITS.
§ 25-11-38 - ASBESTOS SURVEY REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN PERMITS.
(A) In this section, "asbestos survey" means an inspection, by an individual licensed by the state to perform the inspection, of a building or facility to determine the location, quantity, and condition of asbestos containing material in the building by taking samples for analysis and by visual inspection.
(B) The building official may not issue a permit to a person for the demolition or renovation of a building unless an asbestos survey has been conducted of the areas of the building affected by the proposed renovation or demolition. A person seeking a permit must provide evidence of the survey to the building official.
(C) This section does not apply to:
(1) a building owned by the state or federal government;
(2) an industrial facility to which access is limited principally to employees of the facility because of processes or functions that are hazardous to human safety or health;
(3) a manufacturing facility or building that is limited to workers and invited guests under controlled conditions;
(4) a building, or any portion of a building that a professional engineer, a registered architect, or a city, county, or state government official determines to be structurally unsound and in danger of imminent collapse; or
(5) a single family dwelling, or a residential use with four or fewer units.
(D) A person who obtains a survey of a building in its entirety is not required to obtain additional surveys for subsequent renovations or demolitions of the building.
(E) Instead of a criminal prosecution under this section, the building official may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $2,000 for each instance of a violation of this section. The building official may impose a separate penalty for each day that a violation continues. The city attorney may initiate a civil action to recover a penalty owed under this section.
(F) A person commits an offense if the person begins, conducts, or continues demolition or renovation operations without an asbestos survey required by this section. A culpable mental state is not required, and need not be proved, for an offense under this section. Each instance of a violation under this section is a separate offense. Each day that a violation continues is a separate offense. An offense is punishable by a fine not to exceed $2,000.
Source: Ord. 010329-49; Ord. 031211-11.
Austin City Code § 25-11-39 CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS DIVERSION REQUIRED.
§ 25-11-39 - CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION MATERIALS DIVERSION REQUIRED.
(A) Except as provided in Subsection (D), each person that applies for a building permit or demolition permit for activities described in Subsection (C) must acknowledge the person's need to comply with this Section and Chapter 15-6, Article 9 (Construction and Demolition Materials Diversion Program) before a building or demolition permit is issued.
(B) This section is applicable in the City's zoning jurisdiction.
(C) Except as provided in Subsection (D), construction and demolition materials diversion is required for
(1) construction projects that exceed 5,000 square feet of new, added, or remodeled floor area; and
(2) beginning October 1, 2019, commercial and multifamily projects that require a demolition permit.
(D) Construction and demolition materials diversion is not required for the following activities:
(1) projects for which only mechanical, electrical, or plumbing permits are required; or
(2) work for which a building or demolition permit is not required.
Source: Ord. No. 20151119-098, Pt. 4, 10-1-16.
Source: City of Austin, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/austin/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT25LADE_CH25-11BUDEREPESPREHIST_ART2BUDEPE_DIV1BUDEPEGEFetched: 10/27/2026