Who pulls the permit
In Texas, plumbing permits are generally pulled by a licensed plumbing contractor working under a Responsible Master Plumber. Homeowner permits exist in some situations for owner-occupied homes, but rules vary by city. Confirm the current requirements with your city's development services department before you start.
Work that usually needs a permit
- Water heater replacement (including tankless conversions)
- Repipes and new supply or drain lines
- Gas piping, new or extended
- Sewer line repair or replacement
- Remodels that move fixtures, plus commercial tenant finish-outs
- Backflow preventers and grease interceptors on commercial work
Codes
Austin and many Central Texas cities use the Uniform Plumbing Code with local amendments. San Antonio enforces the plumbing code it has adopted with its own local amendments. Your plumber and plan reviewer will work to the edition your city has adopted. That's why we size and review with local amendments in mind.
Why skipping the permit costs more
Unpermitted work can surface during a home sale, trigger insurance questions after a leak, and leave you without an inspector's check on gas and venting. A proposal that leaves out the permit, or offers a discount to skip it, is a red flag in our Quote Checker.
More on Texas licensing and codes in our answers hub and glossary, or have us review your scope through plan and scope reviews.