online Permit portal

Looking for non-building licensing & permitting?

Page Contents: When is a Permit Required | Applications and Permitting | Permit/Utility Checklist | Building Permits Monthly Reports

The City of Brenham would like to thank you for choosing our City for your future project. We consider our community stakeholders our customers and partners for a viable long-term successful community. We welcome all new projects to our community and believe a diverse economy is not only a good thing but a necessary thing for everyone's long-term success. We also understand the costs associated with new or existing remodel construction projects. We will do our best to work with our customers to make sure we can process all projects in an expedient manner to ensure costs associated with dealing with the City of Brenham are kept to a minimum.

Getting Started

The City of Brenham has adopted the 2021 version of the International Building Codes, including the following codes:

• 2021 International Building Code (IBC)
• 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC)
• 2020 National Electric Code (NEC)
• 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC)
• 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC)
• 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
• 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC)
• 2021 International Residential Code (IRC)
• 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC)

Please reference Chapter 6: Building and Structures of the Brenham Code of Ordinances for a complete list of local amendments to the adopted codes.

Note: Please click here to see a summary of significant changes between the 2018 and 2021 adopted codes.

Helpful Information

• When is a Permit Required
• Commercial Plan Review Checklist
• Contractor Registration Form
• Residential Plan Review Checklist
• Utility Tap Fees - View individual tariff documents on Public Utilities page
• Fee Schedule
• Building Permit Process Flow Chart 
• Manufactured Home Installation Requirements 
• Residential Site Plan Submittal Example 
• Residential Inspection Guide

When is a Permit Required

Why do I need a Permit?

Obtaining building permits allows legal permission to start construction and allows for the enforcement of codes that have been adopted as law by the city. No matter what the specific job may be, the enforcement of our codes is carried out to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of Brenham. In addition, obtaining permits ensures oversight and protects the investment you have in your home or business.

Construction work requiring permits

An application should be made and a permit obtained prior to the start of any construction. Although the following list is as comprehensive as possible, it is not intended, and should not be considered to be all-inclusive. If you have a question as to whether or not a permit is required, please call the Development Services Department at 979-337-7220. (download this as a pdf)

• Signage
• New homes or structures
• Foundations
• Decks
• Storage/Accessory buildings
• Additions
• Interior remodeling
• Exterior remodeling
• Carports
• Garage enclosures
• Renovations
• Manufactured homes
• Prefabricated structures
• Temporary buildings
• Demolitions
• Driveways/Commercial parking/Sidewalks
• Water heater replacements
• Insulation
• Swimming pools
• Retaining walls
• Sprinkler irrigation systems
• Mechanical/HVAC systems
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing systems

Work  not requiring permits:

• Painting
• Wallpapering
• Carpeting
• Flooring
• Cabinets
• Countertops

Applications & Permitting

Permit applications along with a set of plans are required for projects within the City. There is a ten-business-day plan review process unless special circumstances/delays occur which could extend the plan review process. No work may be performed until a permit has been issued by the city and permit fees received.

Online Permit Portal

Building Permit / Utilities Checklist

• Submit full-size, complete set of drawings along with:
  • Commercial Plan Review application
  • Commercial Plan Review Checklist
  • Two printed sets, 1 electronic set of drawings
  • Indicate all utility tap sizes on drawings
• Complete application for building permit at City of Brenham – Development Services, 200 W. Vulcan, 2nd floor, 979.337.7220.
• Complete the application for Contractor’s Utility Deposit and pay the deposit fee at the City of
  Brenham Utility Billing Customer Service Department, 200 W. Vulcan, 1st floor, 979.337.7520.
• Complete the application for all utility taps and pay the necessary tap fees at the City of Brenham
  Public Utilities Department, 200 W. Vulcan, 1st floor, 979.337.7400.
  
  • Utility tap fees should be paid at the same time the building permit is applied to ensure that all utilities are available.
• Pay permit fee to Development Services Department and pull permit once it has been processed and approved.
• Please call 979-337-7220 for any permitting questions.

Inspections

Inspections must be scheduled one business day in advance by the contractor. To schedule inspections use the online permit portal, email us, or call 979-337-7220.

Online Permit Portal

Commercial Insurance Requirements

Commercial general contractors shall provide general liability insurance. The City of Brenham is required to be the Certificate Holder. Commercial subcontractors shall provide general liability insurance. The City of Brenham is required to be the Certificate Holder.

Residential Insurance Requirements

Residential general contractors shall provide general liability insurance. The City of Brenham is required to be the Certificate Holder. Residential subcontractors shall provide general liability insurance. The City of Brenham is required to be the Certificate Holder.

State License

Contractors that are licensed by the state must provide the city with a copy of their current license and driver's license. A Master may sign a statement that allows a person with a Journeyman's License to perform work under their license.

Building Standards Commission

Building Inspections serves as the staff liaison to the Building Standards Commission.

To report a building code violation or a dangerous structure contact Allen Jacobs, Building Official.

Building Permits

Document Center

The Document Center provides easy access to public documents. Click on one of the categories below to see related documents or use the search function.

Search for file name:

Categories always sorted by seq (sub-categories sorted within each category)
Documents sorted by _RECORDID in Descending Order within category

RESET

2024 Building Permits10 documents

• October
  document _recordid 657
• September
  document _recordid 655
• August
  document _recordid 654
• July
  document _recordid 653
• June
  document _recordid 652
• May
  document _recordid 651
• April
  document _recordid 645
• March
  document _recordid 644
• February
  document _recordid 641
• January
  document _recordid 640

2023 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 636
• November
  document _recordid 634
• October
  document _recordid 630
• September
  document _recordid 628
• August
  document _recordid 627
• July
  document _recordid 577
• June
  document _recordid 576
• May
  document _recordid 573
• April
  document _recordid 572
• March
  document _recordid 567
• February
  document _recordid 565
• January
  document _recordid 564

2022 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 562
• November
  document _recordid 561
• October
  document _recordid 560
• September
  document _recordid 558
• August
  document _recordid 557
• July
  document _recordid 555
• June
  document _recordid 551
• May
  document _recordid 550
• April
  document _recordid 549
• March
  document _recordid 548
• February
  document _recordid 547
• January
  document _recordid 534

2021 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 528
• November
  document _recordid 527
• October
  document _recordid 526
• September
  document _recordid 521
• August
  document _recordid 520
• July
  document _recordid 518
• June
  document _recordid 513
• May
  document _recordid 511
• April
  document _recordid 510
• March
  document _recordid 489
• February
  document _recordid 479
• January
  document _recordid 472

2020 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 465
• November
  document _recordid 464
• October
  document _recordid 455
• September
  document _recordid 451
• August
  document _recordid 448
• July
  document _recordid 446
• June
  document _recordid 445
• May
  document _recordid 435
• April
  document _recordid 431
• March
  document _recordid 411
• February
  document _recordid 391
• January
  document _recordid 388

2019 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 365
• November
  document _recordid 362
• October
  document _recordid 361
• September
  document _recordid 359
• August
  document _recordid 356
• July
  document _recordid 353
• June
  document _recordid 334
• May
  document _recordid 326
• April
  document _recordid 323
• March
  document _recordid 321
• February
  document _recordid 293
• January
  document _recordid 265

2018 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 264
• November
  document _recordid 262
• October
  document _recordid 12
• September
  document _recordid 11
• August
  document _recordid 10
• July
  document _recordid 9
• June
  document _recordid 8
• May
  document _recordid 7
• April
  document _recordid 6
• March
  document _recordid 5
• February
  document _recordid 4
• January
  document _recordid 3

2017 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 25
• November
  document _recordid 24
• October
  document _recordid 23
• September
  document _recordid 22
• August
  document _recordid 21
• July
  document _recordid 20
• June
  document _recordid 19
• May
  document _recordid 18
• April
  document _recordid 17
• March
  document _recordid 16
• February
  document _recordid 15
• January
  document _recordid 14

2016 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 38
• November
  document _recordid 37
• October
  document _recordid 36
• September
  document _recordid 35
• August
  document _recordid 34
• July
  document _recordid 33
• June
  document _recordid 32
• May
  document _recordid 31
• April
  document _recordid 30
• March
  document _recordid 29
• February
  document _recordid 28
• January
  document _recordid 27

2015 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 51
• November
  document _recordid 50
• October
  document _recordid 49
• September
  document _recordid 48
• August
  document _recordid 47
• July
  document _recordid 46
• June
  document _recordid 45
• May
  document _recordid 44
• April
  document _recordid 43
• March
  document _recordid 42
• February
  document _recordid 41
• January
  document _recordid 40

2014 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 64
• November
  document _recordid 63
• October
  document _recordid 62
• September
  document _recordid 61
• August
  document _recordid 60
• July
  document _recordid 59
• June
  document _recordid 58
• May
  document _recordid 57
• April
  document _recordid 56
• March
  document _recordid 55
• February
  document _recordid 54
• January
  document _recordid 53

2013 Building Permits12 documents

• 2013-12.pdf
  document _recordid 77
• November
  document _recordid 76
• October
  document _recordid 75
• September
  document _recordid 74
• August
  document _recordid 73
• July
  document _recordid 72
• June
  document _recordid 71
• May
  document _recordid 70
• April
  document _recordid 69
• March
  document _recordid 68
• February
  document _recordid 67
• January
  document _recordid 66

2012 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 90
• November
  document _recordid 89
• October
  document _recordid 88
• 2012-09.pdf
  document _recordid 87
• August
  document _recordid 86
• July
  document _recordid 85
• June
  document _recordid 84
• May
  document _recordid 83
• April
  document _recordid 82
• March
  document _recordid 81
• February
  document _recordid 80
• January
  document _recordid 79

2011 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 106
• November
  document _recordid 105
• October
  document _recordid 104
• September
  document _recordid 102
• August
  document _recordid 101
• July
  document _recordid 99
• June
  document _recordid 98
• May
  document _recordid 96
• April
  document _recordid 95
• March
  document _recordid 94
• February
  document _recordid 93
• January
  document _recordid 92

2010 Building Permits12 documents

• December
  document _recordid 119
• November
  document _recordid 118
• October
  document _recordid 117
• September
  document _recordid 116
• August
  document _recordid 115
• July
  document _recordid 114
• June
  document _recordid 113
• May
  document _recordid 112
• April
  document _recordid 111
• March
  document _recordid 110
• February
  document _recordid 109
• January
  document _recordid 108