Permit Guide

The Intent of Building Permits
In Texas, a City's "police power" authority enables a municipality to regulate building construction and usage for the benefit of the health, safety, morals and overall welfare of the community. 

In this pursuit, a building permit serves as certification that the provisions of all applicable city ordinances, city codes, and other requirements shall be met as per review of the building plans as well as on-site inspections.  In essence, providing for the requirement of a building permit serves as a code enforcement tool. Code enforcement is used to uphold established minimum building standards to insure the safety of the occupants and to secure the character of the City's districts consistent with a Comprehensive Plan.

Permits are required whenever there is a desire to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure; or to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, plumbing or structural elements of a building in which the installation is regulated by the technical codes.

All work that requires permits shall be done by licensed contractors which are registered with the City of Harlingen to perform such work.  Registration is required for the following:
 

• General Contractor
• Electrician
• Plumber
• Mechanical
• House Move*

* Requires certificate of insurance made to the City of Harlingen, with minimum coverage of $300,000.

 Codes

A permit to build may be issued provided the following codes are to be adhered to: