ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in Brownsville, TX
Yes — you need a permit for adu (accessory dwelling unit) work in Brownsville.
Building a new accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, casita, or guest house) is new residential construction and requires a building permit; the small accessory-structure exemption (one-story, up to 200 sq ft, not to be enclosed) does not cover an enclosed habitable unit.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Building a new accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment,… |
| Fee | Residential new construction: base fee $40.00 plus $0.25/sq ft (1-1,450 sq ft), $0.27/sq ft (1,451-3,010 sq ft), $0.30/sq ft (3,011+ sq ft) (Sec. 18-123(a)(1)). |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | 18-116 |
| Based on | IRC 2018 / IBC 2018 as adopted (Sec. 18-116) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Brownsville building department.
- Pay the permit fee when the permit is issued. Work done before that isn't covered.
- Book each inspection listed on the permit as the job reaches that stage.
Either of you can pull it. When a contractor does the work, it is normally their job.
If you skip it
Working without a required permit can bring a citation of up to $2,000.00 per violation per day (Sec. 18-119).
Nearby cities, same job
Rules stop at the city line. If your lot is near a boundary, or you work across several towns, this is where they differ.
| City | Distance | Permit? | Where the line falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brownsville | — | Yes | Building a new accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment,… |
| San Antonio | 248 mi | Yes | Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, ca… |
| New Braunfels | 259 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Sugar Land | 272 mi | Yes | Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory d… |
| Pearland | 278 mi | Yes | Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, ca… |
| League City | 281 mi | Yes | construction of a new accessory dwelling unit (a new one-… |
Other work in Brownsville
Questions people ask
How much does a adu (accessory dwelling unit) permit cost in Brownsville?
Residential new construction: base fee $40.00 plus $0.25/sq ft (1-1,450 sq ft), $0.27/sq ft (1,451-3,010 sq ft), $0.30/sq ft (3,011+ sq ft) (Sec. 18-123(a)(1)).. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.
I already built it without a permit. What now?
Brownsville can issue a stop-work order and require you to apply after the fact, sometimes with an extra fee. Work that was covered up may have to be opened for inspection. Full walkthrough here.
Does unpermitted work cause problems when selling the house?
Often, yes. A buyer's inspector or the title company may flag it, and lenders can balk at financing a home with open or missing permits. What to do about it.