Georgetown, Texas Building Department 2026: Permits, Inspections & Services

Which Georgetown Projects Need a Building Permit?

Inside Georgetown city limits, the City’s published guidance requires permits for many projects that construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move or demolish a building, change its occupancy, or install, alter, repair or replace regulated electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems.

That means the permit question is usually broader than “Am I building a new structure?” A remodel that moves walls, changes plumbing and adds electrical circuits may involve several permit disciplines even though the homeowner thinks of it as one project.

Use the City’s residential permits directory or commercial permits directory to choose the application that matches the actual work.

How to Apply for a Georgetown Building Permit

The most useful way to approach the process is to prepare everything before opening a new application. MGO Connect is not simply a payment page; Georgetown uses it for document intake, review comments, permit status, payments and inspections.

1. Confirm that Georgetown is the correct permitting authority.
   Check whether the property is inside city limits or the ETJ and identify the water, wastewater and electric provider. This matters because Georgetown permitting can extend beyond city limits for certain utility-served properties.
2. Choose the exact permit type.
   Open the City’s permit directory and select residential new construction, remodel/addition, commercial, fence, roof, pool, electrical, plumbing, Certificate of Occupancy or another applicable service. Do not submit a general application just because the correct permit name is unclear.
3. Create or sign in to an MGO Connect account.
   Go to MGO Connect. First-time applicants need an account before they can manage applications and inspections.
4. Enter the project address and contacts carefully.
   Use the actual construction address and accurate owner, applicant and contractor information. For commercial work, incorrect building or suite information can create review problems later.
5. Upload the required PDFs.
   Upload plans, applications, site information and supporting documents using the format required for that permit. Georgetown’s commercial checklist specifically requires organized digital PDF files and may return incorrectly prepared submissions.
6. Submit and confirm that the application was actually received.
   Saving a draft is not the same as submitting it. Check that MGO produces the project/application information and shows the record in your account.
7. Watch for review comments.
   Log back into MGO instead of waiting only for email. Review comments, markups, requested corrections and status updates are connected to the project record.
8. Pay after approval when instructed.
   Georgetown’s current process directs applicants back to MGO to pay permit charges once the application is approved. The amount depends on the permit and project.
9. Schedule each required inspection before covering work.
   Use MGO to request inspections. Georgetown does not accept ordinary residential inspection requests by telephone.
10. Complete final approval.
    Resolve failed inspections, close associated permits and obtain the required building final, Certificate of Occupancy or other closeout approval before occupying or treating the project as complete.

Documents to Prepare Before You Submit

The exact package changes by project, but preparing the basics in advance can prevent an application from sitting incomplete.

Residential projects

• Correct property address and legal description when requested
• Owner and contractor contact information
• Clear description of the proposed work
• Site or plot information when location, setbacks or new structures are involved
• Floor plans for remodels, additions or affected interior spaces
• Elevations when exterior openings, additions or exterior construction are involved
• Structural details when the project changes framing or load-bearing elements
• Product specifications when required for windows, doors, equipment or other regulated components
• Trade information for electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work

Commercial projects

Georgetown’s commercial checklist is more demanding. Depending on the project, the package can include:

• Completed commercial building permit application
• Construction and occupancy information
• Texas accessibility documentation when applicable
• Energy-code compliance documentation such as COMcheck when applicable
• Foundation and structural plans
• Floor plans and building elevations
• Electrical, plumbing and mechanical plans
• Fire/life-safety information
• Approved or proposed site plan information
• Water-meter documentation when applicable
• Transportation impact-fee confirmation when required
• Electric line-extension documentation when Georgetown Electric is the provider and new/upgraded service is involved
• Approved project address information

How Long Does Georgetown Permit Review Take in 2026?

These are review or scheduling targets, not promises for total permit issuance. Missing plans, incorrect uploads, review comments, utility requirements, site-development issues, fire review or resubmittals can extend the actual timeline.

For residential permits, Georgetown also warns that applications are handled in the order received. Build extra time into your contractor schedule instead of assuming approval will arrive on the earliest possible day.

Georgetown Building Inspections: How Scheduling Works

The City currently states that residential inspections are conducted Monday through Friday, generally between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m..

Inspection requests must be submitted through MGO Connect before 3:00 p.m. for the next available business day in most cases. The City specifically says it does not guarantee next-business-day inspections.

Micro steps to request an inspection

1. Open MGO Connect.
2. Sign in using the account connected to the permit.
3. Open the active permit/project record.
4. Locate the inspections section.
5. Select the inspection that matches the stage of work.
6. Add clear access instructions when necessary.
7. Submit before 3:00 p.m. if requesting the next available business day.
8. Check the project record afterward for inspection results.

Do not cover regulated work merely because an inspection was requested. Wait until the required inspection has actually passed before proceeding to a stage that would conceal the work.

Residential final inspection

Georgetown does not issue a separate Certificate of Occupancy for residential homes. The approved building final inspection serves that function. The permit holder can print the building final report through the MGO account.

Georgetown Building Permit Fees in 2026

There is no single Georgetown building-permit price. Charges vary based on project type, construction valuation, review requirements, trade permits and other project-specific services.

The City maintains separate fee resources for Building Permits & Inspections, fire prevention, planning, electric-related permitting, utility impact fees and transportation impact fees.

The City’s fee page currently links to its 2026 Building Permits & Inspections fee schedule. Use that current schedule or the amount generated for the permit instead of relying on an old fee quoted on a contractor’s website.

For commercial work, remember that the building permit may not be the only cost. Planning review, fire permits, utility work, transportation impact fees or other approvals may apply separately.

Building Codes Used in Georgetown in 2026

Georgetown adopted the 2021 International Codes with local amendments and the City’s current residential permit page specifically identifies the following standards:

Use the City’s Adopted Building Code page and the Georgetown Code of Ordinances when a code detail affects design.

How to Search Georgetown Building Permits and Check Status

MGO Connect is also the City’s practical starting point for active and issued permit information. Georgetown says users can search permit records using property information, project type, date ranges and other available filters.

Search a permit by property

1. Open Georgetown’s MGO Connect portal.
2. Create an account or sign in.
3. Open the permit/project search tools.
4. Start with the complete property address.
5. If necessary, narrow the results using project type or date.
6. Open the matching record and review its available status and project information.

If a permit is under review and the online record does not answer your question, email planreview@georgetowntexas.gov and include both the project/permit number and property address.

For older documents or records not available through the normal permit portal, Georgetown also operates an official Public Information Center and records library.

A missing online result does not automatically prove that work was unpermitted. Check address formatting, jurisdiction, project dates and archived records before drawing that conclusion.

Certificate of Occupancy Requirements for Georgetown Businesses

Businesses inside the City of Georgetown need a valid Certificate of Occupancy before occupying a business space or opening to the public.

A Georgetown commercial Certificate of Occupancy is not automatically transferred to a new situation. The City states that a new CO is required when the business owner, business address or business name changes.

If the new business involves construction—such as moving walls, changing doors or windows, modifying electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems, or changing the use of the space—the required building permits must be handled before the Certificate of Occupancy can be completed.

For ground-up commercial projects

The City’s closeout process can require more than a simple building-final inspection. Depending on the project, items may include:

• Site-development closeout
• Required record drawings or certificates of no change
• Planning, landscaping and engineering inspections
• Fire final
• Plumbing, mechanical and electrical finals
• Building final
• Closure of associated permits such as fire, sign and irrigation permits

Only after applicable closeout items pass can the Certificate of Occupancy be issued.

Local Issues That Can Change Your Permit Path

City limits vs. ETJ

This is one of the biggest Georgetown-specific issues. A Williamson County mailing address does not tell you by itself which permitting rules apply. Check city limits, ETJ status and utility providers.

Historic and downtown properties

Exterior changes in Georgetown’s Old Town or Downtown overlays can require historic-preservation review or a Certificate of Appropriateness. The City’s window-replacement guidance specifically tells applicants in these overlays to check historic requirements before proceeding.

Floodplain development

Properties affected by floodplain regulations may require a separate floodplain development permit or additional technical review. Check flood status before investing in final structural or site plans.

Public right-of-way work

Work involving public streets or right-of-way—such as construction, utility installation, maintenance or material/equipment placement—can require a separate ROW permit.

The City’s MGO instructions for ROW permits direct applicants to choose Georgetown as the jurisdiction, select the Systems Engineering project type and then choose the Right of Way Permit Application.

Fire permits

Commercial projects can require separate fire alarm, sprinkler or other Fire & Life Safety review. Do not assume that a building permit automatically covers fire-protection systems.

Official resource: Georgetown Fire & Life Safety.

Common Mistakes That Delay Georgetown Permits

• Starting with the wrong jurisdiction. Verify city limits, ETJ and Georgetown utility service first.
• Using the wrong permit type. A tenant finish-out, new commercial building, residential remodel and Certificate of Occupancy follow different paths.
• Uploading incomplete PDFs. Commercial documents must follow Georgetown’s electronic organization requirements.
• Ignoring site-development requirements. Commercial building review can depend on planning/site-plan progress.
• Forgetting separate fire permits. Fire alarm and fire-suppression work may require their own submissions.
• Assuming a submitted application is an issued permit. Wait for approval and issuance before starting regulated work.
• Covering work before inspection. Required inspections must pass before regulated work is concealed.
• Expecting a guaranteed next-day inspection. Requests made before 3:00 p.m. are generally for the next available business day, but the City does not guarantee next-day service.
• Using an old fee amount. Check the current 2026 City fee page rather than an old PDF or contractor quote.
• Ignoring historic, floodplain, ROW or utility requirements. Building approval does not erase other applicable regulations.

Useful Georgetown Official Resources

Related Texas Building Guides

If your project is outside Georgetown’s jurisdiction, the permit process can change completely. For nearby Central Texas context, see our Austin, Texas Building Department guide. For an example of how county permitting differs from a city building department, see the Dallas County Building Department guide.

Georgetown Building Department FAQs

Before You Start Work

For most people, the fastest Georgetown permit process begins before the application is submitted: confirm jurisdiction, identify the exact permit, prepare the complete document package and understand which inspections must occur before work is covered.

If your project is unusual, involves an ETJ property, historic overlay, commercial change of use, floodplain, major utility work or several separate permits, contact the City before finalizing construction plans. A short clarification at the beginning can prevent an expensive redesign later.

Independent information: USBuilding.org is not affiliated with the City of Georgetown. Government fees, code interpretations, forms, portal procedures and project requirements can change. Use the official City portal for the final permit application and property-specific determination.