Demolition permit in Plano, TX
Yes — you need a permit for demolition work in Plano.
Tearing down a building or structure, or part of one, needs a demolition permit. If the property is in the Plano Historic Building and Site Survey, the building official can hold the demolition permit for up to 30 days while the Heritage Commission reviews it, and heritage resources need a separate certificate of appropriateness before demolition.
| Permit needed? | Yes |
|---|---|
| Where the line falls | Tearing down a building or structure, or part of one, nee… |
| Fee | You pay the permit fee set in the City of Plano building inspections fee schedule. The ordinance does not print a dollar amount. |
| Review time | Not in the ordinance |
| Code section | IRC Section R105.3.1 as amended (Sec. 6-710); historic review Ch. 16 Art. VI (Sec. 16-115, 16-118) |
| Based on | IRC 2024 as adopted and amended by the city (Sec. 6-709, Ord. No. 2025-6-15) |
How to pull the permit
- Put together a site plan showing where the work goes, with dimensions.
- Apply through the Plano 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
Doing the work without a required permit is a violation, and every day it continues counts as a separate offense.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plano | — | Yes | Tearing down a building or structure, or part of one, nee… |
| Richardson | 6 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
| Grand Prairie | 30 mi | Yes | Demolishing a structure or part of one needs a demolition… |
| Waco | 106 mi | Yes | You need a permit before you demolish a structure or part… |
| Killeen | 148 mi | Yes | You need a permit before you demolish a building or struc… |
| College Station | 172 mi | Yes | No size threshold in the code |
Other work in Plano
Questions people ask
How much does a demolition permit cost in Plano?
You pay the permit fee set in the City of Plano building inspections fee schedule. The ordinance 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?
Plano 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.