Austin addition and remodel permit: how long it takes and what you need

From 2,262 City of Austin building permits for residential additions and remodels, issued through October 19, 2026. Updated monthly.

How long a addition or remodel permit takes

Calendar days from application to issued permit. The fastest tenth of permits were issued within 17 days; the median was 68; one in ten took more than 286. The difference is mostly the lot and the applicant: what the site triggers and how complete the first submittal is.

By council district

District 2 was the fastest (median 18 days) and District 9 the slowest (85 days). Districts with fewer than 20 permits are left out.

Year by year

What slows it down

Measured on Austin permits, holding district, year and the applicant's experience fixed. Each figure is the typical added wait on lots with that condition.

• Historic district or landmark: about 68% longer.

A readiness check tells you which of these apply to your lot.

What you need to submit

The core of the submittal for a addition or remodel in Austin. Your lot can add items, for example a tree survey or floodplain documents; a readiness check lists them.

1. Site plan or plot plan: setbacks, easements, existing and proposed structures
2. Boundary survey: by a Texas registered professional land surveyor
3. Architectural plans: floor plans, elevations, sections
4. Impervious cover calculations: existing and proposed, against the zoning and watershed limits
5. Energy code compliance: Austin Energy Green Building / IECC documentation

Dirt to Permit is not the City of Austin. Confirm every requirement with the City's Development Services Department. How these numbers are computed.