Dallas County Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Dallas County, Texas · 2026 permit guide · Information reviewed October 23, 2026

Dallas County Building Permits: Start With the Right Jurisdiction

If you are looking for the Dallas County Building Department, the first thing to know is that Dallas County does not operate like a typical city building department. County permitting is primarily handled through the Dallas County Department of Unincorporated Area Services (DUAS) for property in unincorporated Dallas County.

If your property is inside the City of Dallas, Garland, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson, Grand Prairie, or another incorporated municipality, that city normally handles its own building permits and inspections. A Dallas mailing address or ZIP code by itself does not prove that Dallas County is your permitting authority.

Does Dallas County Issue Your Permit?

Dallas County states that it issues permits only for property located in its unincorporated areas. County planning information says these areas represent less than ten percent of the county’s land and are concentrated largely in the southeastern part of Dallas County.

Texas counties also do not have the same general zoning authority as Texas cities. Dallas County explains that cities adopt zoning ordinances, while the county regulates specific matters in its unincorporated territory such as floodplain development, subdivisions, septic systems, residential construction, certain outdoor businesses, communications facilities and commercial construction.

Read Dallas County’s official zoning and unincorporated-area explanation ↗

Which Dallas County Permit Do You Need?

The right application depends on what you are actually doing. Don’t choose a permit merely because its name sounds close to your project.

If your project does not fit neatly into one category, Dallas County offers a Pre-Development Meeting. The county asks for a pre-development application, site or conceptual site plan and survey. If you do not own the property but are considering buying it, a notarized authorization from the owner may be required before staff discusses the property. Current meetings are conducted through Microsoft Teams.

Official pre-development meeting instructions ↗

How to Apply for a Dallas County Permit Online

1. Confirm the property is under Dallas County jurisdiction.
   Make sure the site is in unincorporated Dallas County. If it is within municipal limits, stop and use that city’s permitting department instead.
2. Choose the correct application.
   Open the county’s Applications & Permit Forms page and match your work to the residential, commercial, development, floodplain, driveway, utility, mobile-home or other permit category.
3. Prepare your supporting documents.
   Dallas County’s published checklist says a complete application may require the application itself, owner authorization, fee payment, plat, deed, scope of work, site plan and survey. If a survey is required, the county identifies an 11-by-17-inch PDF as a common submission format, while a full-size 24-by-36-inch plan may also be requested.
4. Create or open your MGO Connect account.
   Go to MGO Connect, select the Customer Portal, choose Texas, then select Dallas County Unincorporated. New users should create an account before beginning the application.
5. Enter the project information carefully.
   Use the actual project location and accurate owner, applicant and contractor details. Select the permit type that matches the county application you identified.
6. Upload plans and supporting files.
   Attach the site plan, survey, deed, authorization, project description and other required documents. A saved draft is not the same as a submitted application, so make sure the portal confirms submission.
7. Pay the required application fee.
   Dallas County currently says application fees are paid by debit or credit card. Because published schedules and project-specific charges can differ, confirm the amount with DUAS before payment when the portal does not make it clear.
8. Respond to review comments and wait for issuance.
   County staff may route the project to Public Works, the Fire Marshal, Health and Human Services, Road and Bridge or another reviewer. Do not begin regulated development merely because the application was submitted.

Documents to Have Ready Before You Apply

A few minutes spent organizing documents can save repeated uploads and review comments. Depending on the project, prepare:

• Completed permit or notice application
• Property owner’s authorization if someone else is submitting
• Property deed
• Recorded plat, if the property is platted
• Survey when required
• Site plan showing the proposed work
• Clear written scope of work
• Building plans or construction drawings when applicable
• Floodplain information or elevations when required
• Septic/OSSF documents if public sewer is unavailable
• Fire protection plans for regulated commercial work
• Driveway, drainage or utility information when those systems are affected

For development in a Special Flood Hazard Area, additional elevation information, flood-resistant design details, engineering or a no-rise analysis may be required depending on the project.

Floodplain and Development Permits

Floodplain review is especially important in unincorporated Dallas County. The county states that much of its unincorporated territory is considered floodplain, and development cannot simply proceed because a building itself appears small.

Development can include more than constructing a structure. Grading, fill, excavation, drainage improvements and certain other changes to land can trigger review.

For property within the Special Flood Hazard Area, Dallas County’s floodplain regulations require a development permit. The county may review items such as:

• Base Flood Elevation
• Lowest-floor elevation
• Flood-resistant construction
• Anchoring
• Protection of utilities from flooding
• Floodway encroachment
• Whether a proposed project would increase flood heights

Dallas County official floodplain information ↗

Residential Construction in Unincorporated Dallas County

For residential work, the county’s current permit page lists a Notice of Residential Construction Application for new residential construction, additions and major structural renovations.

Dallas County’s planning guidance also specifically directs owners to review residential construction requirements when building a new residential unit or an addition of at least 500 square feet in an unincorporated area outside a city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.

Residential inspection stages

The residential inspection compliance form published by Dallas County identifies three important construction stages:

• Foundation: before concrete is placed.
• Framing and mechanical systems: before drywall or other interior wall coverings conceal the work.
• Completion: after the construction is finished.

The county’s older residential inspection form references an earlier International Residential Code edition. Because that form remains available while code requirements can change, confirm the current code basis and required inspection documentation with DUAS before construction rather than relying on the date printed on an older form.

Commercial Building Permits and Fire Marshal Review

Commercial construction in unincorporated Dallas County can involve both DUAS and the Dallas County Fire Marshal. The county’s current Building Permit Application is identified for new commercial buildings such as offices, warehouses, workshops and garages.

The Dallas County Fire Code was amended effective October 21, 2025 and incorporates the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) with Dallas County amendments. The code applies in unincorporated Dallas County and to county-owned or operated facilities as specified by the code.

Its stated scope covers regulated public buildings, commercial establishments, applicable substantial improvements and multifamily residential buildings with four or more units. The Fire Code also explains that detached one- and two-family dwellings are generally outside that fire-code scope unless a separately regulated activity or hazard applies.

How commercial building inspections work under the Fire Code

For building permits governed by the current Dallas County Fire Code, the permit holder is required to employ an ICC-certified building inspector, licensed engineer, architect or ICC-certified building official to perform phased inspections and maintain inspection logs.

At completion, the permit holder must submit an as-built certification signed and sealed by an eligible professional stating that the building complies with the code. Required fire-protection-system documentation must also be included.

The as-built certification acts as the request for final inspection. After approval, the Fire Marshal may issue the applicable Certificate of Compliance and release utilities. The Fire Code states that the building or structure may not be occupied before the required certificate is issued.

Dallas County Permit Fees in 2026

There are multiple fee schedules because different departments review different parts of a project. Dallas County’s current application page specifically tells applicants to call DUAS to confirm the applicable application fee.

Published DUAS permit fees

The following figures come from the county’s published DUAS fee schedule, which is still available online but is marked last updated August 30, 2023. Use these as a planning reference, not a guarantee of the amount currently due.

The same schedule notes that County Clerk filing fees, commercial Fire Marshal fees and Health and Human Services septic charges are separate when applicable.

Commercial and Fire Marshal fees

The Dallas County Fire Marshal publishes a separate updated fee schedule. Among the listed charges are:

• Building and site plans: $500 per 1,000 square feet of structure.
• Fire & Safety Final Inspection: $150.
• Separate fees for sprinkler systems, fire alarms, hazardous materials, fire pumps, standpipes, private hydrants and operational permits.
• Reinspection and after-hours inspection charges may apply.

View the official Fire Marshal fee schedule PDF ↗

Septic / OSSF Permits

If the property uses an on-site sewage facility rather than a public sewer connection, Dallas County Health and Human Services handles the OSSF approval process.

The county says the system design is reviewed before an authorization to construct is issued, and the installation is inspected afterward. Application materials can include:

• Floodplain verification
• Site evaluation by a TCEQ-licensed site evaluator
• Property plat or survey
• OSSF design
• Required maintenance contract or recorded affidavit for certain system types

Dallas County’s current Environmental Health fee page lists a $260 residential septic inspection fee and $310 commercial septic inspection fee, including the listed state fee. Reinspection and expedited-inspection charges are separate.

Official Dallas County Environmental Health / OSSF page ↗

How to Check Permit Status or Find Issued Permits

If you submitted through MGO Connect, sign in to the same customer account used for the application. Check the project record for requests, uploaded documents, review activity and available permit information.

Dallas County also publishes monthly reports of issued permits. The reports identify residential and commercial permits and can be useful when researching permits already issued by the county.

1. Open the Dallas County Permit Reports page.
2. Select the current year.
3. Choose the applicable month.
4. Review the permit number, issued date, permit type, description and site address.
5. If you need a complete file rather than a monthly listing, contact DUAS with the property address and permit number.

Search Dallas County issued permit reports ↗

If the Property Is Inside the City of Dallas

Do not use the Dallas County unincorporated-area application simply because the property address says Dallas, Texas.

The City of Dallas uses its own development permitting system, DallasNow, for city planning and development applications, building permits, inspections and related services.

1. Open the City of Dallas DallasNow portal.
2. Use property information or the application search to confirm the location.
3. Select the appropriate Building, Planning, Public Works or other service.
4. Create or sign in to an account if you need to submit or manage an application.
5. For City of Dallas permit assistance, the current portal lists 214-948-4480.

Open the official City of Dallas DallasNow portal ↗

Dallas County Contact Information

Common Mistakes That Cause Problems

• Applying to Dallas County for a city property. Verify municipal boundaries first.
• Assuming a mailing address determines jurisdiction. It does not always match the permitting authority.
• Starting grading before development approval. Land disturbance can require approval even before vertical construction begins.
• Ignoring floodplain status. Much of unincorporated Dallas County has floodplain considerations.
• Submitting only building plans. A site plan, deed, survey, plat or authorization may also be required.
• Forgetting septic approval. OSSF review is separate from ordinary building/development review.
• Covering work before inspection. Confirm required inspection stages before concrete, drywall or other work hides regulated construction.
• Using an old fee schedule as a final quote. Confirm the actual amount shown by the county or MGO.
• Assuming a submitted application equals an issued permit. It does not.

Related Texas Building and Permit Guides

Permitting systems differ significantly across Texas. If you are comparing jurisdictions or working in more than one city, these guides may help:

• Austin Building Department: permits and inspections
• How to search Austin building permits and inspection records
• Austin building codes and local amendments
• Amarillo Building Department and MGO permitting process

Dallas County Building Department FAQs

USBuilding.org is an independent informational resource and is not affiliated with Dallas County, the City of Dallas or MGO Connect. Government forms, fees, contacts and procedures can change.