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Cameron County, TX Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Electrical permit fee, commercial
$75.00 per meter
Electrical permit fee, residential
$50.00 per meter
Code adopted
National Electrical Code + ICC Family of Codes
Electrician licensing
Texas Dept. of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR)
Concealing unpermitted wiring
misdemeanor, Art. 5 § I
Main dwelling meters
1 per dwelling, extra needs 5+ acres

Summary

Cameron County requires a permit for new electrical service, upgrades, repairs or reconnects under its Flood Damage Prevention and Building Regulations, and ties all such work to the National Electrical Code and ICC standards. Electricians must hold a Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license and register with the county before a permit issues.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Cameron County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

To assure the citizens of Cameron County the reduction of loss due to flooding, high winds, and hurricanes, this order requires the structures to be in compliance with minimum requirements of the ICC Family of Codes and the National Electrical Code.

Full Breakdown

1 lists electrical among the 'construction permits required by this order,' alongside building, mechanical, plumbing, swimming pool, curb cut, sign, and removal and demolition permits. Under Article 4, Section D, any contractor performing electrical work must hold a valid Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license and register with the Cameron County Department of Transportation, Planning and Inspections Division before the county will issue the permit; the building permit application must list every trade contractor by name, and failure to document licensing and registration results in denial of the application.

Inspections cover rough-in wiring, frame work and final approval, and Article 5, Section I bars concealing any wiring for which a permit is required until the Building Official has inspected and accepted it, with a re-inspection fee due if the work fails. 3. Article 5, Section O separately caps the main dwelling at one electrical meter from the power company, with additional meters allowed only for an accessory dwelling unit or a five-acre-plus lot at least 94 feet from the original meter, and requires that added work follow the latest National Electrical Code.

Violations & Fines

Concealing wiring before the Building Official inspects and accepts it is a misdemeanor under Article 5, Section I if the contractor failed to give at least two business days' notice. Article 4, Subsection F.3 adds a $250.00 discovery fee for electrical work performed without the required permit, and the Building Official can suspend or revoke the permit under Subsection F.2 for code violations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit for electrical work in unincorporated Cameron County?
Yes. Article 4, Subsection F.1 lists electrical among the construction permits required by the county's Flood Damage Prevention and Building Regulations, and Article 5, Section I ties all such work to the National Electrical Code and ICC Family of Codes. The permit runs $75.00 per meter for commercial work and $50.00 for residential.
Who can pull an electrical permit in Cameron County?
Article 4, Section D requires electrical contractors to hold a valid Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation license and register with the County's Department of Transportation, Planning and Inspections Division before the permit issues. Every trade contractor on a project must be listed on the building permit application or the application is denied.
What if I cover wiring before it's inspected?
Article 5, Section I makes it a misdemeanor to conceal wiring for which a permit is required before the Building Official has inspected and approved it, unless the contractor gave at least two business days' written notice first. A separate $250.00 discovery fee applies if the work was never permitted at all.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cameron County

All Cameron County rules

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