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Building in Austin, explained
Plain-English guides to Austin permits, lots, foundations, and custom home construction, written from the job site and sourced from the City's own rules.
How to hire a general contractor in Texas: a homeowner's checklist
Texas doesn't license general contractors, so there is no state board that screens them for you. That puts the vetting on the homeowner. Here's what to check before you sign, and what a good contractor will hand you without being asked.
October 28, 2026Austin residential plan review and permit process, step by step
Every new home, addition, and most remodels in Austin go through the City's Residential Plan Review. Here's the process in plain English, with the current review times and the delays we run into most.
October 28, 20269 questions on Austin's new home permit application that can add reviews
Austin's Residential New Construction and Addition Permit Application looks like a form, but several of its yes/no questions decide which extra reviews your project gets. Knowing them before you buy a lot or finish design saves weeks.
October 28, 2026Express permit, stand-alone permit, or full plan review? How Austin sorts residential projects
Not every Austin project needs the full residential plan review. Some small repairs qualify for an express permit that's usually issued in one business day. Others, like residential retaining walls, get a stand-alone permit. Here's how to tell which one you need.
October 28, 2026Austin heritage tree rules: what builders and owners need to know
Trees decide more Austin building layouts than almost anything else. Here are the size thresholds, the heritage species list, the root-zone rules that limit grading and foundations, and how variances actually work.
October 28, 2026Austin zoning facts: residential and commercial districts in plain English
Zoning tells you what you can build on a lot before any plan is drawn. Here is how Austin's residential and commercial districts are organized, what the common codes mean, and what changed under the HOME amendments.
October 28, 2026Permit expediting in Austin: the pros, the cons, and what it costs
Austin offers a paid expedited review for residential plans, and private expediters sell their own help on top of that. Both can save weeks. Both also cost real money. Here's how to decide.