Building Safety in Irving, TX (2026)
9 verified building safety rules for Irving, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Elevator Maintenance
Owners of a building with a sidewalk elevator or lift must keep it in good repair and the surface doors flush with the sidewalk, and are personally liable for injuries the public suffers from a defective unit. Removal ends the annual $100 fee.
Irving Sidewalk Elevator Maintenance Duty
Some RestrictionsIrving Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances § 34-10 (Ordinance 1160, § 43-119)
§ 34-10. Duty to maintain sidewalk elevators; liability for injuries from defective elevator. The owner, occupant or tenant shall be charged with the duty of maintaining any sidewalk elevator or lift in a state of good repair and shall keep the surface doors in good condition and flush with the level of the surrounding sidewalk, so that the traveling public will not be endangered in its life or...
Fire Sprinkler Requirements
Every residential board and care facility in Irving, one housing 16 or more unrelated residents receiving personal care, must fit each building used for living or sleeping quarters with an automatic NFPA 13R sprinkler system. The system must cover every living area, closet, bathroom, hallway and stairway, tie into a fire department connection, and stay monitored by a central station at all times the facility is occupied.
Irving Board and Care Home Sprinkler Rule
Heavy RestrictionsIrving Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances § 17B-2 (Sprinkler system required)
The owner, landlord, manager and property manager of each residential board and care facility in the city shall provide each building in the facility designed for, used as, or which contains living or sleeping quarters with an automatic sprinkler system in compliance with NFPA 13R Standard for the installation of sprinkler systems in residential occupancies which provides complete sprinkler pro...
Childcare Center Rules
Irving requires every child-care facility, center, home, or parent's day out program, to hold a city inspections department permit on top of state licensing. Operating without one is unlawful, and the permit must be renewed annually or late fees and revocation follow.
Irving Child-Care Center Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsIrving Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances § 13-3(a) (Permit required)
A person may not own, operate, administer, manage, direct, advertise, or control a child-care facility in the city without a valid permit issued by the inspections department.
Green Building Code
Irving imposes enhanced green-building performance standards on new multifamily and mixed-use residential development under Section 8B-30, requiring at least ten percent better energy efficiency than the baseline International Energy Conservation Code, all-electric HVAC and appliance infrastructure, high-efficiency SEER 16 or higher HVAC, and net-zero-ready solar and battery infrastructure.
Irving Green Building Standards for Multifamily
Heavy Restrictions§ 8B-30(a)(1)(a), (d)(1), Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances (Ord. 2025-11128, adopted 7/31/2025)
(a) Applicability. (1) This section applies to: a. New construction of multi-family and residential mixed-use developments. ... (d) Required Performance Standards. Any construction subject to this chapter, regardless of the designated zoning classification of the land on which it will be constructed, shall conform to the following enhanced performance standards. (1) Energy and Efficiency requir...
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Irving's minimum maintenance standards require the owner and manager of every structure and premises in the city to provide and maintain carbon monoxide and smoke detection equipment in operable condition under Sec. 8-26(i), keeping the systems in line with the International Fire Code. Inspectors can enter and cite noncompliant properties.
Irving Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirement
Some RestrictionsIrving Code of Ordinances Sec. 8-26(i) (Ordinance 2008-9000, Sec. 2, adopted 10/2/2008)
(i) Fire protection systems. The owner and manager shall provide and maintain all systems, devices, and equipment to detect a fire, smoke, or carbon monoxide, actuate an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof in operable condition at all times in accordance with the International Fire Code, including, but not limited to, as follows: (1) Smoke alarms shall be installed a...
Building Permits
Irving requires a permit before construction under its adopted 2024 International Building Code. The Inspections Department issues permits, and starting any building, electrical, gas, plumbing, or mechanical work without one triggers an investigation fee on top of the regular permit fee.
Irving Building Permits: Required Before You Build
Some RestrictionsIrving Land Development Code § 8B-27(b) (2024 building codes; Ord. 2026-11253, adopted 3/26/2026)
§ 8B-27. Permits; fees; registration. (b) Investigation fee. Any person who commences any work on any building or structure; or any electrical, gas, plumbing, or mechanical system before obtaining the necessary permits shall be subject to an investigation fee equal to the fee included in the permit fee schedule. The investigation fee shall be in addition to the regular permit fee.
Electrical Permits
Irving enforces the 2023 National Electrical Code, with its Informative Annex H, as the city's electrical code under Section 8B-21, and Section 8B-22 layers in Irving's own amendments that control wherever they conflict with the published NEC. Electrical contractors must register annually with the city and hold a valid permit before doing electrical work anywhere in Irving.
Irving Electrical Permit and NEC Rules
Some Restrictions§ 8B-21, Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances (Ord. 2024-10884, adopted 3/21/2024)
§ 8B-21. National Electrical Code. The 2023 edition of the National Electrical Code, including Informative Annex "H," is adopted as the electrical code of the City of Irving, Texas, as amended herein.
Plumbing Permits
Irving adopts the 2024 International Plumbing Code as its plumbing code under Section 8B-7, with local amendments controlling wherever they conflict with the published IPC text. Anyone doing plumbing work in the city, other than a homesteaded homeowner working on their own residence, must be a city-registered plumbing contractor and obtain a permit before starting work.
Irving Plumbing Code and Permit Rules
Some Restrictions§ 8B-7; § 8B-27(c), Code of Civil and Criminal Ordinances (Ord. 2026-11253, adopted 3/26/2026)
§ 8B-7. International Plumbing Code. The 2024 edition of the International Plumbing Code is adopted as the plumbing code of the City of Irving, Texas, as amended herein. ... (c) Contractor registration. All fence, sign, concrete, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, irrigation, house moving, fuel tank installer, maintenance worker for apartments (plumbing/mechanical), or general contractors are re...
Building Inspections
Irving's inspections staff can examine any residential or nonresidential structure and premises in the city without giving the owner advance notice, under Code § 8-32. They get emergency entry any time a hazard threatens life or property, and routine entry at reasonable times otherwise; if an occupant refuses, the inspector can use legal process to force entry.
Irving Building Inspection Entry Authority
Some RestrictionsIrving Code of Ordinances § 8-32(a), (b)(1)-(2) (Inspections)
(a) Authorization. The city is authorized to make inspections to determine the condition of all existing residential and nonresidential structures, and all premises located within the city without prior notice to the owner, manager, or occupant of said property. (b) Admittance. (1) In cases of emergency where extreme hazards are known to exist which may involve imminent injury to a person, loss...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Irving city rules.
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