The City of Gainesville Building Department was created on January 2, 1951, according to City Council records.

Building Inspection Departments are created for the safety, health and welfare of the citizens.  Building Codes exist as a way to ensure that houses and commercial structures are built to a “minimum” standard.  Anything that is not constructed to the minimum standards specified in building codes could be dangerous to the citizens in some way.  An architect or engineer may design a structure that not only complies with the Code standards, but may also exceed these standards.

For instance, consider the sky bridge that collapsed in a major hotel a few years ago. It was not built to minimum standards and finally collapsed, causing damage to property and bodily injury to the people who were on it at the time.

Permit fees pay for the costs involved in reviewing building plans to see that they meet the Code standards, and for inspections to ensure that the structures are built in accordance with the plans.  The permit fee money goes back into the City’s general fund to pay for these plan reviews and for the inspector’s time and travel to the job site, and for any other costs associated with the inspections.

A typical new residence requires several inspections, including, but not limited to the inspection of plumbing and electrical conduits in the ground before the foundation steel is laid into place.  Then the foundation footings and reinforcement steel are inspected.  After the foundation is poured, the framing of the building is inspected and plumbing and electric lines in the walls are inspected before insulation and sheetrock are installed.  Air conditioning ducts may also be installed at this stage if they are in place. Basic energy Code requirements are also being checked at this stage of construction to be sure that holes in outside walls are sealed to prevent the entrance of outside air or of rodents.

The water and sewer lines from the street connections to the house are inspected. Driveways and sidewalks are inspected for reinforcement steel, and finally, the house receives the final inspections for plumbing, electric, air conditioning and energy code requirements. When everything is found to be in order, the inspector then makes approvals for the utility services to be connected.  Although at times, inspector may complete more than one inspection at the same time, there are generally at least fourteen inspections to be done.  The fees for the permit cover the costs associated with these inspections.

It is also to be noted that these fees are “user” fees. In other words, only the citizens or developers, who are using the services provided, actually pay the fees.  The general public at large does not pay for Inspection Department or inspector services.

Permits are required for other things also, such as room additions, porches, fences, swimming pools and accessory buildings.  Accessory buildings are detached garages, carports, sheds, storage buildings and shops located on the same property as the main structure.  To apply for a permit, a drawing or sketch showing what work the citizen desires is required to be attached to the permit. IT does not have to be a fancy drawing by a draftsman, but needs to contain enough information to determine if the addition or other item will meet setback requirements found in the City Zoning Ordinance.  Setbacks are the distances that various structures are required to be away from the citizen’s property lines.  If a setback requirement cannot be met, then the citizen has the right to make an appeal to the Board of Zoning Appeals and to present their reasons or case to the Board.  The Board, after hearing the evidence presented, makes a decision of whether or not to grand a variance for the setback or other issue presented to them.  Most of these types of permits are granted on the same day they are received, as long as there are no problem areas to be worked out on them.

Most types of contractors, such as roofers, general contractors, plumbers, electricians and air conditioning contractors are required to register with the City and have on file a copy of their business insurance.  This is so that if there is a problem with their work, that there is some record for the property owner to use in locating them and getting an adjustment on the work that has been done.  The problem with this system is that if someone does work for a citizen, and they do not register with the City or get a permit, then there is little that we can do to help.

In addition to being registered with the City, plumbers, electricians and air conditioning people are currently required to be licensed by the State of Texas.  Ask your prospective contractors if they are registered with the City and the State (when required), and ask to see their license.  If they don’t have one, don’t use them.  All contractors that register with the City are given a contractor’s license that they should be able to produce, or the citizen can call the Inspection Department at 940-668-4504 and inquire about it.

Contractors that build new houses and who do large remodels are also required to be registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission.  They carry business insurance as required by the State.

State Law requires the following: