City of Fredericksburg Building / Real Estate Development Information

• All construction within the City Limits must secure a building permit.
• The City utilizes the 2006 International Building Code, 2006 International Residential Code, 2006 International Gas Code,  2006 International Plumbing Code, 2006 International Fire Code, 2006 International Mechanical Code, 2003 International Energy Code, and 2005 National Electrical Code.
• All building contractors must be bonded and licensed (homeowners may do work on their own residence but the work must be permitted and inspected).
• Electricians and plumbers must be State Licensed and provide copy of Proof of Insurance.
• Building permits will only be issued when sufficient plans, details, and site plans are submitted so as to determine compliance with all applicable codes.
• Approval: Usually depending on size of job.
• Fees: Based on Fee Schedules.
• Contact: Building Official
• Ordinance: Check code book availability.

• All signs within one (1) mile ETJ of the city are covered under these regulations.
• A dimension drawing of the sign and a site plan and/or pictures of the location where the sign will be placed is required for issuance of a permit.
• A sign permit must be secured prior to erection of a sign (in the Historic District the sign is subject to the review procedures of the Historic Preservation Ordinance).
• The Sign Ordinance prohibits some types of signs and limits the type, size, and location of permitted signs.
• Approval Time: Generally one (1) day.
• Fees: $1.00 per square foot of sign area. (Minimum $10 fee) (Also, see Fee Schedule)
• Contact: Code Enforcement Officer
• Ordinance: SIGN ORDINANCE
• Scheduled times for issuance of permits - Monday through Friday 10:00 - 11:00 and 2:00 - 3:00. (All other times the permit office may or may not be on inspections.)

• Prior to securing a building permit all exterior changes, modifications, construction, etc., is subject to review by The Historic Review Board.
• This Ordinance covers buildings, fences, signs, etc.
• Approval Time: Approximately one day to two weeks.
• Fees: Application- $10.00 + Board Review - $20.00
• Contact: Building Official.
• Ordinance: HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORDINANCE - paper copy available at City Hall - no charge. Also available at no charge is the Historic District Guidelines

• All land within the City Limits is zoned into various residential and business districts.
• Zoning covers permitted uses for each zone, minimum development standards (ie, lot size, set-backs, height limits, building coverage, impervious coverage, parking, accessory uses, home occupation, etc.) and general administrative procedures.
• Requests for zoning changes must be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.
• Rezoning requests must be filed no later than the Monday preceding the Wednesday publication of the local newspaper so as to provide fifteen (15) day notification of the Zoning Request prior to the Planning and Zoning meeting and/or the City Council meeting.
• Rezoning requests must conform to the Land Use Plan. If not, a request for a Land Use Plan change must be submitted.
• Approval time: Approximately 1-2 months.
• Fees: Zoning Request or Conditional Use Permit - $100; Land Use Plan Change - $200.
• Contact: Director of Development Services
• Ordinance: ZONING ORDINANCE - paper copy available at City Office at $15.00 plus tax.

• All Land to be subdivided or re-subdivided within the City and the One Mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City is subjected to the Subdivision Ordinance.
• Subdivision Plats are submitted to the City Planning and Zoning Commission for approval. Plats in the ETJ must also be approved by the Gillespie County Commissioners.
• Where a proposed subdivision will not require any new streets, alleys, water or sewer mains, and no major drainage problem exist, a preliminary plat will not be required - a final plat may be submitted.
• Selling of lots or issuance of building permits is not permitted until final plat approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission and recorded by the Gillespie County Clerk.
• Filing of plats with the City Clerk shall be fourteen (14) days prior to meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• A pre-application conference with the Building Official and City Engineering Office is required so as to clarify the regulations as they apply to the particular parcel and proposed subdivision.
• Minor plats (less than 4 lots) requiring no improvements may be approved without review by the Planning and Zoning Commission.
• Fees: See "Application for Plat Approval" for appropriate fees.
• Contact: Director of Development Services
• Ordinance: SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE - paper copy available at $10.00 plus tax.

LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS

• All new building developments (excluding single family and multi-residential less than four (4) units) within the City Limits shall provide landscaping as outlined in the
• Expansion and changes in use of existing improved properties may require compliance with the Landscape Regulations.
• Removal of existing vegetation prior to issuance of a building permit is prohibited.
• A Landscaping Site Plan shall be submitted with the building plans for permit approval.
• Approval Time: Same as Building Permit.
• Fees: Part of Building Permit.
• Contact: Director of Development Services
• Ordinance: Included in the ZONING ORDINANCE or separate copy at no cost. (On Web Site)

• The City may annex land at the request of the property owner or involuntarily in accordance with State Statutes.
• Land can only be annexed if it abuts the City Limits.
• A petition to annex (consult your attorney) is submitted to the City Council.
• Two public hearing are required before actual annexation proceedings can take place.
• Land requiring rezoning can be requested (See Zoning) and run parallel with the annexation process.
• Approval Time: approximately two (2) months + .
• Fees: No fee required.
• Contact: City Secretary.

• All land to be developed within the City and the One Mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) of the City.
• The Ordinance does not apply to:

  1. Existing Single Family on Duplex lots

  2. Single lots, multi-family, or non-residential (Commercial ) lots less than ½ acre.

  3. Entire subdivisions or re-subdivisions containing ½ acre or less or re-subdivisions resulting in less total lots than the original subdivision.

• The ordinance requires on-site storm water detention facilities to be designed & constructed
• The ordinance requires temporary and permanent erosion and sedimentation controls for property containing 5 or more acres
• The ordinance requires a Certified Professional Engineer submittal of sufficient data and calculations acceptable to the City
• Fees- None
• Contact: Director of Development Services
• Ordinance: STORM WATER CONTROL AND DETENTION ORDINANCE -  or copy available at City Hall at no charge

• All new water and wastewater connections are subject to Impact Fees depending on Tap Size
• Impact Fees are assessed and collected at issuance of a Building Permit or at application for new service when no building permit is required
• Contact:  Building Official
• Ordinance: IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE - or copy available at City Hall at no charge

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

THESE ARE CONSIDERATIONS, REQUIREMENTS, AND FEES ASSOCIATED WITH NEW RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION.

Initial Point of Contact:  Tammie Loth, Development Coordinator, (830) 997-7521

• Acquire application for building permits and application for Historic Review if within Historic District.

• Submit completed application along with two copies of site plan, completed energy code compliance form and working drawings for plan review. Review requires a minimum twenty four hours.
• Site plans must contain anything done on the site, ie. street curbing, driveway, walks, all structures, fences etc. and indicate required building setback. On uncurbed lots street curbing will be a requirement of the project.
• Working drawings need dimensions, window and door sizes, plumbing fixtures, HVAC equipment locations, electrical outlets, switches, lights, fans, and panel locations.

Associated fees are as follows;

• Building permit cost is based on ten ($.10) cents per square foot for everything under roof.
• Accessory buildings are five ($.05) cents per square foot.
• Impact fee based on a three-quarter inch water meter is six hundred and fifty dollars ($650) for water and three hundred and fifty dollars ($350) for sewer.
• Initial electrical fee is three hundred dollars ($300) up to two hundred amps (200). An estimate from the electric department supervisor will be required for larger services.
• Temporary meter loop connect is seventy five dollars ($75).

If water and sewer taps must be installed the cost are as follows:

• A three quarter inch water tap cost is four hundred dollars ($400).
• The sewer tap cost is four hundred dollars ($400)

These costs are in addition to the impact fees.

• Obtain necessary permits and commence construction. Take note of required inspections.

COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION

Initial Point of Contact:  Tammie Loth, Development Coordinator, (830) 997-7521

STEP ONE- CHECK ZONING OF SUBJECT PROPERTY TO INSURE COMPATIBILITY OF PROPOSED USE.

STEP TWO- MEET WITH CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS SITE PLAN, LANDSCAPING, SCREENING, STORM WATER DETENTION, PARKING, HISTORIC DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS, SIGNS, PERVIOUS COVER AND ZONING.

STEP THREE- MEET WITH CITY BUILDING DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS PERMITTING AND PLAN REVIEWING PROCESS, CURRENT ADOPTED BUILDING CODES, SITE REQUIREMENTS, OCCUPANCY TYPE, CONSTRUCTION TYPE AND ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS.

STEP FOUR- MEET WITH CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT TO DISCUSS ADDRESSING, WATER AND SEWER REQUIREMENTS AND ELECTRICAL NEEDS.

STEP FIVE- SUBMIT PROPER DRAWINGS AND APPLICATIONS ALONG WITH A COMPLETED ENERGY CODE COMPLIANCE WORK SHEET FOR ANY REQUIRED BOARD ACTIONS, i.e.., PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD AND HISTORIC REVIEW BOARD.

STEP SIX- SUBMIT ALL CONSTRUCTION DRAWINGS, ENERGY CODE COMPLIANCE WORK SHEET, AS WELL AS PROOF OF ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS REVIEW TO BUILDING DEPARTMENT. PERMIT FEES AS WELL AS OTHER ASSOCIATED FEES CAN BE FOUND ON ATTACHED SHEETS.

ASSOCIATED COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION FEES

A. FEES FOR BUILDING PERMITS;

1. COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS: NEW CONSTRUCTION AND ADDED SQUARE FOOTAGE- TWELVE CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT OF FLOOR SPACE FOR THE FIRST TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (2500) SQUARE FEET, PLUS SEVEN CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE NEXT TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (2500) SQUARE FEET, PLUS FIVE CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE AMOUNT OF FLOOR SPACE IN EXCESS OF FIVE THOUSAND (5000) SQUARE FEET, WITH A MINIMUM FEE OF FIFTY DOLLARS ($50.00).

2. INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS: FIFTEEN CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT OF FLOOR SPACE FOR THE FIRST TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (2500) SQUARE FEET, PLUS FIVE CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE NEXT TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED (2500) SQUARE FEET, PLUS THREE CENTS PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE AMOUNT OF FLOOR SPACE IN EXCESS OF THE FIVE THOUSAND (5000) SQUARE FEET, WITH A MINIMUM FEE OF ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100.00).

3. ALTERATIONS NOT ADDING SQUARE FOOTAGE: SEE ATTACHED SCHEDULE.

B. IMPACT FEES:

1. WATER: THERE ARE THREE WATER METER SIZES AND THE FEE IS BASED ON THE REQUIRED SERVICE SIZE,

a. Three quarter inch meter - $650.00

b. One inch meter - $1,625.00

c. Two inch meter - $5200.00

2. SEWER: THE SEWER FEE IS BASED ON THE WATER METER SIZE,

a. Three quarter inch meter - $350.00

b. One inch meter - $875.00

c. Two inch meter - $2800.00

C. WATER AND SEWER TAP FEES: