Permits and Applications

Development Codes & Ordinances

Common Code Violations

Boards and Commissions

GIS Mapping Services

Comprehensive Plan

About Development Services

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 necessity for everyone's long-term success.

Contact Us

Main Contact Phone: 979-337-7220

Development Services works closely with Public Utilities, Engineering, Airport, and Brenham Economic Development to carry out its mission.

Mission

The Development Services Department strives to provide the public with support and information to build and maintain an attractive city in which to live, work, and play.

Principal Responsibilities

The Development Services Department offers professional advice and technical expertise on development-related topics. Specifically, the department provides development services including zoning, platting, land use, building permits, sign permits, inspections, code enforcement, and health inspections. The department is comprised of the following four divisions:

• Planning
• Building Inspections
• Code Compliance
• Health Inspections

Popular Links & Resources

• Permits & Applications Page
• Fee Schedule for Permits, Applications, & Inspections
• Contractor Registration Form
• Code Of Ordinances
• Current Building Codes
• Comprehensive Plan, Plan 2040: Historic Past, Bold Future
• City of Brenham Public Infrastructure Design Manual and Standard Specifications
• View/Download Standard Details files (.pdf .dwg, .dgn)
• Monthly Building Permit Data
• Newly Adopted Sign Ordinance
• Non-Building Licensing & Permitting
• Asbestos Survey and Notification Requirements - TDSHA

Customer Service Survey

Help us improve our services by providing feedback. Please click to take our 2-minute customer satisfaction survey.

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Permits and Applications

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 necessity 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 expediently process all projects to ensure costs associated with dealing with the City of Brenham are kept to a minimum.

Creating an Account

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Jump to Vendor/Solicitor, Mobile Home, Health & Food Safety, or Noise Permit/Special Event/Parade Requests

Online Permit Portal Training Topics

Creating an Application

Scheduling an Inspection

Inspection Reports

Reinspection and Payments

Development Services Checklists & Helpful Information

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Do I Need A Permit?
• Site Plan Submission Requirements
• Commercial Plan Review Checklist
• Residential Inspection Guide Checklist
• Residential Plan Review Checklist
• Residential Site Plan Submittal Example
• Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU)
• Fee Schedule
• Utility Tap Fees - (view individual utility tariffs)
• Manufactured Home Installation Requirements

Building Permits

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 have been received.

Permits and applications can now be submitted 24/7 through the online Accela portal. To begin, please go to the

Online Permit Portal

Building Permits to be submitted via traditional fillable form:

• Network Node ROW Permit
• Telecommunications Row Permit
• Floodplain Permit Application

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

Planning Applications

The City of Brenham is transitioning to an online permitting and plan review software known as Accela. We welcome you to apply through our online portal. The following permits and applications can be submitted 24/7 through the online Accela portal. To begin, please go to the

online Permit portal

• Subdivision - Preliminary Plat
• Subdivision - Final Plat
• Replat
• Variance Request
• Special Exception
• Specific Use Permit
• Rezoning
• Planned Unit Development

Planning applications to be submitted via traditional fillable form:

• ROW Abandonment Permit
• Zoning Text Amendment Application
• Zoning Verification Form

Application Deadline Calendar

• 2024 - Board of Adjustment
• 2024 - Planning and Zoning

Contractor Resources

• Contractor Registration Form

Insurance

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

State License

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

Mobile Home Park Permits

The City of Brenham requires the owners of all mobile home parks within the city limits to obtain an annual Mobile Home Park Permit in the name of their park.

Permits cost $5.00 per space and must be renewed every January 1st. To apply for a Mobile Home Park Permit, please contact the office of the City Secretary at 979-337-7375.

Vendor/Solicitor Permits

Online Permit Portal

The City requires that all vendors, solicitors, peddlers, and handbill distributors obtain a permit before operating within the city limits. Applications for vendors/solicitors permits can be filled out on our online permit portal.

As outlined in the City's ordinance, once an application is submitted, the City will investigate the truth and accuracy of the information provided and a permit will be issued within five (5) business days. If for any reason an application is denied, the applicant will be notified in writing.

The cost of a permit is $30.00 along with a per-person badge fee of $10.00 (if applicable). All permits are valid for forty-five (45) days from the date of issuance.

For more detailed information or assistance, please call the Development Services Office at 979-337-7220

Health & Food Safety Applications

Online Permit Portal

• Mobile Food Establishment Guidelines
• Temporary Food Event Presentation
• Inspection Report Corrective Actions

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Development Codes & Ordinances

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Municipal Code

The following chapters of the Brenham Code of Ordinances pertaining to the Development Services Department:

• Chapter 6: Buildings and Structures
• Chapter 8: Fire Protection and Prevention
• Chapter 12: Health and Sanitation
• Chapter 14: Mobile Homes, Manufactured Homes, and Manufactured Home Parks
• Chapter 21: Signs
• Chapter 23: Subdivisions
• Appendix A: Zoning

Adopted Building Codes

The City of Brenham currently follows the 2021 Suite of the International Building Code and the 2020 National Electrical Code. See the summary of changes from the 2018 to 2021 code here. Please contact Allen Jacobs or David Doelitsch with feedback or any questions you may have.

• 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.

Public Infrastructure & Design Standards

• City of Brenham Public Infrastructure Design Manual and Standard Specifications
• View/Download Standard Details files (.pdf .dwg, .dgn)

Adopted Long-Range Plans

• Comprehensive Plan – Historic Past, Bold Future: Plan 2040
• Downtown Master Plan
• Parks Master Plan
• Library Strategic Plan
• Thoroughfare Plan
• Tourism Strategic Action Plan

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Building Department: Residential and Commercial use Building Permits - questions 1-11
• Planning and Development: Land Use and Local Ordinances - Questions 12-18