Arlington, Texas Building Permits
Learn Arlington, Texas building permit steps, fees, review timelines, adopted codes, zoning, floodplain checks, and plan requirements for projects today.
Wind
ASCE 7 basic wind speed: approximately 115 mph ultimate design wind speed for Risk Category II buildings; exact wind speed and exposure should be verified with the ASCE Hazard Tool for the project address.
Snow Load
Ground snow load: minimal; commonly about 5 psf in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, with roof design governed by the adopted code and ASCE 7 requirements.
Flood
Arlington contains FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas along creeks, drainage channels, and low-lying areas, including portions of the Trinity River watershed. Projects in or near mapped Zone A or AE areas may require floodplain development review, elevation certificates, compensatory storage, drainage analysis, and finished-floor elevation compliance.
Earthquake
Seismic Design Category: generally A for typical low-rise buildings in Arlington, subject to site class, risk category, and the adopted IBC/IRC seismic provisions.
Wildfire
Wildfire risk is generally moderate to low in the urban core but can be higher near wooded creek corridors, parks, grassland edges, and large undeveloped tracts. The city primarily addresses risk through fire code access, hydrants, vegetation management, and defensible-space practices rather than a broad WUI code requirement.
Building Department
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Department – Building Inspections
Approval Timeline
Simple residential trade permits and minor repair permits may be issued same day or within a few business days when complete. Residential remodels, additions, accessory structures, pools, and new single-family homes commonly take about 1 to 3 weeks for first review, depending on workload and corrections. Commercial finish-outs and small commercial remodels often take about 2 to 4 weeks for first review. Larger commercial, multi-family, change-of-use, site-plan, fire-alarm, fire-sprinkler, or civil-related projects can take 4 to 8 weeks or longer, especially if zoning, platting, drainage, or fire access issues must be resolved.
Common Requirements
Common submittal items include a completed permit application, project valuation, site plan or survey, construction drawings, floor plans, elevations, structural details, foundation plans when applicable, energy code compliance documents, trade drawings, product specifications, and contractor registration. Commercial projects typically require code analysis, occupancy classification, construction type, occupant load, exiting plans, accessibility/TAS information, fire-rated assembly details, mechanical/electrical/plumbing plans, and fire protection plans when applicable. Work in floodplain areas may require elevation certificates, drainage information, and floodplain development review.
Zoning Information
Arlington regulates land use through its Unified Development Code and zoning map. Zoning districts cover residential, multifamily, commercial, industrial, mixed-use, downtown, and planned development areas. Zoning review typically checks whether the proposed use is allowed, setbacks, lot coverage, height, parking, landscaping, screening, accessory structures, signs, and special overlay or planned development standards. A project may need a zoning change, specific use permit, plat, site plan, or variance before a building permit can be approved.
Permit Costs
Permit fees in Arlington are generally based on permit type, project valuation, square footage, or adopted fee schedules. Small residential trade permits often fall in the roughly $50 to $200 range. Fences, accessory buildings, and minor remodels may be a few hundred dollars depending on valuation. New homes, additions, pools, and larger residential projects can range from several hundred to a few thousand dollars when plan review, inspection, and trade fees are included. Commercial permits are commonly valuation-based and may range from several hundred dollars for small finish-outs to many thousands for major construction. Impact, utility, fire, sign, and reinspection fees may apply separately.
Engineering Requirements
Engineer-sealed plans are typically required for commercial structural work, new commercial buildings, significant structural alterations, retaining walls over code thresholds, unusual foundations, engineered metal buildings, storm shelters, and projects using nonprescriptive structural design. Residential projects may need a Texas licensed engineer for foundation design or repair, large beams or openings, second-story additions, retaining walls, pools, and any condition outside the prescriptive IRC. Expansive clay soils in North Texas often make engineered foundation designs and geotechnical information advisable for new homes and major additions.
Local Code Adoption
Arlington uses locally amended International Codes. Recent city code adoptions are generally based on the 2021 International Building Code, 2021 International Residential Code, 2021 International Fire Code, 2021 International Plumbing Code, 2021 International Mechanical Code, 2021 International Fuel Gas Code, 2021 International Energy Conservation Code, and the National Electrical Code edition adopted/enforced by the city and Texas. Applicants should confirm the current local amendments before design or submittal.
Typical Projects
Common Arlington permit projects include single-family additions, garage conversions, kitchen and bathroom remodels, patio covers, accessory buildings, fences, swimming pools, foundation repairs, roof-mounted equipment, tenant finish-outs, restaurant improvements, retail remodels, warehouse alterations, signs, fire alarm and sprinkler work, and mixed-use or multifamily redevelopment near major corridors and entertainment districts.