Victoria, TX Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Sec. 21-55(a)(1) requires a building permit application to "construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure." The permit-exemption list in Sec. 21-54 covers only ordinary minor repairs, small mechanical/plumbing/electrical fixes, and nonelectrical signs 32 sq ft or less: it names no size or height carve-out for decks or patios. That matters because Sec. 21-62(a)(2) deletes IRC Section R105 (Permits) outright, which is the section that nationally exempts small, low platforms and decks from permitting. Once a deck exceeds 30 inches above grade, it also triggers a guard requirement under the locally amended Section R312.1.1.