Inside a city, the city permits the building. Past the last city limit sign the county takes over, and across this footprint what the county asks for runs from a full permit with inspections to nothing listed at all. The two ends of that range, and what each office reviews, are set side by side on metal building permits in Austin and Travis County. Everything that follows the permit, in order, is on building a metal building in the Austin area.
| County | Seat | Cities that run their own permit | Outside the cities | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis County | Austin | Austin, Pflugerville, Lakeway, Bee Cave, Manor, West Lake Hills, Lago Vista, Jonestown, Sunset Valley, Rollingwood | County permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
| Williamson County | Georgetown | Georgetown, Round Rock, Leander, Cedar Park, Hutto, Taylor, Liberty Hill, Jarrell | No county building permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
| Bastrop County | Bastrop | Bastrop, Elgin, Smithville | County permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
| Caldwell County | Lockhart | Lockhart, Luling, Martindale, Mustang Ridge, Uhland, Niederwald | County permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
| Lee County | Giddings | Giddings, Lexington, Dime Box | County permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
| Burnet County | Burnet | Burnet, Marble Falls, Bertram, Granite Shoals, Horseshoe Bay, Cottonwood Shores | County permit listed | 2026-09-20 |
Travis County, TX
Inside Austin
Commercial plan review, seven to 20 business days by size
Inside Austin a building permit is required to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move or demolish any building or structure within the city's zoning jurisdiction, and a commercial building goes through the Development Services Department's commercial plan review under the locally amended 2024 International Building Code, in force since July 10, 2025.
What the county's page says
A site plan, site plan correction or site plan exemption has to be in place before a commercial building permit application, and the two are reviewed together only with an approved concurrent review request.
Source City of Austin Development Services, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Drive, read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Travis County
County development permit, plus a Fire Marshal permit for a commercial building
Outside city limits, Travis County requires a Development Permit, and its definition of development covers buildings and other structures, driveways, right-of-way work and on-site sewage facilities.
What the county's page says
A commercial project that is not a dwelling applies for a Development (Non-Residential) permit with a sealed construction cost estimate and a site plan sealed by a Texas-licensed engineer, and a pre-construction meeting sets which inspections apply.
Source Travis County TNR Development Services, Commercial Site Plan, read 2026-09-20.
Williamson County, TX
Inside Georgetown
Commercial building permit, 30 business day review
Georgetown requires a Commercial Building Permit application through My Government Online for new ground-up commercial construction, remodels, tenant finish-outs, additions and facade changes, with bookmarked PDF plans, the TDLR registration, a ComCheck and proof of transportation impact fees, and it will not accept the application until Planning has issued first-round site plan comments.
What the county's page says
The city states a 30 business day turnaround with no expedited option; the first resubmittal takes 25 business days.
Source City of Georgetown Building Inspections, 300-1 Industrial Ave., read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Williamson County
No county building permit, building code or certificate of occupancy
Williamson County's own pages answer the building permit question by pointing to the County Engineer's Road and Bridge Division, which issues a Certificate of Compliance that verifies whether the property is in a floodplain, and say nothing else is needed from that office unless a driveway is being built.
What the county's page says
The county states it has no zoning regulations, has no authority to issue a Certificate of Occupancy, has not adopted the Local Government Code 233 residential building code standards, does not require new residential construction to conform to any building code, and issues no building permits and reviews almost no site plans, leaving only the health and safety matters that the Williamson County and Cities Health District handles.
The source was read and does not list this. Source Williamson County, frequently asked questions, infrastructure and developers, read 2026-09-20.
Bastrop County, TX
Inside Bastrop
City building permit after site development plan approval
The City of Bastrop requires a commercial permit under the International Building Code for any non-residential or lodging structure or a residential structure with three or more dwellings, approved by the Building Official, and the city's Development Process page states that building permits are not issued before site development plan approval.
What the county's page says
The city has adopted the 2018 International Building Code family, the 2023 National Electrical Code and the 2018 International Fire Code with appendices.
Source City of Bastrop Development Services, 1311 Chestnut Street, read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Bastrop County
County development permit for any external development; no building permit or CO
Bastrop County requires a development permit for any external development in the unincorporated area, issued by Development Services in three classes: Class A outside the floodplain, Conditional Class A, and Class B inside it.
What the county's page says
The county says it does not issue building permits or certificates of occupancy, that its building code applies only to single-family homes and duplexes, and that there is no county building code for any other use, including commercial.
Source Bastrop County Development Services, and the Development Services application fees, read 2026-09-20.
Caldwell County, TX
Inside Luling
City permit for all construction, storage buildings named
Luling requires a permit for all construction and installation projects in the city, residential and commercial, including new buildings, additions, foundations, driveways and storage buildings, with plan review and inspections by a contract engineering firm.
What the county's page says
Its 2023 commercial permit packet bases commercial permits on the 2018 International Building Code family and the 2017 National Electrical Code, while an older process document on the site still names the 2009 codes; the fee schedule sets the commercial building permit at $15 for the first $1,000 of value and a sliding rate per $1,000 above it, plus plan review at half the permit fee plus the engineer's cost.
Source City of Luling permits and inspections, 509 E. Crockett St. (mailing), 2510 E. Pierce St. (physical), read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Caldwell County
County site construction permit for commercial work; no county building code
The Caldwell County Development Ordinance, adopted March 24, 2020 and amended February 14, 2023, requires a construction permit with engineer-certified drawings before land clearing or construction for any subdivision or site construction, with commercial site plans approved by the County Engineer.
What the county's page says
Commercial site construction is all construction, grading or added impervious cover not otherwise exempt; one- to three-family residences with their garages, sheds, barns and other outbuildings, agricultural structures not intended for common public use, and agricultural improvements generating fewer than 50 daily trips are excluded.
Source Caldwell County Development Ordinance, revised February 14, 2023, and the subdivision and development fee schedule, read 2026-09-20.
Lee County, TX
Inside Giddings
City permit with fees listed for commercial and storage buildings
Giddings' Code Compliance office lists its adopted codes as the 2018 International codes, the 2017 National Electrical Code and the 2018 NFPA Life Safety Code, and its June 2024 fee schedule sets a $20 permit fee, a $25 inspection fee and a $40 re-inspection fee, with building permit fees listed for new commercial construction, carports and garages, and storage buildings.
What the county's page says
The city requires four building inspections plus a final walk-through with 24 hours' notice.
Source City of Giddings Code Compliance, 118 East Richmond, read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Lee County
County development permit for any structure over 100 square feet
Lee County Development Services requires a Development Permit application for all development in unincorporated Lee County, including commercial projects, for any individual structure larger than 100 square feet; a building of 100 square feet or less needs no permit, and the application is valid for one year.
What the county's page says
The permit is tied to floodplain compliance: in an identified flood hazard area a non-residential structure has to have its lowest floor at or above base flood elevation or be flood-proofed, certified by a licensed engineer or land surveyor.
Source Lee County Development Services Department, read 2026-09-20.
Burnet County, TX
Inside Burnet
City building permit for any added structure
The City of Burnet Building Department says a building permit is required for any construction which physically changes or adds structures to the property, lists a Commercial Building Permit among its permit types, names garages and accessory structures such as storage sheds over 120 square feet among the projects that need one, and says building can begin once the permit is issued and the permit runs out after 180 days if construction has not continued.
What the county's page says
The page states no code edition.
Source City of Burnet Building Department, 301 E Jackson St, read 2026-09-20.
Unincorporated Burnet County
County building permit: Class A $25, Class B $400 inside a flood hazard boundary
Burnet County requires building and septic permits, in a fixed order: a 911 address for any new residence or business first, then the building permit, and the county issues no septic permit until the building permit exists.
What the county's page says
One application carries two classes, and the flood hazard boundary is the line between them.
Source Burnet County, on-site sewage facilities and development permits, read 2026-09-20.
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Last reviewed 2026-09-20.