Building Inspection Division
The Building Inspection Services Division of the City of Round Rock is dedicated to maintaining professional standards and ensuring customer satisfaction. This is accomplished by protecting the community’s health and safety through enforcement of the City’s Building Code, Code of Ordinances, and other relevant codes.
Contact Us:
512-218-5550
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, – 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
301 W Bagdad Ave, Suite 100, Round Rock, TX 78664
Email Building Inspections
2025 Holiday Schedule
James Shine
Chief Building Official
512-218-5550
Email
When is a Building Permit Required?
If you are planning to work on any building or structure within the City of Round Rock or in the Chandler Creek and Vista Oaks Municipal Utility Districts, you will need to obtain a building permit. This applies to construction, installation, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, replacement of any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems, and changing the occupancy of a building. To determine whether your project requires a permit, contact our Development Technicians at 512-218-5550.
It’s important to note that Round Rock strictly follows a one-permit system. To avoid delays in your project, all relevant contractors must be included in the permit application before it can be issued. Under the one-permit system, the permit becomes invalid if the authorized work or construction is not commenced within six months.
All contractors and subcontractors applying for a building permit must be registered. No registration fee or annual fee is required.
Information Regarding Carports and / or other Accessory Structures
Accessory structures—such as carports, storage sheds, pergolas, pools, or similar—are permitted only on side or rear yards. These structures are not allowed in front yards or over driveways in front of a home.
Additionally, they must not encroach upon building setbacks or any type of easement, including but not limited to Public Utility Easements (PUE), drainage easements, and easements for water, sewer, or stormwater systems.
Note: A small percentage of properties within the city limits exceed the dimensions of standard lot sizes and may be able to accommodate an attached carport in front of the home. If you believe your lot is unique in size or have questions regarding the appropriate placement of an accessory structure, please email us a copy of your survey to buildingpermits@roundrocktexas.gov and mark the proposed location. A Building Inspection team member will respond to your request.
If allowed and before constructing or placing the carport, the property owner—or their authorized representative—must submit an Accessory Structure building application to the City of Round Rock Building Inspections Office and obtain the required permit. The City of Round Rock operates under a combined (one-permit) system, which means that any associated electrical, plumbing, or mechanical work must be included in the same permit.
The maximum permitted height for any accessory structure is 15 feet 0 inches, measured from the existing ground level to the highest point of the roof.
Notes
Note: The City of Round Rock will adopt the 2024 ICC code cycle in 2025. Codes are available through the International Code Council (http://www.iccsafe.org/).
- City of Round Rock Code of Ordinances
- 2015 International Building Code (2015 IBC) and Appendices
- 2015 International Fire Code (2015 IFC)
- 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (2015 IECC)
- 2015 International Residential Code (2015 IRC)
- 2015 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (2015 ISPSC)
- 2015 International Mechanical Code (2015 IMC)
- 2015 International Plumbing Code (2015 IPC)
- 2023 National Electrical Code (2023 NEC)
- Texas Accessibility Standards
The Williamson County and Cities Health District (WCCHD) also must review plans for any projects involving food service (including restaurants, bars, food trucks, convenience stores, day care facilities, etc.). The food establishment permit application and food establishment plan review application forms are posted on the WCCHD website with application instructions.
Certificates of Appropriateness are required before Issuance of a Building Permit.
Properties required to undergo historic review are identified with Historic Overlay Zoning. Alterations to all structures or sites with Historic Overlay Zoning require a Certificate of Appropriateness before the issuance of a building permit. Historic review applies to all structures on a site, including fences and accessory structures.
Preservation staff are available to discuss projects on all historic-age properties (even those without historic overlay zoning) and can provide technical references that are available to help avoid damage. Contact the Planning and Development Services desk at 512-218-5428 to discuss alterations to a historic property and/or the Certificate of Appropriateness process.
Gas (ATMOS) : 1-888-460-3030
Electricity (ONCOR): 1-866-797-4839
Water Utility Billing (CORR): 512-218-5460
