By Ivan Tchesnokov, founder of DoINeedAPermit.org · Data checked October 29, 2026 · Download the data (CSV)
What we found
- The same 10×12 shed needs a permit in Garland and doesn’t in San Antonio. In Garland and Killeen any shed over 20 sq ft needs a building permit. San Antonio lets you build up to 300 sq ft without one.
- 6 of the 40 cities require a permit for every shed, whatever its size: Fort Worth, Frisco, Grand Prairie, Midland, Round Rock, and Mesquite, whose fee schedule charges for every size.
- The most common rule is 200 sq ft (13 cities), the limit in the current model code. 6 cities use 120 sq ft, including Houston, which lowered its limit from 200 to 120.
- 4 of the 40 still don’t take building permit applications online: Laredo, Garland, Pasadena, Richardson.
- For 7 large cities we couldn’t confirm the rule on the city’s own site: Plano, Laredo, New Braunfels, Conroe, Tyler, Beaumont, Edinburg. If you live there, ask the city before you build.
A building permit isn’t the only rule. Even a permit-free shed usually has to meet setbacks from property lines, stay out of easements, and follow HOA rules. Electrical or plumbing in a shed needs its own permit almost everywhere.
The rule in each city
Largest city first. “Without a permit” means no building permit; zoning rules still apply.
| City | Shed you can build without a permit | Apply online? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | Up to 120 sq ft Houston lowered the model code’s 200 sq ft to 120 sq ft. | Yes: iPermits | City source |
| San Antonio | Up to 300 sq ft Still has to meet setback rules. | Yes: BuildSA | City source |
| Dallas | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: DallasNow | City source |
| Fort Worth | None: every shed needs a permit | Yes: Accela Citizen Access | City source |
| Austin | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Austin Build + Connect | City source |
| El Paso | Up to 200 sq ft From a 2010 city ordinance; only one exempt shed per lot. | Yes: Accela Citizen Access | City source |
| Arlington | Up to 100 sq ft | Yes: ArlingtonPermits.com | City source |
| Corpus Christi | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Dynamic Portal | City source |
| Plano | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: City of Plano User Portal | City source |
| Lubbock | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Citizen Self Service | City source |
| Laredo | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | No: PDF form by email or in person | City source |
| Irving | Up to 6 ft in every dimension (height included) | Yes: MGO Connect | City source |
| Garland | Up to 20 sq ft The city also bans unpainted wood, tin and plastic sheds. | No: PDF form by email or in person | City source |
| Frisco | None: every shed needs a permit The city FAQ says every accessory structure needs a permit; its 2024 code changes also mention a 200 sq ft exemption. | Yes: Plans and Permits portal | City source |
| McKinney | Up to 120 sq ft | Yes: Citizen Self Service | City source |
| Grand Prairie | None: every shed needs a permit | Yes: Customer Self-Service | City source |
| Amarillo | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: MGO Connect | City source |
| Brownsville | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Accela Citizen Access | City source |
| Denton | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: eTRAKiT | City source |
| Killeen | Up to 20 sq ft | Yes: MGO Connect | City source |
| Mesquite | None: the fee schedule charges a permit fee for every size | Yes: Citizen Self Service | City source |
| McAllen | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Online Permit Portal | City source |
| Pasadena | Up to 100 sq ft | Building permits: PDF form or City Hall kiosk | City source |
| Waco | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Citizen Self Service | City source |
| Midland | None: every shed needs a permit | Yes: PermitMidland | City source |
| Round Rock | None: every shed needs a permit | Yes: Round Rock Permit Portal | City source |
| Lewisville | Up to 120 sq ft | Yes: MGO Connect | City source |
| Carrollton | Up to 120 sq ft | Yes: CityServe | City source |
| Abilene | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: MyGov | City source |
| Pearland | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Cityworks permitting portal | City source |
| College Station | Up to 120 sq ft Only one exempt shed per lot. | Yes: eTRAKiT | City source |
| Odessa | Up to 100 sq ft of roof area Wall height under 7 ft, not on a concrete slab, no plumbing or electrical. | Yes: MGO Connect | City source |
| New Braunfels | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: Online Permit Portal | City source |
| League City | Up to 200 sq ft | Yes: Online Permit Portal | City source |
| Conroe | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: OpenGov | City source |
| Richardson | Up to 40 sq ft | No: PDF form by email or in person | City source |
| Tyler | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: eTRAKiT | City source |
| Allen | Up to 120 sq ft The city text reads "120 square feet or the height does not exceed 8 feet". | Yes: Citizen Self Service | City source |
| Beaumont | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: Cityworks PublicAccess portal | City source |
| Edinburg | Not confirmed on the city’s site: ask the city | Yes: Citizen Self-Service | City source |
How we checked
We took the 40 most populous Texas cities from the Census Bureau’s July 2025 estimates. For each one we read the shed rule on the city’s own website or its official code, and linked that page in the table. Where a city doesn’t state a rule, the table says so instead of guessing from the model code. Rules change, and your property may have extra limits, so confirm with your city before you build.
Reporters and researchers may use this data with a link to this page. Questions, corrections or an interview: hello@doineedapermit.org.
Check your own address
Our free permit check answers for your address and your shed. In many Texas towns we can also file the permit for you: see the Texas towns we file in, or the shed permit guide.