How long does a new home permit take in Austin?

A median of 57 days from application to issued permit for permits issued in the last 22 months, with the slowest tenth over 266 days. It varies by council district, from 27 days in District 2 to 130 in District 3.

What do I need to submit for a new home permit in Austin?

Site plan or plot plan; Boundary survey; Architectural plans; Impervious cover calculations; Energy code compliance. Lot conditions such as protected trees, a floodplain or a historic district add documents.

Austin new home building permit: how long it takes and what you need

From 5,223 City of Austin building permits for new homes (1–2 units), issued through October 19, 2026. Updated monthly.

How long a new home permit takes

Calendar days from application to issued permit. The fastest tenth of permits were issued within 17 days; the median was 57; one in ten took more than 266. 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 27 days) and District 3 the slowest (130 days). Districts with fewer than 20 permits are left out.

District	Permits	Median days	Slowest tenth over
District 2	1,266	27	96
District 5	732	43	210
District 1	971	46	215
District 7	397	69	226
District 8	345	82	283
District 10	560	83	331
District 4	152	104	406
District 9	265	106	389
District 6	64	112	421
District 3	469	130	363

Year by year

Year issued	Permits	Median days	Slowest tenth over
2021	5,139	48	162
2022	4,275	67	251
2023	2,627	86	427
2024	2,564	62	353
2025	2,886	62	258

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.

Waterway setback: about 41% longer.
100-year floodplain (FEMA or City): about 37% longer.
Drinking water protection zone: about 21% 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 new home in Austin. Your lot can add items, for example a tree survey or floodplain documents; a readiness check lists them.

Site plan or plot plan: setbacks, easements, existing and proposed structures
Boundary survey: by a Texas registered professional land surveyor
Architectural plans: floor plans, elevations, sections
Impervious cover calculations: existing and proposed, against the zoning and watershed limits
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.