City of Georgetown Texas > Georgetown Building Inspections > When Do I Need a Permit?

When Do I Need a Permit?

Projects inside the City Limits:

Projects that Require a Permit: Any owner or authorized agent who intends to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system requires a permit.

A permit is required for: (please click on the type of permit link for more info)

Submit a Permit Determination Request

Projects within the ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdiction)

If the project address is located within the ETJ and the City of Georgetown is the Utility Provider for water, waste water, and/or electric provider, then permits will apply for the following:

Additions with Plumbing and/or Electric (Residential or Commercial)
New Commercial Construction
New Residential Construction
Plumbing Systems
Backflow Prevention Testing Form
Electrical Systems (applies only if GUS aka Georgetown Utility Systems is the provider)
Remodels with Plumbing and/ or Electric (Residential or Commercial)
Swimming Pools with auto fill (Plumbing Permit Only)
Utility Connections – Water Only
Water Heater Replacement
Water Softener
Well to Water
Mobile Home connecting to City of Georgetown Water

*Commercial Projects outside of the City Limits within Fire District No 8 will need to contact Georgetown Fire for additional permits that may be required

Projects located outside of the City Limits and outside the ETJ (County)

If the project is located outside the City Limits of Georgetown and ETJ (County) and the City of Georgetown is the Water Provider, the following will apply:

Utility Connection Application

*Commercial Projects outside of the City Limits within Fire District No 8 will need to contact Georgetown Fire for additional permits that may be required

Adopted Building Codes

Adopted Codes: 2015 International Building Code, 2015 International Mechanical Code, 2015 International Plumbing Code, 2015 International Fire Code with Amendments, 2015 Fuel Gas Code, 2015 Property Maintenance Code, 2017 National Electrical Code with Amendments. 2015 International Energy Code, 2015 International Residential Building Code, City of Georgetown Unified Development Code, and City of Georgetown Code of Ordinances

Don’t see it listed? Contact us by clicking here

Work Exempt from a Permit

Permits shall not be required for the following. Exemptions from permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any work to be done in any manner in violation of the provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of this jurisdiction.

Building:

Minor repairs to fences not over 6 feet (1829 mm) high. Up to 25% of the overall contiguous length of a fence shall constitute minor repair.
Retaining walls that are not over 4 feet (1219 mm) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge.
Water tanks supported directly on grade and fully enclosed with a cover if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons (18 927L) and the ratio of height to diameter or width does not exceed 2 to 1.
Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work.
Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches (610 mm) deep.
Swings and other playground equipment.
Window awnings supported by an exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches (1372 mm) from the exterior wall and do not require additional support.

Electrical:

Listed cord-and-plug connected temporary decorative lighting.
Reinstallation of attachment plug receptacles but not the outlets therefor.
Replacement of branch circuit overcurrent devices of the required capacity in the same location.
Electrical wiring, devices, appliances, apparatus or equipment operating at less than 25 volts and not capable of supplying more than 50 watts of energy.
Minor repair work, including the replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.

Gas:

Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances.
Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to power grid.

Mechanical:

Portable heating appliances.
Portable ventilation appliances.
Portable cooling units.
Steam, hot- or chilled-water piping within any heating or cooling equipment regulated by this code.
Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.
Portable evaporative coolers.
Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds (4.54 kg) or less of refrigerant or that are actuated by motors of 1 horsepower (746 W) or less.
Portable-fuel-cell appliances that are not connected to a fixed piping system and are not interconnected to a power grid

The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipe; provided, however, that if any concealed trap, drainpipe, water, soil, waste or vent pipe becomes defective and it becomes necessary to remove and replace the same with new material, such work shall be considered as new work and a permit shall be obtained and inspected made as provided in this code.

The clearing of stoppages or the repairing of leaks in pipes, valves, or fixtures, and the removal and re-installation of water closets, provided such repairs do not involve or require the replacement or rearrangement of valves, pipes or fixtures.

Submitting Permit Applications

Click here for directions on how to submit an application

Interactive Maps

The City of Georgetown’s interactive maps allow the exploration of the City’s collection of geographic data through interactive map viewers. They are easy to use and provide a wealth of information such as finding out if an address is inside the city limits.

Click here to go to interactive maps