Austin, Texas Building Permit Search 2026: Records, Status & Inspections

Find Austin Building Permits by Address or Permit Number

Austin Permit Search: Official Information

How to Search Austin Building Permits Online

The AB+C portal provides two main search methods. Use the permit number when available; otherwise, search the property address or project details.

Method 1: Search by Permit or Case Number

1. Open the official portal: Visit the AB+C Public Search.
2. Select the number search: Use the search tab for permit number, folder RSN, ROW ID, or case number.
3. Enter the identifier: Austin permit numbers commonly follow the format YYYY-###### XX, including a year, six-digit number, and permit-type suffix.
4. Run the search: Select Search or the available submission option.
5. Open the record: Select Detail beside the matching permit or case.
6. Review the information: Examine the current status, property details, fees, review notes, and available documents.

Useful tip: Keep the permit-type suffix when searching by a complete permit number. If you have only a folder RSN, choose that identifier’s search field instead.

Method 2: Search by Property Address

1. Open AB+C Public Search and select the property/project search tab.
2. Enter the street number and street name. Include direction, street type, or unit information when appropriate.
3. Leave unrelated fields blank initially. Add a permit type or date range if too many results appear.
4. Submit the search and review the matching permit and case entries.
5. Select each relevant record’s Detail option to examine its status and history.

What Information Can You Find in an Austin Permit Record?

Selecting Detail in Public Search opens information organized into several sections. Availability depends on the case type, stage, and public-access restrictions.

Check associated permits separately. One construction project may have a plan-review case, building permit, and separate electrical, mechanical, or plumbing permits. The Related Folders section can help, but the City’s manual notes that it does not necessarily show every case at an address.

Understand Austin Building Permit Status

A permit search can display several application or review statuses. These are not interchangeable with an issued permit authorizing construction.

How to Check Austin Building Inspection Records

Homeowners and contractors can monitor available inspection information for a permit through AB+C Public Search. Building inspections can cover structural, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work, depending on the project.

1. Find the applicable building or trade permit using its number or property address.
2. Open the permit’s Detail page.
3. Review its current status and available Processes and Notes or inspection-related records.
4. Check the inspection date, recorded outcome, and any notes or correction requirements shown.
5. If an inspection failed or was partial, review the outstanding requirements with the permit holder or assigned inspector before arranging follow-up.

The City’s public search is useful for monitoring contractor work. However, a missing or incomplete inspection entry should not be treated as proof that an inspection passed.

How to Schedule an Austin Building Inspection

Public Search does not itself authorize users to schedule inspections. Online scheduling requires an AB+C account linked to the permit, an Active permit status, and payment of required fees.

1. Sign in to your registered AB+C account.
2. Select My Inspections.
3. Find the active permit and check the box beside its number.
4. Select the required inspection from the available list.
5. Choose Schedule Inspection, select a date, and enter any necessary inspector comments.
6. Click Request Inspection and check for the confirmation or error message.

For phone scheduling, request an IVR PIN using the City’s inspection scheduling instructions. Complete the required authorization form and email it to Building Inspections.

You can also locate an inspector by property address using the City’s Building Inspections page and its Find Your Inspector tool.

Search Older and Closed Austin Building Permits

Permits that have passed final inspection may no longer appear under a registered user’s My Permits list. The City’s AB+C manual directs users to Public Search for closed permits.

For historical research, use these options:

Austin’s issued-construction-permit dataset includes building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, and driveway/sidewalk records, with fields such as issue dates, work descriptions, valuations, and property information where available.

Another official Issued Building Permits dataset provides mapped building-permit records dating back to 2006 and is described by the City as updated quarterly.

How to Find Approved Building Plans and Documents

Some approved building plans, revisions, and review comments are available within AB+C. For an active project:

1. Search the property address or its Plan Review (PR) number.
2. Open the matching plan-review record.
3. Select Folder Attachments.
4. Locate the approved plan set or relevant public attachment.
5. Use the available Download option to retrieve the document.

Residential building-plan attachments may not be available until the plans have been approved. Site-plan and subdivision drawings are also generally attached after approval, while reviewer comment reports may appear earlier.

When reviewing revisions: Look for modified sheet numbers and the latest revision identifiers. Do not assume the oldest attachment is the approved version currently governing construction.

What If an Austin Permit Record Is Missing?

A missing search result does not necessarily mean work was performed without a permit. The address may be recorded differently, the case may belong to another jurisdiction, or the requested document may be archived or unavailable online.

Try These Fixes First

• Check the address: Include the correct street direction, type, and unit number.
• Search by number: Use a permit or plan-review number if available.
• Adjust date filters: Remove restrictive date ranges to search more broadly.
• Check related records: Look for separate PR, building, and trade permits.
• Confirm jurisdiction: An Austin mailing address does not guarantee the City of Austin issued the permit.
• Request archived files: Use the City’s records-request procedure if available public records are insufficient.

Check Whether the Property Is Within Austin’s Jurisdiction

Austin-area properties may be located within full-purpose city limits, limited-purpose jurisdiction, extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), or an unincorporated county area. Permitting responsibilities can differ.

1. Open the City’s Addressing Verification instructions.
2. Launch the official Jurisdictions Web Map.
3. Select I want to… and then Find my Jurisdiction.
4. Enter the property address and select the correct address suggestion.
5. Click Submit and open Property Profile to review the jurisdiction, county, parcel identification, and other available property details.

Austin’s ETJ extends into portions of Travis, Williamson, Hays, and Bastrop counties. Some development and subdivision processes involve overlapping City and county responsibilities. Confirm the permitting authority for the specific property and type of work before concluding a record is missing.

How to Request Austin Building Permit Records

If you need archived plans, historic permit files, certificates of occupancy, site plans, or records not available through Public Search, Austin Development Services provides a formal public-records process.

1. Visit the official Records and Research page.
2. Open the City’s Public Records Center or email public.information@austintexas.gov.
3. Identify the property address, permit or case number if known, approximate construction dates, and the specific documents needed.
4. Wait for the City to review the request and provide any applicable retrieval-cost invoice.
5. If charges apply, follow the City’s payment instructions. Retrieved records may then be scanned and delivered electronically.

Records and Research appointments are also available for eligible in-person document reviews at the Permitting and Development Center. Physical archival records are not necessarily stored at that office.

Austin Development Services Contact Information

Have the permit number, property address, and a short description of your question ready before contacting staff. This helps the department identify the correct case.

If you need to apply for a new permit or arrange inspections after reviewing a record, see our Austin Building Department guide. For the construction standards behind plan review, consult our Austin building code guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Official Austin Permit Search Resources

• AB+C Public Search — search City permit and case records.
• AB+C User Manual — search fields, statuses, accounts, payments, and portal instructions.
• Building Inspection Scheduling — online and phone procedures.
• Building Inspections — inspection guidance, inspector lookup, and approved plans.
• Records and Research — historical records and public-information requests.
• Jurisdiction and Address Verification — confirm the correct authority for a property.
• Issued Construction Permits Dataset — historical issued-permit information.

Information reviewed: October 2026. Government portals, records, schedules, and procedures can change. USBuilding.org is an independent information resource, not the City of Austin or an official permitting agency. Confirm project-specific requirements and legal permit status with the responsible authority.