Planning & Inspection FAQs

In the City of Haltom City, building codes and ordinances have been enacted and amended by the city council to ensure good, safe buildings. The permitting process is used by the City as a means of tracking construction work as it progresses. The property owner and the contractors are jointly responsible for obtaining the proper permits. All contractors must be registered with the City in order to obtain permits. Resident homeowners are exempt from the contractor registration requirements for performing their own work.

Residential fees are set fees and are based on the project. Fees can be found by looking at our Fee Schedule. Commercial fees are based on valuation.

Documentation & Information Requirements

• Building construction plans with engineer's and/or architect's seal (as required by State law) - three complete sets (including site plans and landscape plans)
• One additional set of electrical and/or mechanical plans that include fire protection information, as well as any plans designating fire protection (as applicable)
• Site plans - three
• Plat - one copy of the proper's certified, recorded plat
• Landscape plan - three copies of landscape plans (minimum size 11 inches by 17 inches) - if required - for landscape plan review
• Energy Code review sheet
• TDLR number if construction is a commercial project exceeding $50,000 in valuation

Documentation and Information Requirements

• Three sets of drawings on paper that is at least 11 by 17 inches in size
• A description of how the building or addition will be constructed - show roof, walls, foundation specifications, elevations of front and sides
• Name and phone number of owner/general contractor doing the job
• Value of the job

These Projects Do No Require a Permit

• Flammable liquid tanks when a Fire Department permit has been issued, except that foundations for said tanks shall require a building permit.
• Moveable cases, counters, and partitions not over five feet nine inches (5 feet 9 inches) high.
• Painting, papering, and similar finish work
• Platforms walk and decks not more than six inches (6 inches) above grade and not over any basement or story below.
• Prefabricated swimming pool accessory to a Group R, Division 3 Occupancy in which the pool walls are entirely above the adjacent grade and if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons.
• Retaining walls that are not over four feet (4 feet) in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or III-A liquids. (Retaining walls placed in succession shall be considered one wall if, upon drawing a line from the bottom of the footing of the lower wall at a forty-five (45) degree angle up and towards the higher wall, the line intersects the higher wall or any material retained by the wall at any point.)
• Window awnings supported by an exterior wall of Group R, Division 3, and Group U Occupancies when projection, not more than fifty-four inches (54 inches).
• Unless otherwise exempted, separate plumbing, electrical and mechanical permits will be required for the above-exempted items.

Effective July 17, 2014, the City of Haltom City requires a building permit for foundation repair. A residential foundation repair permit fee is $175. Commercial fees are based on the value of work disclosed with the permit application via a bid, contract, or estimate. An original engineer's sealed letter of required repairs must be submitted with the permit application and must adequately describe the location of piers and footings. Prior to calling for final inspection, an original engineer's final report shall be submitted to the City that verifies repairs were performed to engineered specifications.

Permits are the first step in the City building approval process; inspections are the second step. Inspections are required throughout the course of a project to ensure that quality work has been performed. The contractor must request that the City perform the property inspections at the proper stage of work. At the time of the final building inspection, a certificate of occupancy must be obtained on the new and existing commercial property before it can be utilized. Property owners should not release a contractor until a final inspection has been conducted.

Inspections are typically required during these steps of residential and commercial work:

• Form Board Survey
• Plumbing Rough
• Foundation: after underground plumbing and/or electrical is inspected and approved, and all of the steel is placed in the slab, the building inspector will check the foundation for compliance
• Framing: after the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing have been inspected and approved, the building inspector will check the framing for compliance
• Insulation: after the framing, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing have been inspected and approved, the building inspector will check the insulation for compliance
• Electric and/or Gas Meter Release: before the final building inspection, the building inspector will perform the meter release inspection(s)
• Final: after the electrical, mechanical, and plumbing have passed their final inspections, the building inspector can inspect for total completeness and finalize the permit. After this final inspection is approved, the space may be occupied.

An inspection is required for all construction or work for which a permit is required and shall be subject to inspection by the building official/inspector and all such construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection purposes until approved by the building official/inspector.

The person performing the work for inspection or the general contractor is responsible for scheduling and ensuring the work is ready for inspection. Approval as a result of an inspection shall not be construed to be an approval of a violation of the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction. Inspections presuming to give authority to violate or cancel the provisions of this code or of other ordinances of the jurisdiction shall not be valid. Depending upon the type of permit and work to be performed, you may establish an inspection at the time of permitting, or by calling the Inspections Department at 817-222-7730. The telephone is answered by the Permit Technician unless she/he is on another line, away from her/his desk, or assisting customer(s) at the counter. Voice mail messages may also be left after business hours.

The information needed to request an inspection is the job address, what type of inspection you are requesting, whether you wish a morning or afternoon inspection, and your name and a call-back phone number.

Inspection fees are paid at the time of permitting and are included in the Building Permit fees, which are based on the dollar value of the construction being done. A reinspection fee may be assessed for each inspection or reinspection where the work the inspection was called for is not complete or when corrections were not made. Reinspection fees are $75.

Permits issued by Haltom City include:

• Accessory Building - Residential
• Building Permits
• Commercial - New, Addition, Remodel, Repair
• Demolition/Moving Permits
• Electrical Permits
• Fence Permits
• Garage Sales Permits
• Foundation Repair
• Mechanical Permits
• Plumbing Permits
• Residential - New, Addition, Remodel, Repair
• Solar System
• Street Contractor Permits - curb/gutter, drive approach, sidewalk

Once your plans are finalized and you've selected a contractor, instruct the contractor to obtain the proper permits. If the contractor requires the owner to reimburse for the permit fee, ask for a receipt. Fees are determined by the value of the project and therefore may vary from project to project.