Austin Plumbing Permit Requirements

When you DO NOT need a permit

• Work listed on the City of Austin Work Exempt from Building Permits page does not require a permit (specific exempt items not enumerated on the Types of Permits page; consult the dedicated exemptions page).
• Stand-alone plumbing permits (repairs, change-outs, irrigation, auxiliary water, septic-to-sewer connection, new construction in ETJ) do NOT require formal review by plan review staff.

Required permits and forms

• Contractor registration with City of Austin
  Must be registered as a contractor before applying for any stand-alone plumbing permit. Registration handled via the Contractor Registration webpage.
• Plumbing Repairs permit
  Stand-alone permit for plumbing repair work that does not require formal review by plan review staff. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• Plumbing Change Out permit
  Stand-alone permit for plumbing change-out work (e.g., water heater, fixture replacement) that does not require formal plan review. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• Plumbing Irrigation permit
  Stand-alone permit for plumbing irrigation work that does not require formal plan review. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• Plumbing Auxiliary Water permit
  Stand-alone permit for plumbing auxiliary water work that does not require formal plan review. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• Plumbing Abandon Septic Tank and Connect to City Sewer Tap permit
  Stand-alone permit for abandoning a septic tank and connecting to a city sewer tap. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• Plumbing New Construction in ETJ permit
  Stand-alone permit for plumbing new construction in the Extraterritorial Jurisdiction. Submitted via the Stand-Alone Trade Permit Web Form.
• Water/Wastewater Tap permit (Austin Water)
  Required for permanent water and/or wastewater service and installation of a permanent water meter, reclaimed water service line/meter, or temporary hydrant or truck-mounted meter. Applied through the AB+C Portal.
• On-Site Sewage Facilities (Septic Tank) permit
  Required for septic systems within Austin full purpose jurisdiction and annexed areas. Submit completed documents to OSSF via email.

Fees

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Typical timeline

Timeline varies by project complexity; the city does not publish a typical range.

Contractor licensing

The City of Austin requires contractor registration with the City before applying for any stand-alone plumbing permit. Registration is handled through the Austin Development Services Contractor Registration webpage. Texas state plumbing licensing (administered by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners) is required by state law for plumbing work, though that requirement is not detailed on the Austin Development Services pages reviewed.

Apply online

Contact

Austin Development Services, Permitting and Development Center (PDC), 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Austin, TX 78752. General City of Austin number: 3-1-1. Austin Water Pretreatment Program (industrial wastewater): 512-972-1060 option 5. Office hours not specified on source pages.

Sources

• https://www.austintexas.gov/dsd
• https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/types-permits