Tex. Loc. Gov't Code Ann. ch. 214 (subchs. A, B, C, G, H, I, Z) § 214.907
PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN VALUE-BASED BUILDING PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEES.
Operative Text
Sec. 214.907. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN VALUE-BASED BUILDING PERMIT AND INSPECTION FEES. (a) In determining the amount of a building permit or inspection fee required in connection with the construction or improvement of a residential dwelling, a municipality may not consider:(1) the value of the dwelling; or(2) the cost of constructing or improving the dwelling.(b) A municipality may not require the disclosure of information related to the value of or cost of constructing or improving a residential dwelling as a condition of obtaining a building permit except as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 93 (H.B. 852), Sec. 1, eff. May 21, 2019.
Texas Local Government Code § 214.907 prohibits municipalities from basing building permit or inspection fees for residential dwellings on the value of the dwelling or the cost of its construction or improvement. Cities also cannot require applicants to disclose value or cost information as a condition of receiving a permit, with a narrow exception for disclosures mandated by FEMA in connection with the National Flood Insurance Program. This rule was enacted in 2019 and applies statewide to all Texas municipalities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 214.907, property owners and developers applying for residential building permits in Texas cannot be charged fees calculated as a percentage of a project's value or construction cost, nor can they be compelled to disclose those figures to obtain a permit. Compliant operators generally submit permit applications without providing cost or value data unless FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program specifically requires it. Keeping records of any fee schedules received from a municipality can help document whether a locality's fee structure conforms to this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 214.907 is primarily directed at the permit and construction phase of residential housing, but it can affect tenants indirectly by influencing the cost of building and improving rental dwellings in Texas. If a municipality appears to be charging value- or cost-based permit fees in violation of this provision, tenants or housing advocates can raise the issue with local officials or seek guidance from a tenant-rights organization familiar with Texas housing law. Because this provision operates at the municipal regulatory level, understanding how it interacts with local permitting practices may be relevant when evaluating housing availability and development costs in a given community.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 28, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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