Midland, TX Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2018 International Building Code, Appendices B, C, G, N
- Contractor bond
- $10,000 bond required before permit issuance
- Homeowner work
- Still needs a permit and must pay fees
- Site precondition
- Lot must be platted or site-plan approved first
- Early clearance permit
- 90 days residential, 180 days commercial
- General penalty
- Up to $500/day fine, or $2,000 for fire/zoning
Summary
Midland requires a building permit under Chapter 4-1 of the Code of Ordinances before any construction, alteration, repair or demolition covered by the adopted 2018 International Building Code. The Building Official issues permits only after a contractor posts a $10,000 bond, site conditions are met, and fees from the current Fee Schedule are paid; homeowners doing their own work still need a permit.
The specifications, rules and regulations entitled 2018 International Building Code together with appendices B, C, G and N as promulgated and published by the International Code Council, Inc, are hereby adopted as the Building Code as fully as if copied at length in this Chapter and are hereby incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 1 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Midland adopts the 2018 International Building Code, with Appendices B, C, G and N, as its Building Code 'as fully as if copied at length' in Sec. 4-1-2, governing any construction, alteration, repair, or demolition of a building or structure inside the city limits (Sec. 4-1-1). Every contractor or builder doing permitted work must post a $10,000 bond approved by the City Attorney before the Building Official may issue a permit (Sec. 8). A homeowner may do the work on his or her own home without hiring a contractor, but that privilege does not excuse the owner from obtaining a permit and paying the required fee, which is set by the City's current adopted Fee Schedule (Sec.
2). Before a permit can be issued for new construction or a substantial addition, the site must satisfy several conditions under Sec. 4-1-4: any required sidewalk must be built or bonded, the lot must be a platted or officially site-plan-approved building site, and a refuse-collection plan must be on file if a dedicated alley is not conveniently located for pickup. The Building Official will not issue a final electrical or gas clearance or a certificate of occupancy until required sidewalks are finished and approved by the Director of Engineering Services.
The City Council may grant a hardship exception or variance from the Sec. 4-1-4 site requirements, and the Planning and Zoning Commission can waive sidewalk construction on cul-de-sacs in one- and two-family zoning districts (Sec. 4-1-5). Builders needing to occupy a new structure before final inspection can apply for an early clearance permit, valid 90 days for residential and 180 days for commercial projects, backed by the same $10,000 bond (Sec. 4-1-8).
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit, or failing to obtain the $10,000 contractor's bond, exposes the responsible party to the City's general penalty under Sec. 1-3-1: a fine up to $500.00 per offense, with each day a violation continues charged as a separate offense (violations of fire-safety, zoning or health and sanitation ordinances can reach $2,000.00). The Building Official can also issue a stop-work order and revoke the permit for uncontained construction debris under Sec. 4-1-3 (105.8.1), and no final electrical, gas or occupancy clearance will be issued until required sidewalks are completed under Sec. 4-1-4(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed or add onto my own house in Midland?
What bond does a contractor need before pulling a building permit?
Can a permit be denied because the lot isn't platted?
What happens if I occupy a new building before it passes final inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Midland
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Midland to another location·View the Texas building safety overview
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