McKinney, TX Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- McKinney Code § 122-25
- Codes adopted
- 2024 IBC & IRC
- Enforcing agency
- Building Inspections/Permits Dept.
- Max fine
- Up to $2,000 per day
- Permit exemption
- Accessory structure ≤120 sq ft
Summary
McKinney requires a building permit before construction. Chapter 122, § 122-25 of the City Code adopts the 2024 International Building and Residential Codes, whose permit provisions make an approved permit mandatory before you erect, alter, move, or demolish almost any structure citywide.
Sec. 122-25. - International Building Code and International Residential Codes adopted. The City Council hereby adopts the 2024 edition of the International Building Code and the 2024 edition of the International Residential Code together with Appendix AQ, thereto, titled "Tiny Houses" and including all references to the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted... The Chief Building Official, or their authorized representative, is hereby authorized and directed to enforce all provisions of the International Building Code and International Residential Code, as adopted herein and as amended.
Full Breakdown
The City Council adopted the 2024 International Building Code and 2024 International Residential Code in Chapter 122, Article II of the McKinney Code, effective October 1, 2025 (§ 122-25). Under the adopted codes, no building may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, or demolished without first obtaining a permit from the city's Building Inspections/Permits Department, headed by the Chief Building Official. The only routine residential exemption is one one-story detached accessory structure of 120 square feet or less (IRC R105.2, as amended by the city). File your application before any work begins.
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit is a misdemeanor. Fines reach $2,000 per offense for fire-safety, zoning, or public-health violations and $500 for other offenses, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build in McKinney?
Is any structure exempt from a permit?
What happens if I build without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in McKinney
Texas rules heatmap·Compare McKinney to another location·View the Texas building safety overview
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Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Collin County handle building permits.