🔥 Is your address in Austin's wildfire zone?
Check your address and see the WUI rules and fees for your project.
Disclaimer: This is a free informational summary, not legal or professional advice. Rules and fees change (most cities update fees each October) and depend on your exact address, scope, HOA, historic district or floodplain status. Fees shown are base permit fees only; plan review, technology or other fees may apply. Always confirm with your city's building department before starting work. Areas outside city limits (ETJ / unincorporated Travis or Williamson County) follow different rules.
Austin
Wildfire zone: Over half of Austin is in a WUI zone (A, B or C). Check your address on the 2024 WUI Code map. WUI projects need residential plan review, exact product specs on plans, and two WUI inspections. Applies to permit applications on/after July 10, 2025; existing homes are not required to retrofit.
| Project | Permit? | Fee | Notes | Wildfire (WUI) rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater | Yes | Check with city | Done under a stand-alone Plumbing Change Out permit (fee schedule's Change-Out Program lists water heaters). Contractor must be registered with the city. | Vent/flue openings: 1/8-in ember mesh or WUI-approved vents (dryer vents metal). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| HVAC replacement | Yes | $74.05 | Mechanical Change Out stand-alone permit: $74.05 first system, $20.69 each additional (FY26-27). | Intake/exhaust vents: 1/8-in ember mesh. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Roof replacement | Depends | $112.76 + $72.96 | Permit if replacing >128 sq ft of decking, or >50% of roof in Wildland-Urban Interface area; some shingle replacements are exempt. Express review $112.76 + inspection $72.96. | Class A roof assembly; metal valley flashing; noncombustible gutters with leaf guards. Replacing 50%+ of roof requires full replacement to WUI code. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Fence | Depends | $146.15 | Exempt-work page says up to 7 ft; Types of Permits page says permit if in flood hazard area or over 8 ft (pages conflict, so confirm). Small-project review $146.15. | Within 10 ft of a building: ignition-resistant/noncombustible (metal, masonry); fire-retardant coatings not allowed. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Deck / patio cover | Yes | Check with city | Uncovered deck listed under Residential Building Permit. | Ignition-resistant materials (Zone A: all; B: within 30 ft of building; C: within 10 ft). Deck board gaps ≤1/8 in. Over slopes >10%, enclose underside. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Shed / accessory building | Depends | Check with city | Exempt if one story, ≤200 sq ft, ≤15 ft tall, no plumbing, not a dwelling, not in flood hazard area. | Exempt from WUI Ch. 5 only if ≤100 sq ft AND >50 ft from nearest structure; otherwise ignition-resistant materials. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Solar PV | Yes | $53.56 + $169.83 + $84.92 | Electrical Auxiliary Power/Solar permit. Intake $53.56, Austin Energy electrical base $169.83, inspection $84.92 (1–50 kW). | Check with city | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| In-ground pool | Yes | $146.15+ | Residential building permit; small-project plan review $146.15 plus trade/inspection fees. | Check with city | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | Check with city | Check with city | Not specifically addressed on the city pages we checked. | n/a | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Irrigation system | Yes | Check with city | Stand-alone Plumbing Irrigation permit (registered contractor). | Keep 5-ft noncombustible Ember Ignition Zone around structures. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
Round Rock
| Project | Permit? | Fee | Notes | Wildfire (WUI) rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater | Yes | $50 | Permits required when replacing plumbing/gas/mechanical systems; standalone permit $50. Tank-to-tankless needs a gas piping chart. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| HVAC replacement | Yes | $50 | Standalone HVAC (mechanical) permit. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Roof replacement | No | n/a | No permit for a residential re-roof; modifying the roof structure requires a residential permit. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Fence | No | n/a | No building permit, but must meet code; check height/material with Code Enforcement, 512-341-3329. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Deck / patio cover | Yes | $125 / $200 | Wood deck/uncovered patio $125; covered patio $200 (without electrical/plumbing). | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Shed / accessory building | Yes | $50 | Required even under 200 sq ft. $300 with electrical/plumbing. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Solar PV | Yes | $150 | Needs one-line drawings stamped by an electrical engineer; torque letter at final. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| In-ground pool | Yes | $350 | In-ground pool $350 (spa/above-ground $125). Must meet 2024 pool code; review about 30 business days. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | Yes | $50 | Standalone electrical; upgrades need a torque letter with master electrician license #. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Irrigation system | Yes | $50 | Required for new systems on city water; repairs exempt unless the backflow device is replaced. | No city WUI code found (city adopted 2024 IFC). | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
Pflugerville
| Project | Permit? | Fee | Notes | Wildfire (WUI) rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater | Check with city | Check with city | Not itemized in the fee schedule. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| HVAC replacement | Check with city | Check with city | Fee schedule lists $60 per trade type, apparently when added to another permit; confirm for standalone. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Roof replacement | Yes | $80 | Residential re-roof listed in fee schedule. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Fence | Check with city | Check with city | Not in fee schedule. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Deck / patio cover | Yes | $60 | Residential deck & patio covers. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Shed / accessory building | Depends | $50–$65 | Listed for accessory buildings over 200 sq ft ($50 portable, $65 permanent); detached garage $65. Smaller: check with city. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Solar PV | Check with city | Check with city | Not in fee schedule. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| In-ground pool | Yes | $158 / $204 | $158 without heater, $204 with heater. Above-ground/hot tub $60. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | Check with city | Check with city | Not itemized in the fee schedule. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Irrigation system | Yes | $70 | Irrigation permit. | No city WUI code found. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
Cedar Park
| Project | Permit? | Fee | Notes | Wildfire (WUI) rules | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water heater | Yes | $50 | Installing or replacing a water heater requires a permit; Water Heater Install/Changeout fee $50. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| HVAC replacement | Yes | $50 | Installing or replacing heating/AC requires a permit; HVAC Changeout fee $50. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Roof replacement | Depends | n/a | Non-structural roof covering: no permit. Structural work: check with city. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Fence | No | n/a | No permit, but must follow fencing ordinance Sec. 14.07.007. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Deck / patio cover | Check with city | Check with city | City publishes deck & patio guidance; requirement not confirmed. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Shed / accessory building | Yes | $0.10/sq ft (min $35) + $25 | Storage sheds need a permit; accessory structure fee $0.10/sq ft (min $35) + $25 plan review. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Solar PV | Yes | Check with city | Solar panel installation requires a permit; fee not itemized in the ordinance. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| In-ground pool | Yes | $250+ | In-ground: building $100 + electrical $100 + plan review $50 (+$100 plumbing if gas heated). | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Electrical panel upgrade | Yes | $25 / $40 | Residential electrical service upgrade fee: $25 up to 100 A, $40 over 100 A. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |
| Irrigation system | Yes | $25 | Irrigation systems require a permit; residential fee $25. | No WUI code found; city recommends 30 ft defensible space. | city source checked Oct 15, 2026 |