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READYDOCSCOMPLIANCESTATESTEXASTRAVIS COUNTY
FILE 48453 · COUNTY OF TRAVISSEAT · AUSTINPOPULATION · 1.3MVERIFIED · 05 / 2026
Public Compliance Directory · County Hub

Travis.

Travis County in Texas. This is where the state file translates into the local offices that actually issue the permit, schedule the inspection, and sign the filing. Start with the state baseline, then drill into the right city.

Cities on file
1
Trades indexed
12
County seat
Austin
Last verified
05 / 2026
FAST FACTS

Travis County at a glance

Quick-reference card
County seatAustin
Population (est.)1.3M
FIPS48453
Building departmentCity-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.
Permit portalCity-by-city; Austin uses the Austin Build + Connect portal, while other municipalities maintain independent systems.
Fire marshalTravis County Fire Marshal's Office
Browse cities→Back to state←
County of
Travis
· ACTIVE FILE ·
ARTICLE I · COUNTY BASELINE
CODES & LOCAL AUTHORITY
FIPS 48453
Article I · County Baseline

The county inherits from the state. And adds local rules.

Most jurisdictions within the county have adopted the 2021 International Building Code family with local amendments.

Travis County primarily handles development permits for unincorporated areas, focusing on floodplains, septic systems, and driveway access. Incorporated cities like Austin, Pflugerville, and Cedar Park maintain exclusive jurisdiction over building and zoning permits within their respective city limits. Development in unincorporated areas is subject to additional review for environmental regulations, including the Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan.

Development in the western portion of the county is subject to the Highland Lakes Watershed Ordinance, which imposes strict water quality and impervious cover restrictions.

How this fits with the state

The state authority here is Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. The county file does not replace that — it adds the permit office, local overlays, and the actual filing path.

Source · City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.Last verified · 05 / 2026
ARTICLE II · PERMIT OFFICES
WHERE THE PERMIT IS FILED
OPERATING PATH
Article II · Local Offices

Who issues, who inspects, who signs off.

Contractors must hold the required Texas state trade licenses, and many individual cities within the county require additional local registration or permit-specific bonding.

Building

City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.

Permits, plans, inspections

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Permit portal

City-by-city; Austin uses the Austin Build + Connect portal, while other municipalities maintain independent systems.

Apply, track, pay

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Planning / zoning

City-by-city; zoning is managed by the planning departments of individual incorporated municipalities.

Land use, plan review

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
Fire marshal

Travis County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, alarms, sprinklers

Verify hours, requirements, and fees on the local portal before filing.

Office · local
See sources →
ARTICLE III · INSURANCE & BONDS
COUNTY OVERLAY ON STATE BASELINE
VERIFY BEFORE BIDDING
Article III · County Overlay

What Travis County usually adds.

The state sets the floor. The county and city can require additional certificates, local bonds, or pre-permit registration.

CoverageRequired?MinimumIssued by
Workers' CompensationState rule with county add-ons
Verify
Voluntary for most private employers
State authority
General LiabilityOften required by permit type
Conditional
Permit-based
City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.
Surety BondTied to state license or county permit
Conditional
Usually local or contract-based
State or county
County overlayContractors must generally provide proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance as required by the specific municipality or the county for unincorporated work.
Verify
Varies
City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.
Source · City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.Verify before filing
ARTICLE IV · INDEXED CITIES
CITIES IN TRAVIS COUNTY
1 CITY
Article IV · Browse by City

Indexed cities in Travis County.

Pick a city to open its trade list. The trade page covers licensing, permits, insurance, and typical costs for that work in that city.

AustinTravis County
01
ARTICLE V · TRADES
TRADES IN TRAVIS COUNTY
12 TRADES
Article V · Trades

Trades branching in Travis County.

Each trade opens against the first indexed city in the county. Use the city browser above to open the same trade in another city.

Concrete
CODE · CN
GL
Open file →
Electrical
CODE · EL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Flooring
CODE · FL
GL
Open file →
Framing
CODE · FR
GL
Open file →
General Contracting
CODE · GC
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
HVAC
CODE · HV
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Landscaping
CODE · LS
GL
Open file →
Painting
CODE · PT
GL
Open file →
Pest Control
CODE · PC
State Lic.GL
Open file →
Plumbing
CODE · PL
State Lic.GLBond
Open file →
Pool Service
CODE · PS
GLBond
Open file →
Roofing
CODE · RF
LicenseBondGL
Open file →
ARTICLE VI · SOURCES
LOCAL SOURCE REGISTER
VERIFY LOCALLY
Article VI · Sources & Citations

Every filing needs a source trail.

This template keeps the county page honest: local context here, filing decisions made with the issuing office.

State

Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners

Statewide licensing, reciprocity, and renewal rules.

/contractors/texas
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
County

City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.

Department that issues permits and schedules inspections for unincorporated areas.

City-by-city; Austin uses the Austin Build + Connect portal, while other municipalities maintain independent systems.
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Planning

City-by-city; zoning is managed by the planning departments of individual incorporated municipalities.

Land use, zoning review, and plan approvals.

Local planning office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Fire

Travis County Fire Marshal's Office

Prevention, protection systems, and code approvals.

Fire marshal's office
VERIFIED
05 / 2026
Frequently Asked

Questions contractors ask before filing.

Q01Do I need a state license to work in Travis County?+
Usually yes — the baseline is the state license through Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. Travis County and its cities may add local registration before you pull a permit.Source · Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners
Q02Does the county or the city issue the permit?+
It depends on where the work is. Unincorporated areas usually route through the county (City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.). Work inside an incorporated city normally files with that city's department.Source · City-by-city; Austin and other municipalities manage their own building permits and inspections.
Q03What changes between county and state?+
The county adds the actual permit office, local zoning overlays, plan-review timelines, inspections, and local fees. The state license defines who can contract; the county defines how the job gets filed.Source · County and municipal departments

Open the county file. Then pick the city.

Travis County now inherits from the state template and adds its own local detail. The next layer is the city and trade pages.

Browse cities→Back to state←