Building Safety in Garland, TX (2026)
6 verified building safety rules for Garland, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Garland's own code does not set separate elevator-maintenance permit rules; its only mention of elevators exempts maintenance, alteration, and repair of elevators and escalators from the city's electrical-licensing scheme because that work is regulated under the Texas Health and Safety Code. The city licenses only general electrical connections tied to that equipment, not the elevator mechanism itself.
Garland Elevator Work Falls Under State Law
Few RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 30.51(D)(2)(m)
Limitations of work. Work that may be performed under this license by an electrical maintenance technician shall be limited to the maintenance of, repair or replacement of devices or lighting fixtures, having the same characteristics as the existing devices or fixtures, in or on existing outlets and shall include, but not be limited to the following: ... (m) Maintenance, alteration, or repair o...
Childcare Center Rules
Garland requires every child care center to hold a valid permit from the Health Authority before operating, with no permit transferable between owners or sites. Operating without one, or altering a permit, is a criminal offense under Chapter 22, Article IX of the city code.
Garland Child Care Center Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 22.161, § 22.169
§ 22.161. Permit required. No person shall operate a child care center without a valid permit issued by the health authority. ... § 22.169. Enforcement, permits, and inspections. (A) General offenses. A person commits an offense if the person operates or causes to be operated a child care center within the City in violation of any provision of this article. (B) Permit required. (1) Generally. A...
Building Permits
Garland adopts the International Building Code and requires a building permit before you erect, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish any structure. Only contractors registered with the City may secure building permits, though homeowners may pull permits for a residence they own.
Garland Requires a Building Permit Before Construction
Some RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 30.07(A)-(B) (General contractors registration)
(A) A general contractor is any person who or that erects, constructs, enlarges, alter, repairs, moves, improves, removes, converts, or demolishes any building or structure except as specifically exempted by section 105.2 of the International Building Code as amended. ... (B) It shall be unlawful for any person who is not registered by the City as a general contractor to secure building permits...
Electrical Permits
Garland has adopted the 2014 National Electrical Code and requires a separate electrical permit before any regulated wiring is installed, altered, repaired, replaced or remodeled. Applications go to the Building Official under Code of Ordinances Article III, and a short list of minor repairs, like reinstalling attachment-plug receptacles or replacing an overcurrent device of the same capacity, is exempt from that requirement.
Garland Electrical Permit and 2014 NEC Rules
Some RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 30.40(A); § 30.52(A)
The National Electrical Code, 2014 edition, is hereby adopted by reference. One (1) copy is to remain on file in the City Secretary’s office. Unless deleted, amended, expanded or otherwise changed herein, all provisions of this Code shall be fully applicable, binding, and of full force and effect. ... Permits required. Except as specified in subsection (C) of this section, no electrical system ...
Plumbing Permits
Garland has adopted the 2015 International Plumbing Code, including its appendices B, D and E, as the city's Plumbing Code, and separately requires a plumbing permit before backflow-prevention and other regulated plumbing work is installed. Work done to a premises' plumbing system without the required permit can trigger mandatory premises containment under the city's cross-connection rules.
Garland Plumbing Permits and the 2015 IPC
Some RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 30.80; § 51.78(1)
The International Plumbing Code (“Plumbing Code”), 2015 edition, is herewith adopted by reference. A copy of the Plumbing Code shall be kept on file in the office of the City Secretary. Unless deleted, amended, expanded or otherwise changed herein, all provisions of the Plumbing Code shall be fully applicable and binding and of full force and effect within the City. This adoption includes appen...
Building Inspections
Garland's building code ties every construction permit to a fixed inspection sequence: foundation or plumbing rough-in first, framing or electrical rough-in second, then a final inspection before occupancy. § 30.301(R) defines those stages to set refund percentages, and § 31.03 blocks final approval until every Chapter 31 requirement is met.
Garland Building Permit Inspection Stages
Some RestrictionsGarland, TX Code of Ordinances § 30.301(R)(1)-(2)
The portion of the fee to be refunded shall be based upon the point to which the work has progressed prior to abandonment or discontinuance, as determined from City inspection records. For the purpose of determining the refundable portion of the fee for combined and individual building permits and for swimming pool permits, the term “first inspection” shall mean any building foundation inspecti...
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