Show All Answers

1. When is a building permit required?

A person, firm or corporation shall not, without first obtaining a permit from the Permit Department, do the following to a structure or building service equipment:

• Add to
• Alter
• Construct
• Convert
• Enlarge
• Equip
• Erect
• Improve
• Install
• Maintain
• Occupy
• Remove
• Repair
• Replace
• Use

2. How do I obtain a commercial permit?

Complete and submit an application to the Permits Department.

Commercial/New Addition Building Permit Submittal Requirements

Construction Document Submittals

Three copies of the completed set of construction documents are required for plan review. Construction documents must be submitted along with completed permit application form and information sheet. An additional set of plans will be required for buildings with fire-sprinklers. And additional set of plans will be required for projects, which require a health, permit.

Note: Drawings containing a label such as "not for construction" or "for pricing only" will not be accepted for permit application.

Professional License

Drawings and documents shall be sealed, signed, dated and designed by a State of Texas Registered Architect. Registered Engineer, Registered Interior Designer, where applicable as required by the State of Texas Engineering and Architect Practice Act.

Required Drawings

Building Inspection my request additional information if necessary. Drawings must be drawn to scale, dimensioned and of sufficient clarity:

1. Site plan
2. Floor plan and roof plans
3. Door schedules, window schedules, hardware schedules
4. Construction details; Interior elevations and interior finish schedules
5. Structural plans must include: foundation plans; roof and floor framing plans; wall sections and details
6. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing site plans and schedules
7. Plumbing plans (including riser diagram)
8. Mechanical plans
9. Electrical plans (including riser diagrams)

The plat must be approved and the Site plan must be released by the Engineering Department before a permit will be issued.

Note: One set of plans must be on job site at all times.

Adopted Codes

The Following Codes Adopted:

• International Building Code, 2015
• International Energy Conservation Code, 2015
• International Fire Code, 2015
• International Fuel Gas Code, 2015
• International Mechanical Code, 2015
• International Plumbing Code, 2015
• International Residential Code, 2015
• National Electrical Code, 2014 Edition

3. How long does it take to get a building permit?

The amount of time varies based on the complexity of the work, but generally you can expect the following time frames:

1. Residential building permits may take up to 7 to 10 working days
2. Commercial building permits for new construction and remodeling could take up to 10 working days depending on the complexity

4. What inspections are required?

All inspections are to be called in by the general contractor to the Bureau Veritas at 817-335-8111 only. The general contractor is also responsible for keeping the lot and/or building site as clean as possible during construction. This will be strictly enforced. Port-A-Pots required on all sites.

Inspections

1. Building: layout staking foundation; framing; drives; walks; final
2. Plumbing: ground, top out and gas; final
3. Electrical: temporary pole; rough-in; final
4. Heating and AC: rough; final
5. Miscellaneous: swimming pool; lawn sprinklers; flat work

Certificate of Occupancy (C.O.)

City of Melissa requirements that must be completed prior to Certificate of occupancy being issued per city code; these requirements are for all properties within the City limits of Melissa:

1. All bathrooms and kitchen counter must have GFI plugs
2. Smoke detectors are required in all bedrooms and all halls leading to bedrooms
3. All driveways shall be of asphalt or concrete
4. Comply with all other City codes. The C.O. will be issued upon completion of the final inspections; a green tag stating the property is okay for C.O. is required to be furnished to City Hall

5. How much will it cost?

Please note when paying for building permit or development applications, the current acceptable forms of payment are cash, check or money order.

Permit Fees

Permit Fees shall be as follows (plus a Plan Review Fee):

Valuation Schedule	Fee
$1 to $500	$23.50
$501 to $2,000	$23.50 for the first $500 plus $3 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000.
$2,001 to $25,000	$69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000.
$25,001 to $50,000	$391.25 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.
$50,001 to $100,000	$643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.
$100,001 to $500,000	$993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.
$500,001 to $1,000,000	$3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000.
$1,000,001 and up	$5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.15 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof.

Plan Review Fee

The Plan Review Fee shall be 65% of the building Permit Fees as shown. The plan review fees specified in this Subsection are separate and in addition to the required building permit fees. Plan review fees will be waived for one and two family dwellings.

Miscellaneous Permit Fees

Miscellaneous Permit Fees shall be as follows:

Permit	Fee
Certificate of Occupancy	$75
Demolition Permit	$50
Detached Accessory Building	Per Valuation schedule
Pole Inspection	$65
Duplicate Permit Card	$10
Irrigation Permit	Per Valuation schedule
Fence Permit	Per Valuation schedule
Re-inspection Fees (residential)	$47
Re-inspection Fees (commercial)	$47
Spa Permit	$100
Structural Moving Permit	$100
Swimming Pools (above-ground)	$50
Swimming Pools (in-ground)	Per Valuation schedule
Temporary Building Permit	$50
Underground Fuel Storage Tank	Per Valuation schedule

Other Inspections & Fees

Inspection	Fee
Inspections outside of normal business hours (minimum charge - two hours)	$47 per hour1
Re-inspection fees assessed under provisions of Section 305.8 (minimum charge - one hour)	$47 per hour1
Inspections for which no fee is specifically indicated	$47 per hour1
Additional plan review required by changes, additions or revisions to plans	$47 per hour1
For use of outside consultants for plan checking and inspections, or both	Actual costs2

• ¹ Or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is the greatest. This cost shall include supervision, overhead, equipment, hourly wages and fringe benefits of the employees involved.
• ² Actual costs include administrative and overhead costs.

6. Do I need a permit for a private alarm system?

City of Melissa

No, the City of Melissa does not require a permit for an installation or activation of a private alarm system.

State of Texas

However, the State of Texas does require that an Alarm Installation and Activation Certificate be submitted to the local municipality in accordance to the Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1702.286 which states:

"An alarm systems company shall notify the municipality in which the alarm system is located of an installation or activation of an alarm system not later than the 30th day after the date of the installation or activation."

Certificate Form

Alarm Installation and Activation Certificate (PDF)

(Note: Please do not forward this form to the Texas Department of Public Safety, Private Security Bureau, the PSB-53 form must be sent to your local municipality).

This form should be turned into Code Enforcement by dropping off at the Development Services and Utility Billing Suite in the Melissa City Hall located at 3411 Barker Avenue or submitted by email.