ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) permit in Pearland, TX

Q: How much does a adu (accessory dwelling unit) permit cost in Pearland?

Set by Appendix A, Building Fee Schedule; the code does not print a dollar amount.. Valuation-based fees mean the number depends on what the job is worth, so the department quotes it when you apply.

Q: I already built it without a permit. What now?

Pearland 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.

Q: 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.

Yes вЂ” you need a permit for adu (accessory dwelling unit) work in Pearland.

Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, casita) needs a building permit. It is a new dwelling unit governed by the adopted Residential Code; R105.2 exempts only small non-habitable accessory structures (<=200 sq ft), not a dwelling unit.

The numbers
Permit needed?	Yes
Where the line falls	Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, caвЂ¦
Fee	Set by Appendix A, Building Fee Schedule; the code does not print a dollar amount.
Review time	Not in the ordinance
Code section	Sec. 7-81 Residential code adopted (R101.1); R105.2 exempts only accessory structures, not dwelling units
Based on	IRC 2021 as amended by City of Pearland (Sec. 7-81 Residential code adopted)

How to pull the permit

Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
Apply through the Pearland 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

Work started before the permit is issued is charged double the permit fee (Sec. 109.4). A violation is a misdemeanor (Sec. 7-16), and each day is a separate offense.

Already built it? How retroactive permits work

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
Pearland	—	Yes	Building an accessory dwelling unit (garage apartment, caвЂ¦
Pasadena	12 mi	Yes	No size threshold in the code
League City	14 mi	Yes	construction of a new accessory dwelling unit (a new one-вЂ¦
Sugar Land	19 mi	Yes	Building a garage apartment, casita, or other accessory dвЂ¦
Conroe	54 mi	Yes	No size threshold in the code
College Station	92 mi	Yes	No size threshold in the code

See every Texas city on adu (accessory dwelling unit) work

Other work in Pearland

Questions people ask

How much does a adu (accessory dwelling unit) permit cost in Pearland?

Set by Appendix A, Building Fee Schedule; the code does not print a dollar amount.. 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?

Pearland 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.