Arlington, TX Building Permit Cost (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective October 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-258, Exhibit A) - a current schedule. Arlington sits in Tarrant County between Dallas and Fort Worth in the DFW metroplex. Verified directly against the published city fee schedule.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees in Arlington for one- and two-family homes. Arlington's Table 2 prices new construction, additions, alterations, garage conversions, and remodel & repairs in five square-footage tiers, each a base fee plus a per-square-foot rate - $1.00/sq ft or $300 (whichever is greater) up to 500 sq ft, $500 + $0.75/sq ft from 501 to 1,000 sq ft, $875 + $0.50/sq ft from 1,001 to 2,000 sq ft, $1,375 + $0.40/sq ft from 2,001 to 5,000 sq ft, and $2,725 + $0.55/sq ft at 5,001 sq ft and above - plus the city's flat residential fees (deck/patio cover $300, reroof $325, solar panel $325, in-ground pool $325, above-ground pool $200, foundation repair $200, fence $50, and more) and demolition at $200 per building. Each schedule figure is exact from the published fee schedule.
Trade permits are SEPARATE: Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits taken with a building permit are priced separately at $100 each per trade. They are added to the Table 2 building fee, not bundled into the per-square-foot rate. A new home built by a general contractor typically draws all three trade permits on top of the building permit ($300 total).
Additions and alterations carry a $325 minimum: Residential additions, alterations, remodels, and garage conversions use the same Table 2 tiers but are subject to a $325.00 minimum permit fee, so small jobs bill at the minimum rather than the computed amount.
Plan review is 35% of the building permit fee: Arlington assesses a non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee at submittal on single- and two-family residential building permit applications. Arlington adds a non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee on items its schedule marks for plan review (including new homes, additions, remodels, decks, reroofs, solar, pools, foundation repair, and window/door replacement); confirm with Arlington Planning and Development Services. On our reading of the schedule's asterisks, it does not apply to residential fences, pool barrier fences, spas, portable storage/sheds of 320 sq ft or less, temporary sales offices, or demolition. The worked examples on this page include it where it applies.
Texas has no statewide levy, and Arlington adds no surcharge: Unlike Virginia or Maryland, Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and Arlington charges no technology fee and no automation surcharge; the only percentage-based charge is the 35% plan review fee described above.
This page does NOT cover: Zoning, platting, and Unified Development Code fees; impact fees; the separate fire permit and fire plan review; the separate irrigation permit ($125 residential potable); reinspection, emergency, and after-hours inspection fees; business registration; and any third-party plan-review (TPO) cost paid to the TPO rather than the city - all excluded from every figure on this page.
A new 1,500 sq ft Arlington home's building permit is $1,125.00 ($875 plus $0.50 per square foot above 1,000 sq ft), plus a 35% plan review fee of $393.75 and $300 in separate electrical, mechanical, and plumbing trade permits ($100 each) - $1,818.75 all-in on the building side. Table 2 has five tiers, each a base fee plus a per-square-foot rate on the footage above the tier's start: $1.00/sq ft (minimum $300) up to 500 sq ft, $500 + $0.75 from 501-1,000, $875 + $0.50 from 1,001-2,000, $1,375 + $0.40 from 2,001-5,000, and $2,725 + $0.55 above 5,000. Flat permits run $50 to $325 before plan review (deck/patio cover $300, reroof $325, solar $325, in-ground pool $325, fence $50), and demolition is $200 per building. Arlington adds no technology fee, and Texas has no statewide permit levy.
- New one- and two-family homes use Arlington's Table 2: five tiers, each a base fee plus a per-square-foot rate on the footage above the tier's starting point - $1.00/sq ft or $300 (whichever is greater) up to 500 sq ft, $500 + $0.75/sq ft from 501-1,000, $875 + $0.50/sq ft from 1,001-2,000, $1,375 + $0.40/sq ft from 2,001-5,000, and $2,725 + $0.55/sq ft above 5,000. A 1,500 sq ft home computes to $875 + 500 × $0.50 = $1,125.00 for the building permit.
- Plan review is 35% of the building permit fee, non-refundable and assessed at submittal on one- and two-family building permit applications: $393.75 on the 1,500 sq ft home, for $1,518.75 before trades.
- Trade permits are separate line items: an electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permit taken with a building permit is $100 each, added on top of the Table 2 building fee - not bundled into the per-square-foot rate. A new home that draws all three trades adds $300, for $1,818.75 all-in on a 1,500 sq ft home.
- Residential additions, alterations, remodels, and garage conversions carry a $325.00 minimum permit fee, so small jobs bill at the minimum. A 400 sq ft addition computes to 400 × $1.00 = $400.00, above the minimum, plus $140.00 plan review = $540.00.
- Common flat residential fees (before plan review): deck / patio cover / screened porch / gazebo $300, reroof $325, solar panel $325, in-ground swimming pool $325 (spa included), above-ground pool $200, foundation repair $200, carport / porte cochere $250, portable storage/accessory building 320 sq ft or less $50, residential-lot fence $50, pool barrier fence $50, window/door replacement $100 (2 units) or $150 (3 or more), and demolition $200 per building. With plan review, a deck is $405.00 and a reroof, solar, or in-ground pool permit is $438.75.
- The fees come from the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective October 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-258, Exhibit A) - a current schedule. Texas has no statewide levy and Arlington adds no technology surcharge.
Arlington Building Permit Fee Structure
Arlington prices one- and two-family residential building permits on a tiered square-footage scale (Table 2) of base fees plus per-square-foot rates, adds a 35% plan review fee on the building permit fee, and prices trades and common small jobs as flat fees. There is no technology fee. The tables below show the verified figures exactly as published in the fee schedule effective October 1, 2025.
Table 2 - one- and two-family per-square-foot building rates
| Total square footage | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| 0 - 500 sq ft | $1.00 / sq ft or $300.00, whichever is greater |
| 501 - 1,000 sq ft | $500.00 + $0.75 / sq ft above 500 |
| 1,001 - 2,000 sq ft | $875.00 + $0.50 / sq ft above 1,000 |
| 2,001 - 5,000 sq ft | $1,375.00 + $0.40 / sq ft above 2,000 |
| 5,001 sq ft and above | $2,725.00 + $0.55 / sq ft above 5,000 |
| Additions / alterations / remodels / garage conversions minimum | $325.00 min |
| Plan review (one- and two-family building permits) | 35% of the building permit fee |
How the tiers work: each tier is a base fee plus a per-square-foot rate. A 1,500 sq ft home falls in the 1,001-2,000 tier, so the building permit is $875 + (1,500 - 1,000) × $0.50 = $1,125.00, and plan review adds 35% ($393.75). Table 2 covers new construction, additions, alterations, garage conversions, and remodel & repairs for one- and two-family residential.
How we read Table 2: The schedule prints each tier as a base plus a per-square-foot rate; we apply the rate to square footage above the tier's starting point, the reading under which the printed bases chain ($500 at 500 sq ft, $875 at 1,000, $1,375 at 2,000). Every Table 2 figure on this page uses that reading; confirm your computed fee with Arlington Planning and Development Services.
Trade permits with a building permit (per trade)
| Trade permit type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical permit (with building permit) | $100.00 |
| Mechanical permit (with building permit) | $100.00 |
| Plumbing permit (with building permit) | $100.00 |
Each trade permit is a separate flat fee added to the Table 2 building fee. A full new-home package that draws electrical, mechanical, and plumbing adds 3 × $100 = $300. Standalone (not associated with a building permit) trade permits use a $100 base fee plus itemized component fees, set by the department.
Flat residential permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Patio cover / screened porch / gazebo / deck | $300.00 |
| Reroof | $325.00 |
| Solar panel | $325.00 |
| Swimming pool, in-ground (spa included) | $325.00 |
| Swimming pool, above-ground | $200.00 |
| Spa, gunite in-ground | $65.00 |
| Spa, storable | $50.00 |
| Foundation repair | $200.00 |
| Carport / porte cochere (no charge with a new residence) | $250.00 |
| Portable storage / accessory building 320 sq ft or less | $50.00 |
| Fence (residential lot) | $50.00 |
| Swimming pool barrier fence | $50.00 |
| Perimeter screening fence / subdivision screening wall | $150.00 + $10 per lot |
| Window / door replacement (2 units) | $100.00 |
| Window / door replacement (3 or more) | $150.00 |
| Temporary construction sales office | $100.00 |
| Demolition (per building) | $200.00 |
These are the building permit fees as published, before plan review. Arlington adds a non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee on items its schedule marks for plan review (including decks and patio covers, reroofs, solar, in-ground and above-ground pools, foundation repair, carports, and window/door replacement); confirm with Arlington Planning and Development Services. On our reading of the schedule's asterisks, fences, pool barrier fences, spas, portable storage of 320 sq ft or less, temporary sales offices, and demolition carry no plan review. The in-ground pool fee ($325) includes the spa. Permanent storage/accessory buildings over 320 sq ft, detached garages, retaining walls, and boat docks are priced by valuation (Table 1, below) rather than as a flat fee.
Table 1 - valuation-based fees (detached garages, storage over 320 sq ft, retaining walls, boat docks)
| Project valuation | Building permit fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $2,000 | $325.00 |
| $2,001 - $25,000 | $325.00 + $9.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $25,001 - $50,000 | $532.00 + $8.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $50,001 - $100,000 | $744.50 + $7.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $100,001 - $500,000 | $1,119.50 + $6.50 per additional $1,000 |
| $500,001 - $1,000,000 | $3,719.50 + $5.00 per additional $1,000 |
| $1,000,001 - $2,500,000 | $6,219.50 + $4.25 per additional $1,000 |
| $2,500,001 - $5,000,000 | $12,594.50 + $4.00 per additional $1,000 |
| Over $5,000,000 | $22,594.50 + $3.00 per additional $1,000 |
For residential detached garages, permanent storage/accessory buildings over 320 sq ft, retaining walls, and boat docks, the schedule assumes a valuation of $75.00 per sq ft. Example: a 400 sq ft storage building is valued at 400 × $75 = $30,000, so the fee is $532.00 + 5 × $8.50 = $574.50, plus $201.08 plan review (35%) = $775.58. Commercial and multi-family work also uses Table 1 and is outside the one- and two-family scope of this page.
Arlington Permit Fee Components
An Arlington one- and two-family building permit total stacks a few separate components: the Table 2 building permit fee (or a flat fee), a plan review fee of 35% of that building permit fee, and any separately priced trade permits. There is no technology fee. Impact, zoning, and utility fees sit outside this stack entirely.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit fee (Table 2) | Base + per-SF rate by tier ($325 min on additions/alterations), or flat fee | Exact schedule figure |
| Plan review fee | 35% of the building permit fee | Non-refundable, at submittal; on items the schedule marks for plan review |
| Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | $100 each | Separate - added to the Table 2 building fee |
| Technology fee / state levy | $0.00 | None - no technology fee and no Texas statewide levy |
| Impact / zoning / platting / UDC fees | Separate schedules | Excluded - can far exceed the building permit on a new home |
| Fire / irrigation permits | Separate permits | Excluded - irrigation (residential potable) is $125 |
There is no add-on to an Arlington building permit beyond the components above - no technology fee and no statewide Texas levy. Reinspection, emergency, and same-day inspections are $200 each (after-hours $200 for the first 2 hours plus $42.50 per 30 minutes) and are charged only if triggered, so they are not in the worked examples below. Work started without a permit carries a penalty equal to the permit fee.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct arithmetic from the published fee schedule effective October 1, 2025. Building-permit figures use the Table 2 base plus the per-square-foot rate on the footage above the tier's starting point; every total adds the 35% plan review fee where the schedule marks the item for plan review, and new-home totals add the separate $100 per-trade permits.
Example 1: New 1,500 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | $875 + (1,500 - 1,000) × $0.50 (1,001-2,000 tier) | $1,125.00 |
| + Plan review | 35% × $1,125.00 | $393.75 |
| + Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | 3 × $100 | $300.00 |
| Full new-home package | $1,125.00 + $393.75 + $300 | $1,818.75 |
Assumptions: 1,500 SF home. It falls in the 1,001-2,000 tier, so the building permit is the $875 base plus $0.50 on the 500 sq ft above 1,000: $875 + $250 = $1,125.00. Plan review is 35% of that, $393.75, and the three separate $100 trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) add $300, for a full package of $1,818.75. Excludes zoning/platting/UDC fees, impact fees, and any reinspection fees. Source: City of Arlington Fee Schedule, effective Oct 1, 2025 (Res. 25-258).
Example 2: New 2,400 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | $1,375 + (2,400 - 2,000) × $0.40 (2,001-5,000 tier) | $1,535.00 |
| + Plan review | 35% × $1,535.00 | $537.25 |
| + Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | 3 × $100 | $300.00 |
| Full new-home package | $1,535.00 + $537.25 + $300 | $2,372.25 |
Assumptions: 2,400 SF home. It falls in the 2,001-5,000 tier, so the building permit is the $1,375 base plus $0.40 on the 400 sq ft above 2,000: $1,375 + $160 = $1,535.00. Plan review is 35% of that, $537.25, and the three separate $100 trade permits add $300, for a full package of $2,372.25. The per-square-foot rate falls as the home grows ($0.50 above 1,000 sq ft, $0.40 above 2,000), so the extra 900 sq ft over Example 1 adds only $410.00 to the building permit. Excludes zoning/UDC fees, impact fees, and any reinspection fees. Source: City of Arlington Fee Schedule, effective Oct 1, 2025 (Res. 25-258).
Example 3: New 1,000 SF Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | $500 + (1,000 - 500) × $0.75 (501-1,000 tier) | $875.00 |
| + Plan review | 35% × $875.00 | $306.25 |
| + Trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | 3 × $100 | $300.00 |
| Full new-home package | $875.00 + $306.25 + $300 | $1,481.25 |
Assumptions: 1,000 SF home. It falls in the 501-1,000 tier, so the building permit is the $500 base plus $0.75 on the 500 sq ft above 500: $500 + $375 = $875.00, which is also the printed base of the next tier. Plan review is 35% of that, $306.25, and the three separate $100 trade permits add $300, for a full package of $1,481.25. Smaller homes carry the higher per-square-foot rates ($1.00 and $0.75), so a compact home is not proportionally the cheapest. Excludes zoning/UDC fees, impact fees, and any reinspection fees. Source: City of Arlington Fee Schedule, effective Oct 1, 2025 (Res. 25-258).
Example 4: Flat-Fee Projects - Deck, Reroof, Solar, Pool, Demolition
| Project | Rule Applied | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Deck / covered patio | $300 + 35% plan review ($105.00) | $405.00 |
| Reroof | $325 + 35% plan review ($113.75) | $438.75 |
| Solar panel | $325 + 35% plan review ($113.75) | $438.75 |
| In-ground swimming pool (spa incl.) | $325 + 35% plan review ($113.75) | $438.75 |
| Demolition (per building) | $200 flat (no plan review) | $200.00 |
Assumptions: Each building permit fee here is a flat schedule amount; the 35% plan review is added where the schedule marks the item for plan review: deck/covered patio $300.00 + $105.00 = $405.00, reroof $325.00 + $113.75 = $438.75, solar $325.00 + $113.75 = $438.75, in-ground pool (spa included) $325.00 + $113.75 = $438.75, and demolition $200.00 per building with no plan review. Above-ground pools are $200.00 + $70.00 = $270.00, and a residential fence is $50.00 with no plan review. By contrast, additions bill from Table 2 with a $325 minimum - a 400 sq ft addition computes to 400 × $1.00 = $400.00, above the minimum, plus $140.00 plan review = $540.00, and a 200 sq ft addition bills at the $325.00 minimum plus $113.75 = $438.75. Source: City of Arlington Fee Schedule, effective Oct 1, 2025 (Res. 25-258).
Read before you budget from these examples
- Base plus rate above the tier start: the schedule prints each tier as a base plus a per-square-foot rate; we apply the rate to square footage above the tier's starting point, the reading under which the printed bases chain ($500 at 500 sq ft, $875 at 1,000, $1,375 at 2,000).
- Trades are separate: Arlington prices electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits at $100 each, added on top of the Table 2 building fee - $300 for all three on a new home.
- Plan review is included where it applies: Arlington adds a non-refundable plan review fee of 35% of the building permit fee on items its schedule marks for plan review (including new homes, additions, decks, reroofs, solar, and pools); confirm with Arlington Planning and Development Services. We do not add it to fences, spas, sheds of 320 sq ft or less, or demolition, which the schedule does not mark.
- No technology fee: Arlington adds no technology fee, and Texas has no statewide levy.
- Excluded fees can dwarf the permit: zoning/platting/UDC fees, impact fees, and separate fire and irrigation permits are not in any total above; on a new home they can far exceed the building permit.
Practitioner Insight
Arlington's residential permit math has two parts worth internalizing. First, Table 2 is a base plus a per-square-foot rate that steps down as the home gets larger ($1.00, $0.75, $0.50, then $0.40 between 2,001 and 5,000 sq ft). A 1,500 sq ft home's building permit is $1,125.00, and a much bigger 2,400 sq ft home is $1,535.00 - the larger home costs less per square foot. Second, the 35% plan review fee rides on top of every one of those numbers, so a 1,500 sq ft home is $1,518.75 before trades and $1,818.75 with the three $100 trade permits. That puts Arlington above the nearby DFW pack: a 2,000 sq ft Arlington home is $1,375.00 + $481.25 plan review = $1,856.25 before trades, versus $1,000 in Irving for the same size ($0.50/sq ft combined, plan review included) and $991.38 in Dallas, while Plano charges $0.48/sq ft plus fixed fees.
The two things to watch are which items carry plan review and the excluded site fees. The schedule marks the items that take plan review; on our reading a deck, reroof, solar, or pool permit picks up the 35% (a $325 reroof becomes $438.75), while a $50 fence or a $50 shed of 320 sq ft or less does not - confirm with Planning and Development Services for your project. And on a new home, the zoning, platting, impact, and utility fees that this page excludes can exceed the building permit itself, so price them early.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Arlington
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | Table 2 base + per SF by tier, + 35% plan review | Trades $100 each separate; 1,500 SF = $1,125 building + $393.75 plan review |
| Addition / alteration / garage conversion | Yes | Table 2 (min $325), + 35% plan review | Same tiers as new construction; $325 minimum ($438.75 with plan review) |
| Deck / patio cover / screened porch | Yes | $300 flat, + 35% plan review | Gazebo also $300; $405.00 with plan review |
| Swimming pool (in-ground) | Yes | $325 flat, + 35% plan review | Spa included; $438.75 with plan review; above-ground $200 ($270.00); barrier fence $50 |
| Reroof | Yes | $325 flat, + 35% plan review | One- and two-family; $438.75 with plan review |
| Solar panel | Yes | $325 flat, + 35% plan review | Residential rooftop; $438.75 with plan review |
| Fence (residential lot) | Yes | $50 flat | No plan review on our reading; pool barrier fence also $50 |
| Foundation repair | Yes | $200 flat, + 35% plan review | Per building; $270.00 with plan review |
| Demolition (residential) | Yes | $200 flat | Per building; no plan review |
| Trade work with a building permit (E / M / P) | Yes | $100 each | Added to the Table 2 building fee |
Permit trigger thresholds and chargeable-area determinations (which square footage counts for garages, porches, and covered patios) are set by the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services department. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact the department before starting work.
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services
Planning & Development Services
City of Arlington, Tarrant County, Texas
ap.arlingtontx.gov
Confirm counter hours and current phone on the city's Planning & Development Services pages
Fee Schedule (Res. 25-258, Exhibit A)
Effective October 1, 2025
When This Estimate May Not Apply
Plan review treatment differs for your item
The 35% plan review fee is applied on this page to the items the schedule marks for plan review (new homes, additions, remodels, decks, reroofs, solar, pools, foundation repair, carports, detached garages, windows/doors) and not to fences, spas, sheds of 320 sq ft or less, temporary sales offices, or demolition. That split is our reading of the schedule's markings; if the department treats your item differently, the total moves by 35% of the building permit fee.
Your project has chargeable-area questions
Which square footage counts (garage, porch, covered patio) is a Planning & Development Services determination the schedule does not spell out for the Table 2 rates, so a computed figure can shift once the counted area is set. The page also applies each tier's rate to the footage above the tier's starting point (the reading under which the printed bases chain); confirm the computed fee with the department.
You are building a new home - site fees are separate and large
Zoning, platting, and Unified Development Code fees, impact fees, and water/wastewater tap and meter fees are separate site charges that are NOT in any total here and can far exceed the building permit.
A minimum fee governs your small project
Small additions, alterations, remodels, and garage conversions bill at the $325 minimum ($438.75 with plan review), so the computed Table 2 figure will not apply until the project is larger than 325 sq ft.
The city amends its fee schedule
Arlington adjusted permit fees in a phased 2025 update; the current schedule is effective October 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-258) and can change by a later resolution. Confirm the current schedule before filing.
Source note: All figures come from the City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, effective October 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-258, Exhibit A), a 17-page schedule that is part of Arlington's phased 2025 permit-fee adjustments. The schedule took effect October 1, 2025 under Resolution No. 25-258. The official PDF is served behind a web application firewall that blocks some automated tools; it was retrieved from the official city asset URL in a browser session and re-verified on October 6, 2026. Table 2 figures apply each tier's per-square-foot rate to the footage above the tier's starting point (see the note below the Table 2 fee table).
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
-
City of Arlington Planning and Development Services Fee Schedule, Effective October 1, 2025 (Resolution No. 25-258, Exhibit A) Arlington, TX - official fee schedule adopted by Resolution No. 25-258 (Exhibit A). Primary source for every Table 2 tier, Table 1 tier, flat fee, trade fee, and the 35% plan review fee on this page. The schedule took effect October 1, 2025 under Resolution No. 25-258. Verified October 6, 2026 Verified
-
City of Arlington - Planning and Development Services / Permit Portal (ap.arlingtontx.gov) City department and online permit portal confirming Planning & Development Services as the permit authority. Verified October 6, 2026.
See how Arlington's tiered base-plus-per-SF structure compares to nearby DFW cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Arlington permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition or pool increases your assessed value in Tarrant County. A permitted project may change the property's taxable value. The county appraisal district determines that value and local taxing units adopt the rates, both separately from this permit fee.
Zoning, impact, and utility fees for larger projects
Zoning, platting, UDC, impact, and water/wastewater tap fees in Arlington are separate from the building permit. These items are governed by fee schedules separate from the building permit and are not included in the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →